I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where participants recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. I am also linking The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz where participants discuss what they are reading and other bookish topics.
What I Am Reading: I turned to a favorite author this past week to help break my reading slump. I am nearly finished with Wolf Gone Wild (Stay a Spell, #1) by Juliette Cross. While my bookmark is still in Ibram X Kendi's How To Be an Antiracist, I read very little of it this week. I hope to dive back in soon.
What I Am Watching: We are slowly working our way through the Star Wars movies. So far we seen Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and Star Wars: Attack of the Clones. The first three episodes on the series are not the strongest by any stretch, but they are entertaining. And I do find Naboo to be a beautiful planet.
I started watching Netflix's Cursed, which I believe is based on an illustrated novel by Frank Miller and Tom Wheeler I haven't read. I am not a huge fan of Arthurian legends or their alternative tellings generally, but this certainly is a different and interesting take on it. I have a soft spot for strong women leads. One of my favorite novels is Bradley's Mists of Avalon, after all. It's rather graphic violence wise, but other than that, I am enjoying it.
Off the Blog: Summer break has come to an end. Mouse's teacher sent an e-mail on Friday introducing himself and information on how to log in to class on Monday morning. I sent him a brief email of support, knowing this will be a challenge for all of us. He's an experienced 4th grade teacher. I really feel for those teachers who are being thrown into grades and classes they do not have a lot of experience with. This first week is sure to be one of adjustment and change.
I was called into the office this past week to meet and begin the training of a new staff person. We have another couple of new people who will likely be starting between now and the end of the month as well. Most of their training will be done remotely.
My husband accepted a supporting role in my daughter's ballet performance. He began rehearsals this weekend. Mouse continues with her online rehearsals for both the musical and ballet every Saturday. They are hoping to put together the shows the end of September. Audtions for the Nutcracker are also in September, but we will be skipping this year's production.
Sleepyhead
Why did the humans move the tree?
Tell me what you have been up to! What are you reading, listening to and watching? How was your week?
Thank you for helping me decide what book from my TBR collection I should read next:
My TBR List is a meme hosted by the awesome Michelle at Because Reading. It’s a fun way to choose a book from your TBR pile to read. The 1st Saturday of every month, I will list 3 books I am considering reading and take a poll as to which you think I should read. I will read the winner that month, and my review will follow (unfortunately, not likely in the same month, but eventually--that's all I can promise).
One of my favorite places to spend time is in a library, and that made this month's poll more enticing. Seven of you voted for the cozy mystery, Checked Out For Murder by Allison Brook. Eight voted for AJ Hackwith's The Library of the Unwritten. The winner, Ink and Bone by Rachel Cane came in with twelve votes. I have been wanting to start the Great Library series for awhile now and am looking forward to reading it. Thank you to all who voted!
Ruthless and supremely powerful, the Great Library is now a presence in every major city, governing the flow of knowledge to the masses. Alchemy allows the Library to deliver the content of the greatest works of history instantly—but the personal ownership of books is expressly forbidden.
Jess Brightwell believes in the value of the Library, but the majority of his knowledge comes from illegal books obtained by his family, who are involved in the thriving black market. Jess has been sent to be his family’s spy, but his loyalties are tested in the final months of his training to enter the Library’s service.
When his friend inadvertently commits heresy by creating a device that could change the world, Jess discovers that those who control the Great Library believe that knowledge is more valuable than any human life—and soon both heretics and books will burn… [Goodreads Summary]
Thank you for voting! I hope you all have a wonderful week! Happy Reading!
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I read an early copy of Wolf Gone Wild and mostly enjoyed it! It's not a series I'll continue, but I loved how nerdy the MC was. :) Yes, Cursed is based on Frank Miller's book, but I was hesitant about the show after DNFing the story. Reanimated babies was a turn off for me.
ReplyDeleteLindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬
Lindsi - No reanimated babies in the small screen version of Cursed. My husband read an article that said the show and novel varied on several points, so maybe that's one of the parts they decided to forgo. I haven't read the book, and am not inclined to (which is why I went ahead and watched the show without having read the book). I wouldn't say the show was award winning by any stretch, but I liked it for its entertainment value. I liked the premise. I am sorry to hear the book didn't work for you.
DeleteI finished reading Wolf Gone Wild last night and enjoyed it quite a bit. Evie and Mateo were great characters. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Thank you for stopping by.
I voted for Ink and Bone so I'm glad to see it was chosen as a winner. Hope you enjoy the book and I'll look forward to your review, Wendy.
ReplyDeleteMelody - Thank you for voting! I am looking forward to reading Ink and Bone. I finished my other book last night and will be diving in to Caine's book today. :-) Thank you for visiting.
DeleteHave fun with Ink and Bone! Hope Mouse and your husband enjoy their rehearsals!
ReplyDeleteEustacia - Thank you! I am still not certain the shows won't be put off again, but it gives Mouse some hope at least. Thank you for stopping by.
DeleteI will be interesting to hear what you think of Ink and Bone!
ReplyDeleteMarg - I look forward to reading it! Thank you for visiting.
DeleteYour husband is a trooper for taking a role in Mouse's ballet production! Good luck to you all in the new school year. Parents, kids, and teachers have a difficult task ahead of them. Louisiana is not doing well during the pandemic, and local schools will be opening soon with a hybrid program.
ReplyDeleteJenclair - I think he enjoys being part of the ballets. :-) Thank you for the well wishes. Our county (and most of the state) is required to begin virtually until our numbers begin to go down. Our district gave all the students three options--hybrid, year long virtual, or homeschooling though, so not all kids will be going back when classrooms open again--although most will. It's such a challenging time for teachers, students, and their parents. I really feel for everyone. I hope you see some relief in Louisiana soon. I hope we all do.
DeleteThank you for stopping by.
I hope school goes well for your daughter. Experienced teachers are important. I saw that Kenya has decided to keep schools closed for a year, and make everyone repeat a grade. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteWe started watching the Star Wars movies when we were doing our in-person movie night, but we decided to wait to continue them until we can meet again in person. Whenever that will be.
I will be curious about what you think about Ink and Bone. All three possibilities were interesting, I thought.
Deb - Thank you. Yes, experience is a plus. I have a friend though who is concerned because her special needs son has a newer teacher. I don't think those new teachers should be written off--fresh ideas, perhaps more tech savvy, etc. We are all in this together and will be learning as we go. That's so interesting about Kenya. I have heard that idea floated around in the U.S. too, but I don't think the majority of people here would go along with that. I'm not sure what education will look like this year, but I guess we'll find out, won't we?
DeleteI am looking forward to reading Ink and Bone, but definitely do want to read the others as well. Thank you for visiting!
Good luck with school and Miss Mouse's first week. I know it's not what she wanted necessarily or even what you guys would prefer in a world without all the stuff we have now. However, best wishes to all. Schools in our area are having a variety of start dates though all are doing virtual for the first few weeks. So tough for everyone. My brother-in-law, an elementary art teacher, seems very torn about how things will go. He just keeps saying that in 26 years of teaching he never imagined...
ReplyDeleteHope you guys have a good week! Enjoy your new book pick!
Kay - Thank you. This whole school situation is definitely not ideal, but it is what it is and we just have to make the best of it. Our schools are all doing virtual to start as well, although some will continue and others will eventually go the hybrid way, depending on what families chose. I wish your brother-in-law well. I can't even imagine what it will be like for teachers. My brother is a special education teacher and my sister-in-law an elementary school teacher--both never imagined this either. It's going to be . . . interesting.
DeleteI hope you have a good week too. Thank you for stopping by!
I hope you enjoy the Great Library series as I did.
ReplyDeleteGood luck to Mouse and you with the resumption of school.
Wishing you a great reading week
Shelleyrae - I hope I enjoy the series too. I think I will. :-) Thank you for the well wishes for Mouse. And thank you for visiting!
DeleteCan't wait to hear what you think of Ink and Bone! Have a great week. :)
ReplyDeleteLark - I am looking forward to reading it. :-) Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteI hope you enjoy Ink and Bone! It sounds like such a great read. Have a wonderful week! :D
ReplyDeleteAshley - I hope it will be! I hope you have a great week too. Thank you for visiting.
DeletePraying for a great school year.
ReplyDeleteR - Thank you!
DeleteI hope everything goes well with school starting soon! My son starts online a week from Tuesday. It's going to be a big adjustment no matter what. So good luck on your end!
ReplyDeleteI'm a little over halfway through How to Be an Antiracist as well. I've had to take breaks. I hope to get back into this week. Love your cute kitty pics! Adorable.
Heather G. - Thank you. I wish the best for you and your son as well as he starts school next week.
DeleteI am finding that too with How to Be an Antiracist. I am enjoying it and find it very informative, but I am having to take breaks. That could be everything that is going on--all the distractions and my inability to focus for long. I hope to finish it this month.
Thank you for stopping by!
I have read one Rachel Caine book, Stillhouse Lake, and have Killman Creek on my Kindle. I really enjoyed the one I read, so I need to pick up the pace.
ReplyDeleteI hope all goes well with the school opening, and that everything is being done safely for all involved.
Have a great week, and thanks for visiting my blog.
Laurel-Rain - I haven't read that series of hers. I read her Weather Warden books, and enjoyed them. Thank you for the school well wishes! We've got the first day down now. That's a start! I hope you have a great week too. Thank you for visiting.
DeleteI voted for Ink and Bone so I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it. I've had a copy sitting on my shelf for a while now. I hope your daughter's first week of school goes smoothly. We start back on the 17th here and will also be all virtual so I'm curious to see how it all goes.
ReplyDeleteSuzanne - I am looking forward to reading Ink and Bone. Hopefully this first week will go smoothly. Today there were some hiccups, but minor in the scheme of things. Nothing we didn't really expect in one way or the other. It's a whole new world--this virtual learning. At least it feels like it to us. Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteEverything is do what you can right now. Reading tends to be moody at times. I voted for Ink & Bone. I really enjoyed the series. I hope the classes go well. I think some people may just opt for a gap year. Or find out that is what they need to do afterward. It depends on the child what will work for them.
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of My Heart Here is my Sunday Post
Anne - Yes, that's pretty much all we can do. Do what we can. My reading has definitely been on the moody side as of late. I am looking foward to reading Ink & Bone. I had hoped to dive in last night, but I ended up reading a bit more of my nonfiction read instead. Maybe this evening . . .
DeleteI've heard a few college students talk about opting for a gap year, and it might not be a bad idea.
Thank you for visiting!
Good luck with starting school! I feel the same way, I feel for the teachers who are having to make so many adjustments. I hope it goes well for you. We're not sure how it's going to go either.
ReplyDeleteI might have to try that Netflix show. It sounds good. I've seen it pop up on Netflix but didn't know what it was about. And Ink and Bone looks good. I've heard good things about that series. :)
Hope you have a great week!
Greg - I was glad to see so many people in the neighborhood FB group offering support to the teachers as they started teaching today. We all have to be patient and flexible right now.
DeleteI hope you like Cursed if you try it. I found it entertaining, although not one of those shows I would put on repeat to watch again necessarily.
Thank you for stopping by!
That is so sweet that you sent a supportive email to your daughter's teacher; I am sure it meant the world to him. I hope her school year starts off well, despite the circumstances.
ReplyDeleteHelen - Thank you! He sent a nice reply back. I figured he could use some words of comfort given how quickly everything went down once class lists were given out the end of last week. I don't think any of the teachers got any down time this past weekend! I really feel for them. So little time to prepare . . .
DeleteThank you for visiting!
Ink and Bone looks really good. I hope you enjoy it and have a great week!
ReplyDeleteYvonne - I am looking forward to reading Ink and Bone! I hope you have a great week too. Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteI still think the original Star Wars films are the best, the prequels and sequels never quite hit the mark.
ReplyDeleteI hope all goes well with the start of school, my daughters start to go back in the next couple of days, I’m a little nervous for them but I hopeful it will go well.
Have a lovely week.
Heather - I prefer the original Star Wars series too. I found out today my daughter's teacher is a Star Wars fan. His favorite movie is A New Hope. :-)
DeleteI wish your daughters the best with the start of their school year! Have a great week and thank you for visiting!
The play sounds fun. The kitty pictures are so cute.
ReplyDeleteMary - It's fun for all of us--although this time around it's wearing on us all given the circumstances. Hopefully they'll still get to perform, although I do worry about the safety factor. I love my kitties. :-) Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteFluffy kitty!! 😍
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Cursed but thought the second half of the season is where it hits its stride. The Weeping Monk was my favourite because I'm shallow and dig the actor! 😂
Hope you have a good week!
Nicci - She is so very fluffy! Haha. I agree with you about Cursed. The second half was definitely better than the first. I liked the Weeping Monk too. :-) Thank you for visiting!
DeleteI can't remember if that's the book I voted for but regardless I think you're going to be in for a fun read. I feel so bad for teachers and students when there is so much unknown. So glad that Mouse has started her classes and I loved the pictures you shared on Facebook. I hope it's a great first week for her!
ReplyDeleteIliana - I finished Ink and Bone this past weekend and really enjoyed it! Her first week went well. We'll see how this second week shapes up. :-) Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteGoing back to a favorite author is an excellent way to get out of a reading slump!
ReplyDeleteNice that your daughter is keeping up with dance in between schooling. I'm sure it's a welcome outlet when schooling is mostly remote now. I'll have to check out Cursed. I keep watching the same thing on Netflix and that will end at some point! Enjoy Ink and Bone!
Rachel - Reading a favorite author definitely helped. Dance is all remote right now too, although the studio is open for those families willing to bring their kids in. We're not quite there yet though. Thank you for visiting!
DeleteI think I may have gone with The Library of the Unwritten but then your winning book also sounds good.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear your news, that things have been put in place school wise for Mouse and she is able to keep up with her dance classes albeit both remotely.
Felicity - I ended up reading all three this month, and enjoyed them. Mouse is managing. I do feel bad things are the way they are for her though. Thank you for stopping by!
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