Welcome to the Sunday Post, a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer to share weekly news and updates on what we’ve been up to on our blog, with our books, and book-related happenings.
So Much Walking
Last week I found the perfect route to walk around my neighborhood, and as of this writing, I’ve walked it six times already! It also helps that the weather has been lovely. It looks like there’s going to be some rain this week, but I will do my best to go for walks when the weather is nice.
I also did a lot of cooking last week but forgot to take pictures except for a couple of them; steamed black bean pork ribs, and romaine lettuce cooked with fermented bean paste. They were both really yummy!
There was also miso soup, mapo tofu, gailan in oyster sauce, napa cabbage stir-fry, onion omelette, and I don’t remember what else. I’m so glad I’ve been walking a lot because I think I’d start putting on a lot of weight if I keep eating all these yummy food!
As for TV shows; we finally caved and resubscribed to Netflix again and we’ve been catching up on the shows we loved. I’m watching Formula 1: Drive to Survive Season 6 with my husband, and Blown Away Season 4 on my own. I love both these series so much and I guess I couldn’t resist when there were new seasons!
This weekend I’ve got two book discussions! I just had my in-person book club meeting Saturday morning for The Kite Runner, and the final check-in for The Count of Monte Cristo is happening Sunday morning! The discussion for The Kite Runner gave me a lot to think about, the book is just really good, and one of the other book club members got me interested in reading Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns as well.
I’m also looking forward to the discussion of The Count of Monte Cristo – there’s already been some discussion in the chats that incited some passion, and I’m excited for more of the same for the live discussion!
Overall, I’ve been in a weird mood. I told my husband there were times last week when I felt proud and productive for all I’ve managed to get done – the walks for my health, the reading and book reviews, the cooking, etc. But then I look at the things I didn’t get done – the laundry, organizing my library, half-done projects, and so many things I initially planned for that I’m not even close to starting, and I feel… antsy. I want to get them all done, and I know I have to sort of pace myself, work on my time management and energy. I don’t know if I’ll have to give up on some stuff, but I prefer not to. I’m just taking things one at a time and focusing on the good stuff.
All the happy things:
- I managed to catch up with all my book reviews!!
- I’m truly estatic for my new walking route – it’s so conducive to audiobook listening and I’ve just loved my walks!
- I finally finished books that have been on my TBR for ages!
- Two book club discussions in a single weekend! (And another one to look forward to next weekend!)
- The food!
The Books
Books I read last week:
- The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff – A 3-hour audiobook that went quickly, but what a joy to read! I feel like this is one I’d like to come back to over and over again.
- The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini – So good, so heartwrenching, so many feels! It’s just so well-written!
- Slewfoot by Brom – It’s better than The Child Thief, and I love the illustrations, but at the end of the day, I don’t think this author is for me. I’m glad I got it read though!
- Blitz by Daniel O’Malley – I read this halfway and had to return it, and finally got it back again and finished it! I expected to see more of the characters we met in the first two books, but this story is about brand new characters and we don’t see much of the past characters. It’s still good as a story in itself though!
- I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara – This has been on my TBR for years! I kept putting it off because of the dark subject matter and not being in the right frame of mind to go there. I finally decided to get it over with, and I’m so glad I did because it’s really worth reading!
Books I’m reading:
- The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande – A physician friend recommended this book to me more than 10 years ago, and I’m finally reading it now. I’m about 80% in.
- Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton – This is a graphic novel, and I’m really interested in it because I live in the Oil Sands province. I’m about 100 pages in.
- The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie – I’m only 2% in on this one, but I’m supposed to finish it in a week! 😭
Last Week on The Blog
- Top Ten Tuesday | Unread Books on my Shelves I Want to Read Soon
- Book Review | The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden
- Time Travel Thursday | April 25
- Book Review | The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
- Book Review | The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff
- Book Review | The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
- Book Review | Slewfoot by Brom
- Book Review | Blitz by Daniel O’Malley
- Book Review | I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara
This Week
I meant to read The Blade Itself last week, but I got distracted by other books, and now I’m not sure if I’ll be able to finish it in time for the discussion this upcoming weekend. It’s a longer book with a bigger cast of characters, I’ve been told, but I’ll try to finish it in time!
How was your week? I hope you had a great week last week, and I hope you have a great one again this week!
I read The Kite Runner years ago (before the movie came out). I’d actually read his second book first. Both were good, but I haven’t read any of his other novels.
Yay for catching up on your book reviews. I have mine read, but need to write up reviews. I love walking this time of year, glad you found the perfect route!
Looks like you had a good week. A new walking route is great. Ive managed to get rid of some baby weight just walking my eldest to and from school! Don’t beat yourself up about things that don’t get done, they will eventually 😂 I’ve learnt to be more relaxed as my 5 year old literally makes a mess as I am clearing up,he doesn’t even wait for me to finish 😂
Have a great week next week!
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/2024/04/28/sunday-post-124/
Also so excited for your new walking route! It’s not a walkable city where I live, so this isn’t an excitement I’ve felt since university, and I’m kind of jealous. 😀 I get the anxiety as well. I can feel so happy and accomplished one moment, but then I start thinking, and my bain goes into overdrive thinking of all the things I WANT to accomplish but haven’t. 🙁 Don’t worry, though, you’re doing the best you can, and that’s so awesome in itself! <3
How nice that you found a walking route that you love. My neighborhood is all steep hills so you have to strategize so that you don’t end you walk going uphill, lol (I live in the mountains). Have a good week!
I’m glad you are enjoying your walks. There are so many benefits for body and soul from walking! I liked I’ll Be Gone In The Dark too, especially the parts where she talks about her own life.
Laundry and dishes are just never ending and they take up so much time!
How lovely to find such a great walking route in your neighbourhood. We live in a crescent surrounded by very, very busy roads with lots of lorries thundering past and I don’t enjoy it at all. That said – a 10 minute drive takes me to the beach and I really think that now I’ve more energy, I should make time every day to walk along the seafront. Your food looks delicious – I particularly like the look of the romaine lettuce dish. Have a lovely week, Haze.
My week was ok i used to go for walks all the time but my caregiving job has become more demanding so i am not able to get out as much as i want to. I am glad that the weather is getting nicer out makes my view from my living room so much more enjoyable as we have a park across the street so all the squirrels are out and the birds are flying and the trees have leaves on them again. Kids are out playing and exploring spring has arrived. Hope you have a good reading week.
Yay for the walks! I am hoping to get back into them this week (weather permitting!). I also told my husband I want a bicycle. I want exercise options. I HIGHLY recommend the Fly Ladies method for getting into a good house cleaning routine! It works and you don’t have to do a lot each day. http://flylady.net/
I love the things you are doing. You do what you can. Our neighborhood is big and I have routes between a half mile and 2 miles. I like the variety. One of them is very hilly so I don’t take that as often. But the weather in the spring and fall is best for the longer walks – not too cold or too hot.
Anne – Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
Good for you for catching up on reviews! I feel like I’ll never manage it.
Blown Away is such a good show. It makes me wish I had a talent. I actually liked A Thousand Splendid Suns more than The Kite Runner, so I hope you get a chance to read it!
Walking is so good!! I’ve been loving this warmer weather and we have been getting out for walks too! Your food looks so yummy!! I hope you have a great week!!
A good walking route makes all the difference! Love your cooking. I never thought of cooking lettuce.
Jill
http://www.allthebooksihaventread.com/