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
Happy Sunday...or is it? I am not a fan of the time change and expect to be a grumpy goose all week. I struggle with sleep, and this just puts me out of wack. I say this every year - when will this madness end!
It's been a pretty average week of wake up, work, go to sleep. We had a visit from upper management this week and a meeting. They are trying to come up with solutions to make things smoother for my team with our crazy complaint volumes. Hopefully it slows down when tax season ends.
They have been doing work on NJ Transit which resulted in less trains and altered schedules, and NOW, they are preemptively telling us to expect delays as Amtrak changes the switch which is responsible for a lot of problems. I am sticking with my story that they should just run the trains between Newark and the end points of the train lines in NJ. Then, there is no drama with the tunnel. You can get to the city from Newark, you know.
At least the weather has been nice. The snow is almost all gone due to the higher temperatures. Loving it! The elevator in our building went out on Thursday, and now they are saying ti may be out for 6-8 weeks. My parents cannot do the stairs to the third floor, especially my mother. They claim a chair lift will be installed soon. I hope it's sooner than later, so my mother can get out.
On the Blog
Stacking the Shelves
I was pleased to get approved for the new Ethan Joella release. I really enjoy his books. I downloaded two other books. J. Rose Black is new to me, but I like Firkins' books. I never heard of Niall Williams, but I saw Four Letters of Love on sale in my BookBub newsletter, and it really sounds like a good fit for me. I also downloaded a freebie because it's set in Vegas, and I need that state for my reading challenge.
Netgalley/Edelweiss
- The Top of the World by Ethan Joella
- The Real Ones by J. Rose Black
- Philippa Flynn's Year of Panic and Piracy by Jacqueline Firkins
Purchased/Free
- Four Letters of Love by Niall Williams
- One Vegas Night by Mickey Miller
Read Last Week
My reading was solid. I started out a mess from The Paper Palace. I did not realize what it was about, so reading all those terrible things was tough, but there was also the typical literary fiction vulgarities that I tend to encounter when I dip my toe in that genre. I will say that the story was very compelling, and I had to finish it.
I cleared my palate with a cute romance (Key Ridge) and continued with romance the rest of the week. The Write Off was my highest rated of the week. It was a great second chance romance which got extra points for being set in a bookish world (authors, fandoms, etc). I may up my rating for Stranger Things Have Happened. Not sure, but I am still thinking about it (maybe 4.5 for it?).
My favorite audiobook was The Comeback. I like a redemption story, and I thought this was a fun one.
Find all my reviews on Goodreads
Books
- The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller - ★★★★
- Key Ridge by Allison Speka - ★★★★
- The Write Off by Kara McDowell - ★★★★ 1/2
- Stranger Things Have Happened by Kasie West - ★★★★
Audiobooks
- On Thin Ice by Kelly Jamieson - ★★★★
- The Comeback by Cynthia Gunderson - ★★★★
- The Favorite by Kiera Cass - ★★★★
Currently Reading
- Writers & Lovers by Lily King
- The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang
To Be Read
- When Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen
- Bumblebee Season by Eileen Garvin
- Your Soul Mail Is Attached by Joan F. Smith
Let us know in the comments!
Yay for the weather getting better but that sounds rough with the lift breaking down in your building! I hope that can be sorted out quickly so your mum can get out and about! Looks like you had a really solid reading week. I'm keen to see your thoughts on The Heart Principle and Lovers & Writers! Both are still on my TBR. Have a great week ahead, Sam!
ReplyDeleteLovers & Writers was good. King's style is different, but I like it. The writing was the same as in Heart the Lover (which I also really liked). I am still listening to The Heart Principle which I am enjoying so far.
DeleteWell I get you with the trains delay! We have a three days strike this week with minimal service so that will be fun!
ReplyDeleteThose strikes are popular in Europe. I would be unhappy.
DeleteThis time change is killing me - usually it doesn't hit me too bad, but I've been sleeping poorly anyway, so that's not helping! We did enjoy the nice weather this weekend, though!
ReplyDeleteI worked from home today and it wasn't so bad but I did force myself to stay awake when I woke up the first time on Sunday. Then I was tired at my normal time
DeleteI am also a grumpy goose. I have been awake since 5 AM, and I have accomplished pretty much nothing because I'm tired.
ReplyDeleteIt may pay off though if you can stay on your normal schedule.
DeleteI'm very weird in that the time change never bothers me. I'm just happy to have more light. I hope it doesn't take you too long to adjust.
ReplyDeleteYou are lucky! I work early in the morning, so I it was nice having light then.
DeleteIt sucks when there are problems like that. We used to have amtrak here but now we don't, not for years. No trains at all.
ReplyDeleteThat's so odd for me. I grew up in NYC and always had Jersey Transit. Wow!
DeleteThis time change was not a fun one. It was early this year and I don't like going back to it being dark when I leave for work. Hope your train situation improves. I wouldn't be happy.
ReplyDeleteThat's how I feel. Beginning of the day or end of the day - for me, I like more light in the morning.
DeleteIt's nice that your weather is getting better, but sorry about the train issues and the elevator. I hope they get it sorted so your mom can get out. That sounds like a landlord tennant legal issue to me. I loved that cow video. I also thought they were pretty stoic and just stood around eating grass. They were quite nimble. I am jealous that you got the new Ethan Joella book. I always have to wait and get his from the library. I hope you're having a great week, Sam.
ReplyDeleteIt was the township that closed down the elevator as unsafe. They are putting in a chairlift but it won't be in until the 25th. Mom went out a bit, but she needs someone to go up and down with her. Surprising for cows, right? I read Joella, and now I try to get ARCs of them all. His books are great.
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