tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63185555806127207982024-03-05T18:27:27.715-05:00Reading on a Rainy DayRamblings on books, children, & life.
Mostly coherent. Sometimes not.Athirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.comBlogger1059125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-59429767042457184912022-03-10T00:00:00.002-05:002022-03-10T00:00:00.172-05:00Infinite Country by Patricia Engel | Thoughts<p> <u>Published</u>: 2021 || <u>Format</u>: print || <u>Location</u>: Colombia</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaC8YmY5W4nBGsE50cVFqFXTF_BpgcAFJCg_9_n6TMbJchAt9IW9jAG4pmGDrtPoWfpKIRhaZvtPIMLLo3CLIFsQ1bNYCtk9JVruLghYWTXEjdUjFT5kj3CZPvBX5SRjBnCL12Ghk5zduP5FPCHNhNHdX3loIBQwQ0hVuSLAPXBTFqNzgF_I6tt3yD=s400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="259" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaC8YmY5W4nBGsE50cVFqFXTF_BpgcAFJCg_9_n6TMbJchAt9IW9jAG4pmGDrtPoWfpKIRhaZvtPIMLLo3CLIFsQ1bNYCtk9JVruLghYWTXEjdUjFT5kj3CZPvBX5SRjBnCL12Ghk5zduP5FPCHNhNHdX3loIBQwQ0hVuSLAPXBTFqNzgF_I6tt3yD=s320" width="207" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p> </p><blockquote>What was it about the country that kept everyone hostage to its fantasy? The previous month, on its own soil, an American man went to his job at a plant and gunned down fourteen coworkers, and last spring alone there were four different school shootings. A nation at war with itself, yet people still spoke of it as some kind of paradise..</blockquote><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><u>Thoughts</u>:</p><p style="text-align: start;"><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781982159467" target="_blank">Infinite Country</a> follows two characters - young Talia, who at the beginning of this book, escapes a girl’s reform school in North Colombia so that she can make her previously booked flight to the US. Before she can do that, she needs to travel many miles to reach her father and get her ticket to the rest of her family. As we follow Talia’s treacherous journey south, we learn about how she ended up in the reform school in the first place and why half her family resides in the US. <i>Infinite Country</i> tells the story of her family through the other protagonist, Elena (Talia’s mother), an undocumented immigrant in the US. Elena and her two older children weren’t always undocumented. She and her husband Mauro arrived in the US for the short term to make some money to fend their growing family. But their decision to ignore exit dates costs them dearly when Mauro is caught one day and then deported.</p><p style="text-align: start;"><i>Infinite Country</i> was one of my last few reads in 2021 and it was a stellar one. It’s short and fast paced and the story is very hard to put down. Trigger warning first though - there is some graphic animal abuse in here and also rape.</p><p style="text-align: start;">I think it's important to say upfront that <i>Infinite Country</i> does not try to change anyone’s beliefs about illegal immigration, undocumented immigrants, deportation, or family separation at the border. Personally, I don't think arguing about these topics will get us anywhere near a suitable solution. But then one can always ask, does the US even need to debate moral opinions when someone is in the country illegally? There are a whole host of opinions on that as well, of course.</p><p style="text-align: start;">Instead, this book shows you what one family goes through when they choose to stay in the US despite their visa expiring and also how some people may try often to come to the US through not very legal means. As I said, the author isn’t trying to change your mind. The circumstances in the book are extremely clear as are the actions of the characters.</p><p style="text-align: start;">The author instead does a great job of getting you interested in this family’s trials and triumphs. To be separated from your family and stay that way for years only to finally meet and not feel like you know them has to be extremely difficult. To be deported and still ask the rest of your family to stay put, knowing there is no way you will be able to get back to the US legally has to be a very difficult decision to make. And yet, we know from countless real-life stories that this happens.</p><p style="text-align: start;">As someone very privileged to have all my family members and friends accounted for, the very idea of separation (even long-term) just so some of your family can have a chance at a decent future was a sobering thought. But the author shows well why they find it harder to stay home. It's not just the great American freedom but is also not wanting your kids to suffer as you did. I loved the book and I appreciated how the author told the story without taking sides. It was hard to not cheer for this family in moments of closeness. </p><p style="text-align: start;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><i>What is your favorite book about undocumented immigrants?</i></b></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright © 2009-2022. Reading on a Rainy Day. All rights reserved. This post was originally posted by Athira from Reading on a Rainy Day. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.
</div>Athirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-60537291873861802362022-03-01T00:00:00.101-05:002022-03-01T00:00:00.171-05:00March '22 Reading Plans<p>Look at me making reading plans here, when I'm reading at a snail pace. Hilarious! Still, the act of making plans does make me want to read more, even if that feeling lasts only a few days.</p><p><br /></p><h2>February review</h2><p>This was my least read February in years. My first half of a year are usually reading-heavy. But life got in the way very early this time. Below is what I planned to read in February and what I did read. Lots of abandons, which I'm not surprised by.</p><p></p><ol><li><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062060624" target="_blank">The Song of Achilles</a> by Madeline Miller - <b>read</b>. it took me a while to finish this book, but I loved reading every minute of it. Highly recommend!</li><li><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780316229265" target="_blank">The Obelisk Gate</a> by N.K. Jemisin - <b><i>reading</i></b></li><li><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781478930150" target="_blank">Presence</a> by Amy Cuddy - <i>abandoned</i>. I had plans to read this book but I didn't get to it. I still plan to read it but maybe later.</li><li><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781400095209" target="_blank">Half of a Yellow Sun</a> by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - <i>abandoned</i>. This was a spillover from January. I know I want to read this book one day, but I need to get off my scifi/fantasy kick first.</li><li><i>Deadpool Classic Vol. 2, 3, 4</i> - <i>abandoned</i>. I didn't make these books second month in a row, so I think I'll let these rest for a month and reconsider next month.</li></ol><div>The only other book (more like a short) I read in February was <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60166392-saga-56" target="_blank">Saga issue 56</a> by Brian Vaughan and Fiona Staples.</div><p></p><p><br /></p><h2>March Goals</h2><p>Alright, I'm going to try being realistic here. I may not read more than a book or two. One of that is going to be my current read - <i>The Obelisk Gate</i>. Beyond that, I have five books from the library that I'd like to read as well. March is going to be very busy on the personal front. We have decided to brave through a trip to Disney World this month. The kids have been getting older through the pandemic and we've been feeling sad about not being able to go. So this will be very exciting but we will be cautious as well. Even though it's a few weeks away, we are trying to plan well so we don't get too caught up in the crowd. That'll keep me busy next few weekends.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIwprTJV6Zmo87X-G4sf6LXGCl1AXi7NhGvl1a4d_LeJ_ffMw41Bj51SMkHg7vAARoD5EfoJ9cAeiCPcnp6-jmXpBbe9J15ZTntsCnuH2ZvMCciBt1fDUUPCLqB4V24O_pG5oLOU1ax5Tu9Vkq_KYdSwQQuCikUoA2ANwZZT5cjKdZJvT-_PZ0hwtl=s1275" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="791" data-original-width="1275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIwprTJV6Zmo87X-G4sf6LXGCl1AXi7NhGvl1a4d_LeJ_ffMw41Bj51SMkHg7vAARoD5EfoJ9cAeiCPcnp6-jmXpBbe9J15ZTntsCnuH2ZvMCciBt1fDUUPCLqB4V24O_pG5oLOU1ax5Tu9Vkq_KYdSwQQuCikUoA2ANwZZT5cjKdZJvT-_PZ0hwtl=s16000" width="500" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I would also love to do a readathon one of these weekends. That always helps with my reading. Not sure when I'll get to it. Most of my March books are intended to be books I can read quickly or put down at any time, so I may be able to easily make a dent once I start reading.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><b><i>What are you planning to do in March?</i></b></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright © 2009-2022. Reading on a Rainy Day. All rights reserved. This post was originally posted by Athira from Reading on a Rainy Day. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.
</div>Athirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-8560750967602646802022-02-27T00:00:00.134-05:002022-02-27T00:00:00.156-05:00And there goes February | Weekly Snapshot<p>This month sure went by quickly.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj0bY2Bc4u55OkBM322ysJTMXnZyCeVMP78yt7GfqJqxpx8RzPrqxHWBA1jgyFdXUFe7uey3o6MEoK-dzE6xPgNMSPJkxBtZh3zVgW_PUyRSqBm0HU9hjdDnJ57BjBO9fMTmc6eC0HUw/s1600/WeeklySnapshot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj0bY2Bc4u55OkBM322ysJTMXnZyCeVMP78yt7GfqJqxpx8RzPrqxHWBA1jgyFdXUFe7uey3o6MEoK-dzE6xPgNMSPJkxBtZh3zVgW_PUyRSqBm0HU9hjdDnJ57BjBO9fMTmc6eC0HUw/s1600/WeeklySnapshot.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2>Around us</h2><p>I just want to take a moment and share just how distressed I am reading about the war in Ukraine. I know that feeling is nothing compared to the terror that the people in Ukraine are going through. To think that a nation can choose to attack another, just because they believe the latter is not legit. I have no words. I pray that it ends soon but I also know I will be incensed if Putin walks free after all this.</p><p>Meanwhile, nearby in Texas, we have the governor opining that gender affirming care is child abuse. </p><p>I don't know if I mentioned this on the blog but a few months ago, my city had passed an ordinance criminalizing abortion. (Thankfully all the proponents of that law got booted out within a month (in last year's elections) and the new council promptly removed that ordinance.</p><p>Nation or persons choosing to believe that another nation or person are not legit. This is what comes out of this. Just how long does one have to fight for their rights? Is that even a requirement now to be alive?</p><p><br /></p><h2>Life and Work</h2><p>Work has been, no surprise, busy again, creeping into my weekends as well. A lot of it is due to my role change two months ago so I am hoping it stabilizes soon. That of course is a big reason for my disappearance from the blog this month. We'll see if it gets better next month - I hope it does, or I'm going to have to re-evaluate how to take this blog forward.</p><p>I've also revived my husband's 3DS and started playing a Pokemon game. The last time I played Pokemon, I had just graduated from four years of college. It's certainly been a while but it's as exciting as I remember it to be. This is the other reason my reading and blogging slowed down but I think I needed something very distracting. It really helps with what's going on everywhere. </p><p>This will be a birthday week for the husband so we're looking forward to some celebrations. </p><p><br /></p><h2>Reading</h2><p>I finished reading <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062060624" target="_blank">The Song of Achilles</a> sometime last week. I am glad this book was so beautiful and so well-written or I would have fallen into a reading slump, considering it took me three weeks to read this fast-paced book. I now get why this book was popular and completely agree that it is a must-read. It was worth every bit of high praise it got. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwyGuskxBbH9C8xTIRI0CXJ8BNtr7NrYGNI_zAZCMVAOQX8k4eXzj19ENZZj7pdsI6V7zrLfU2NdwvMCGa_3qj2a4Zi95PdEJtG4X4q6WtFJM87Zd_qvbCxErataz3rZHCrstjACfyPE6NOxakxfEnyOf1Rw-IRS9OVgh57USyHkzZMks_YaL0qcaq=s1002" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="1002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwyGuskxBbH9C8xTIRI0CXJ8BNtr7NrYGNI_zAZCMVAOQX8k4eXzj19ENZZj7pdsI6V7zrLfU2NdwvMCGa_3qj2a4Zi95PdEJtG4X4q6WtFJM87Zd_qvbCxErataz3rZHCrstjACfyPE6NOxakxfEnyOf1Rw-IRS9OVgh57USyHkzZMks_YaL0qcaq=s16000" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>I did start reading <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781250174666" target="_blank">The Echo Wife</a> next but I don't think I'll continue with it now. I am still yearning for core fantasy or science fiction so I'll continue down that path. I know <i>The Echo Wife</i> has some science fiction elements but not what I'm looking for at the moment. So instead, I'm (finally) reading <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780316229265" target="_blank">The Obelisk Gate</a>, which is the second book in <i>The Broken Earth</i> trilogy. As with <a href="http://www.readingonarainyday.com/2022/02/the-fifth-season-by-n-k-jemisin-thoughts.html" target="_blank">The Fifth Season</a>, I struggled with the first chapter but once that was done, it has been smooth sailing. This will probably be my read for the next two weeks.</p><p><br /></p><h2>Watching</h2><p><b>Star Trek Discovery</b> - I love how this show has constantly been going to the extremes of space travel all these seasons. No different this time either with the travel to beyond the Milky Way. Cannot wait to see how this is going to end (in 3 episodes). And oh yay, a new season of <b>Picard</b> starts this week! My Trekkie fan is having all kinds of crazy fan moments.</p><p><b>Despicable Me 1 & 2 </b>movies - Last two Fridays, we've watched the Despicable Me movies. I had never watched the movies before so I could not fully embrace the allure of the Minions. But now, I can.</p><p><br /></p><h2>On the blog</h2><ul><li><a href="http://www.readingonarainyday.com/2022/02/the-fifth-season-by-n-k-jemisin-thoughts.html" target="_blank">The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin</a> - Thoughts</li></ul><p></p><p><br /></p><p><b><i>How are you all doing? With all the stress lately, please remember to take care of yourself.</i></b></p><p><br /></p><p>Linking with <a href="https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz</a> and <a href="https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/" target="_blank">The Sunday Post at Caffeinated Reviewer</a>. </p><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright © 2009-2022. Reading on a Rainy Day. All rights reserved. This post was originally posted by Athira from Reading on a Rainy Day. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.
</div>Athirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-10064251604231193202022-02-23T00:00:00.004-05:002022-02-23T00:00:00.184-05:00The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin | Thoughts<p><u>Published</u>: 2015 || <u>Format</u>: ebook || <u>Location</u>: A different Earth</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1QMd6X97mWPvBvhTrhMNjg46enOzdQLOrXqoKVQouE7D1rZivB1FGfP1gbm3wkc3MW794xZNCD1S9jcrkGX39u4qs8f350mZmC3rqV0C1RDFa_HgeysEBCeO_iEqoYmzA3HjbZkJ8nYR84KuFy1F-EZyCYg0V24zsPcGYNw_oYGgwfMrpGmCTHlAy=s400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1QMd6X97mWPvBvhTrhMNjg46enOzdQLOrXqoKVQouE7D1rZivB1FGfP1gbm3wkc3MW794xZNCD1S9jcrkGX39u4qs8f350mZmC3rqV0C1RDFa_HgeysEBCeO_iEqoYmzA3HjbZkJ8nYR84KuFy1F-EZyCYg0V24zsPcGYNw_oYGgwfMrpGmCTHlAy=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><u>One line summary</u>: When the world is ending, what is more important - survival or revenge? If you are Essun, your answer may be revenge, but in her search for it, she has to figure out how to survive as well.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p> </p><blockquote>Home is what you take with you, not what you leave behind.</blockquote><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><u>Thoughts</u>:</p><p style="text-align: left;">I must have had this book on my Kindle ever since it was released. There was a lot of hype then and although I always enjoy epic fantasy series, I don’t read them often enough due to having to wait for the next book (in the case of ongoing series) or not being sure if the series is for me (even though I know I don't need to read the rest of the series, it still feels like a commitment). This quarter, one of my online book clubs is reading N.K. Jemisin’s <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/112296-the-broken-earth" target="_blank">The Broken Earth Trilogy</a>. I decided it was finally time to read the books. </p><p style="text-align: left;">First of all, trigger warnings - there is a lot about child abuse, endangerment, and murder in here. Had I known beforehand, I doubt I would have read the book. Ultimately I am glad I read it but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel disturbed by the tragedies.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780316229296" target="_blank">The Fifth Season</a> tells the story through the eyes of three protagonists - a girl named Damaya, a young woman named Syenite, and a middle-aged mother of two, Essun. The book starts with Essun’s story (in second person). Essun’s daughter is missing and her son has been murdered by her husband. I guess I could have stopped reading at that meeting (see re: trigger note above). Actually I did when I started the book two months ago, and it took me several weeks before I could steel myself to read the rest. It turns out Essun is what this world calls an orogene - they can draw power from a warm entity (the earth or other humans if they are looking to kill) and they can use that power to cause or stop earthquakes, volcanoes, or other geographical calamities. Clearly this is a lot of power which can be used for good but has also been used for bad and hence, orogenes are shunned in most societies. They also are expected to always be accompanied by a guardian (someone who knows how to control orogenes and prevent them from using their power).</p><p style="text-align: left;">When we meet Damaya, her mother had just discovered that she was an orogene and had summoned a guardian to take her away. That meeting between Damaya and her guardian reveals a lot about the balance of power between their kinds. Syenite is a four-ringed orogene (depending on their education and skills, they can get up to ten rings) who has just been paired with another orogene, Alabaster, to err... copulate and make babies. This did feel extremely weird to read about but it was written with so much clinical rationalization that it was quick to accept. They depart almost immediately on a mission which changes the path of their lives drastically.</p><p style="text-align: left;">There is so much more that happens here. As an epic fantasy, this book delivers. There is magic, there is a cost to the magic, there are good and bad people, there is tragedy. There is also enough diversity to feel epic. For instance, other than orogenes, guardians, and regular humans, there are even more powerful beings called stone-eaters, one of whom is Essun's companion as she leaves town searching for her husband. </p><p style="text-align: left;">It is initially clear from reading the three stories that the three protagonists belong in different eras. Essun's is undergoing a Season - which is a period when the earth is undergoing a life-altering event (similar to ice age or plagues) - and everyone is focused on one thing - survival. Some seem to know that this Season could last several millenia and for a Season that long, humanity could go extinct long before the Season ends. And although Essun is searching for her husband (to kill him), she is also trying to survive the disaster that the earth is going through. To say more would be to spoil the story lines but I will say that when more is revealed about the three protagonists, I was wowed.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I haven't started the second book yet so I don't know how the story progresses. But I have it available from the library and hope to start it after my current read.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><i>What is your favorite epic series (fantasy or otherwise)?</i></b></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright © 2009-2022. Reading on a Rainy Day. All rights reserved. This post was originally posted by Athira from Reading on a Rainy Day. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.
</div>Athirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-62039479023741569492022-02-13T00:00:00.131-05:002022-02-13T00:00:00.169-05:00Who Dey! | Weekly Snapshot<p>Woot, I have no idea where the week went.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj0bY2Bc4u55OkBM322ysJTMXnZyCeVMP78yt7GfqJqxpx8RzPrqxHWBA1jgyFdXUFe7uey3o6MEoK-dzE6xPgNMSPJkxBtZh3zVgW_PUyRSqBm0HU9hjdDnJ57BjBO9fMTmc6eC0HUw/s1600/WeeklySnapshot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj0bY2Bc4u55OkBM322ysJTMXnZyCeVMP78yt7GfqJqxpx8RzPrqxHWBA1jgyFdXUFe7uey3o6MEoK-dzE6xPgNMSPJkxBtZh3zVgW_PUyRSqBm0HU9hjdDnJ57BjBO9fMTmc6eC0HUw/s1600/WeeklySnapshot.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2>Life and Work</h2><p>I had several work situations pop up this week and that severely derailed my routines this week. We had to support releases to one of our customers in Singapore this week which made for extremely long days and nights. It was exhausting. I feel for those who had to do this multiple days and are working through the weekend as well. After five busy days, I ended up lounging around on Saturday feeling aimless but also not wanting to be in front of the computer for any reason.</p><p>We got some crazy amount of snow last week. It started off as icy precipitation, due to which schools were called off and everyone was encouraged to stay home. Snow came much later which caused one more day to be called off. The kids had a ton of fun playing in the snow. It was too cold but it was fun as well.</p><p><br /></p><h2>It's Who Dey, SunDey!</h2><p>Well well well to those who follow, it's Super bowl tonight. This is one term you haven't heard me use on this blog before. I don't watch or follow the game and don't usually do watch parties. But with the Bengals in the game tonight, this city has been celebrating for weeks! It's raining orange and black over here everywhere I go. Yeah, it's that big a deal since the last time the Bengals went to the Super Bowl was in '89. </p><p>Anyways, even though I don't follow the game, I couldn't not get infected by all the enthusiasm over here. The schools came very close to cancelling school for Monday. I, for one, am glad that did not happen. Sorry to the fans, but as I was telling someone the other day, win or not, work will need to go on and it unfortunately doesn't when the kids are home, as happened during the not one, but two snow days last week.</p><p>If you're not a Rams fan, cheer for the Bengals :-) </p><p><br /></p><h2>Reading</h2><p>I have been reading <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062060624" target="_blank">The Song of Achilles</a> for far longer than I intended to. The book is beautifully written - I love it when an author leaves me feeling that I will read anything they write. I am not one to read ancient mythologies - read too much of that in high school, didn't care then, don't care now. But I may be coming around now thanks to Madeline Miller. The best compliment I can give is that even the sex scenes she writes do not make me cringe (written sex scenes have always made me cringe and wonder why people even try). </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwyGuskxBbH9C8xTIRI0CXJ8BNtr7NrYGNI_zAZCMVAOQX8k4eXzj19ENZZj7pdsI6V7zrLfU2NdwvMCGa_3qj2a4Zi95PdEJtG4X4q6WtFJM87Zd_qvbCxErataz3rZHCrstjACfyPE6NOxakxfEnyOf1Rw-IRS9OVgh57USyHkzZMks_YaL0qcaq=s1002" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="1002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwyGuskxBbH9C8xTIRI0CXJ8BNtr7NrYGNI_zAZCMVAOQX8k4eXzj19ENZZj7pdsI6V7zrLfU2NdwvMCGa_3qj2a4Zi95PdEJtG4X4q6WtFJM87Zd_qvbCxErataz3rZHCrstjACfyPE6NOxakxfEnyOf1Rw-IRS9OVgh57USyHkzZMks_YaL0qcaq=s16000" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Next up for me will be <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780316229265" target="_blank">The Obelisk Gate</a>, which is the second book in <i>The Broken Earth</i> trilogy. And then maybe <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781250174666" target="_blank">The Echo Wife</a> that I've heard so much about. I realized recently that I'm reading more genre books than I ever did in the past at one go. Some of that is by design - these are what some of my book clubs are reading. But also, I'm finding that I cannot do too intense lit fiction right now. I want to be able to return to the book I'm reading when I've had a busy and tiring day. That's what <i>The Song of Achilles</i> is doing right now and <i>The Fifth Season</i> did before.</p><p><br /></p><h2>Watching</h2><p><b>Star Trek Prodigy</b> - The first season is finally finished. As a show marketed to kids, I felt this show exceeded all expectations. My daughter loved it, the husband and I loved it too. That last season was so exciting to watch and it seems to promise an exciting homecoming for those who enjoyed the Voyager show.</p><p><b>Star Trek Discovery</b> - it's back! Although I feel the first couple of seasons were its better seasons, this one is also good. I somehow prefer the Federation in the earlier centuries where it was recognized. This feels like a lost and disconnected world.</p><p><b>Rumble </b>movie - We picked this one for our Friday family movie night. I have to say this was completely different from what we usually watch but it was also oh-so-much-fun. Highly recommend!</p><p><br /></p><h2>On the blog</h2><ul><li><a href="http://www.readingonarainyday.com/2022/02/february-22-reading-plans.html" target="_blank">February '22 Plans</a></li></ul><p></p><p><br /></p><p><b><i>What are your plans for today? And an early Happy Valentine's and Galentine's Day to anyone who celebrates!</i></b></p><p><br /></p><p>Linking with <a href="https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz</a> and <a href="https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/" target="_blank">The Sunday Post at Caffeinated Reviewer</a>. </p><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright © 2009-2022. Reading on a Rainy Day. All rights reserved. This post was originally posted by Athira from Reading on a Rainy Day. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.
</div>Athirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-63697803956107491042022-02-03T00:00:00.104-05:002022-02-03T00:00:00.193-05:00February '22 Reading Plans<p>And just like that, we are into February.</p><p><br /></p><h2>January review</h2><p>I got some reading done in January but it wasn't as much as I wanted to. Most of the first half went into reading <i>There There</i>, which I hoped was a quick read but turned out to be a book I could only read a few pages at a time. By the time I finished it, I was in real danger of being in a slump, but thankfully I gave <i>The Fifth Season</i> a few pages - that one pulled me in from the beginning and never let go. I'm still in the book hangover and cannot wait to read the sequel.</p><p><i>This is what I planned to read in January:</i></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><b><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780525436140" target="_blank">There There</a> by Tommy Orange - read</b></li><li><b><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780316229296" target="_blank">The Fifth Season</a> by N.K. Jemisin - read</b></li><li><i><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062060624" target="_blank">The Song of Achilles</a> by Madeline Miller - currently reading</i></li><li><strike><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780679759324" target="_blank">Hotel Du Lac</a> by Anita Brookner</strike></li><li><strike><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781400095209" target="_blank">Half of a Yellow Sun</a> by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie</strike></li><li><strike>Deadpool Classic Vol. 2, 3, 4</strike></li></ol><div><i>Other books read:</i></div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://indiebound.org/book/9781452131559" target="_blank">Are We There Yet?</a> by Nina Laden</li><li><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781368051743" target="_blank">Frozen Olaf's Night Before Christmas</a></li><li><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062367549" target="_blank">The New One Minute Manager</a> by Ken Blanchard</li><li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/59664153" target="_blank">Saga issue 55</a> by Brian Vaughan</li></ol></div><p></p><p>So that's not much but it kept for an interesting reading month.</p><p>One of my goals this year was to read a new series or two. And Jemisin's <i>The Fifth Season</i> gets that going. I am glad that it also turned out to be a series I'm enjoying a lot. I already have the next book from the library and plan to start right after <i>The Song of Achilles</i>.</p><p><i>In case anyone's sensing a trend here... yes, I seem to be on a fantasy or science fiction kick right now. That's what I'm feeling like reading at the moment (after years of not reading the genre much) so a lot of my reading choices are reflecting that.</i></p><p>Another of my goals is to read more book club books. So far it looks like a lot of my reading is that. <i>The Fifth Season</i>, <i>There There</i>, <i>The Song of Achilles</i> are all book club selections. </p><p></p><p><br /></p><h2>February Goals</h2><p>Over the last few days, I have been going down a gaming spiral. I've been having a world building game itch that I'm trying to appease but not finding something that I'm liking. I think I'm just looking for a release after a full and very busy workday. Hence the absence from the blog as well. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEei-87Gd2SWcI-6g5XymL72cFm9cxZPYWFx--mFkiNk35HYw8NNMpVixwDH0I4iiObbU-j9IDzElm2sPiJfpHj7ItsZJyEtTrWYo0gLtATIgQu5VUko7F289LPOtmfyk-a346r0GY7csJAIonUG0muKc0_JO6vBcZ-1TvmgFeCvvNT2SI7g7oD6h7=s1150" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="852" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEei-87Gd2SWcI-6g5XymL72cFm9cxZPYWFx--mFkiNk35HYw8NNMpVixwDH0I4iiObbU-j9IDzElm2sPiJfpHj7ItsZJyEtTrWYo0gLtATIgQu5VUko7F289LPOtmfyk-a346r0GY7csJAIonUG0muKc0_JO6vBcZ-1TvmgFeCvvNT2SI7g7oD6h7=s16000" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I know for a short month, my February is looking full. We'll see if I make much progress but I do want to try and read some of these that are spilling from January. I've been reading <i>Presence</i> extremely slowly - I intended for it to be my audiobook listen but I have not been finding time to do audiobooks. So I may just get the print version and read that one instead. Ultimately, this is what my TBR looks like at the moment but I may abandon what's not working or what I am not in the mood for.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><b><i>Have you read any of these?</i></b></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright © 2009-2022. Reading on a Rainy Day. All rights reserved. This post was originally posted by Athira from Reading on a Rainy Day. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.
</div>Athirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-27810330633624064852022-01-23T09:35:00.001-05:002022-01-23T09:35:34.251-05:00Down with the sniffles | Weekly Snapshot<p>Hello fellow readers and bloggers! Sorry I'm late getting the post up this week.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj0bY2Bc4u55OkBM322ysJTMXnZyCeVMP78yt7GfqJqxpx8RzPrqxHWBA1jgyFdXUFe7uey3o6MEoK-dzE6xPgNMSPJkxBtZh3zVgW_PUyRSqBm0HU9hjdDnJ57BjBO9fMTmc6eC0HUw/s1600/WeeklySnapshot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj0bY2Bc4u55OkBM322ysJTMXnZyCeVMP78yt7GfqJqxpx8RzPrqxHWBA1jgyFdXUFe7uey3o6MEoK-dzE6xPgNMSPJkxBtZh3zVgW_PUyRSqBm0HU9hjdDnJ57BjBO9fMTmc6eC0HUw/s1600/WeeklySnapshot.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2>Life</h2><p>Since the last three days, my husband and I have been down with the sniffles, congestion, and occasionally fever as well. My husband took a test and thankfully it was negative. It doesn't make it feel any more bearable though - I spent much of yesterday sleeping - but today it looks like I'm on the bend. I just hope the kids don't catch it too.</p><p>Not much of significance this week. The husband and I have been talking about investing in real estate for a while. We had been looking at properties for weeks and had put in offers for couple of them this past week. One of them didn't pan out but the other did. So we are pretty excited about starting this new chapter. Shopping for an investment property is such a complete different ballgame from buying a house. For starters, it doesn't help to visualize living in the property simply because my needs could be different from those of a typical renter in the area. Still, we are pretty happy with the property overall.</p><p><br /></p><h2>Today</h2><p>Work is going to be very busy this week, a spillover from last week, so I am looking forward to a quiet Sunday. Our local B&N had recently closed their previous location to move to a new spot. They just had their opening last week but I hadn't been able to stop by yet. If it works out, I may plan to check out the place today. </p><p><br /></p><h2>Reading</h2><p>After mentioning it for weeks, I finally started <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780316229296" target="_blank">The Fifth Season</a> this week. And now I'm left wondering why I waited so long. I blazed through half the book already and expect to finish it in the next couple of days. Jemisin's writing is very engrossing and hard to put down. At one point I realized, I'm not quite sure where the book is going for all but one of the characters (I have a guess where they'll connect) - and I realized I didn't mind. I could keep reading the book for as long as needed. Jemisin makes you care about every single character, no matter who. There are no flat characters in here - they are all well-rounded and complicated. </p><p>I'm still slowly listening to Amy Cuddy's <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780316256575" target="_blank">Presence</a>. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhx2byNw7HQEeRocNvMGKMAzHMhyGpEyUL4HYppCq9LqyRoi3iJTCJLh_H4Gjkj0Bn_ByrotuPBcQ6dvS_d3AkN4XCPrxHsat1iH8ux734QcgAOIR2oRxK8EJV5ry1AR-iMYnagIeFfs1zkUjIAvdDU9q1vaDN-M5DSc6xmrMAUyWrUhzHqbikvyqVe=s1245" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="1245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhx2byNw7HQEeRocNvMGKMAzHMhyGpEyUL4HYppCq9LqyRoi3iJTCJLh_H4Gjkj0Bn_ByrotuPBcQ6dvS_d3AkN4XCPrxHsat1iH8ux734QcgAOIR2oRxK8EJV5ry1AR-iMYnagIeFfs1zkUjIAvdDU9q1vaDN-M5DSc6xmrMAUyWrUhzHqbikvyqVe=s16000" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>For my next book, I was planning on <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062060624" target="_blank">The Song of Achilles</a>. I know this book won a lot of great reviews when it was released. I sampled a few pages yesterday and decided I wanted to read it too. That said, depending on how <i>The Fifth Season</i> ends, I may decide to just continue with <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780316229265" target="_blank">the trilogy</a>. We'll see. </p><p><br /></p><h2>Watching</h2><p><b>Star Trek Prodigy</b> - Just a couple more episodes left to round out the season! We are enjoying this kid-friendly series more than we expected to. I was looking forward to Picard starting last week, but apparently that's more than a month away, oh well.</p><p><b>Boss Baby 2 </b>movie - After somewhat enjoying the first Boss Baby movie, we all sat down on Friday movie night to watch the follow up. My kids liked it. I still feel the babies are too weird in the movie so I found it okay.</p><p><br /></p><h2>On the blog</h2><ul><li><a href="http://www.readingonarainyday.com/2022/01/pandemic-fatigue-weekly-snapshot.html" target="_blank">Pandemic-fatigue</a></li></ul><p></p><p><br /></p><p><b><i>What are you currently reading or watching?</i></b></p><p><br /></p><p>Linking with <a href="https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz</a> and <a href="https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/" target="_blank">The Sunday Post at Caffeinated Reviewer</a>. </p><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright © 2009-2022. Reading on a Rainy Day. All rights reserved. This post was originally posted by Athira from Reading on a Rainy Day. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.
</div>Athirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-47534513789744385392022-01-16T00:00:00.143-05:002022-01-16T00:00:00.169-05:00Pandemic-fatigue | Weekly Snapshot<p>It got busy this week! Lots going on at home, work, and otherwise as well. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj0bY2Bc4u55OkBM322ysJTMXnZyCeVMP78yt7GfqJqxpx8RzPrqxHWBA1jgyFdXUFe7uey3o6MEoK-dzE6xPgNMSPJkxBtZh3zVgW_PUyRSqBm0HU9hjdDnJ57BjBO9fMTmc6eC0HUw/s1600/WeeklySnapshot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj0bY2Bc4u55OkBM322ysJTMXnZyCeVMP78yt7GfqJqxpx8RzPrqxHWBA1jgyFdXUFe7uey3o6MEoK-dzE6xPgNMSPJkxBtZh3zVgW_PUyRSqBm0HU9hjdDnJ57BjBO9fMTmc6eC0HUw/s1600/WeeklySnapshot.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2>Life</h2><p>My daughter's school decided to close on Friday, along with several other schools in the area, with some being closed from Thursday. Not enough staff. The school had been on a mask mandate since the beginning of the pandemic, dropping it only for one week when the pandemic had appeared to have stabilized last year. And yet, they dropped the mandate completely at the beginning of this year, when cases were exponentially rising, only to bring it back again starting next week. I've gone from being very annoyed to angry to feeling fatigue in these first two weeks already. I won't lie - we all mask around here and try to avoid going where we don't have a need to be in, and still, we are not taking anything close to the extreme precaution we all took at the beginning of the pandemic. I cannot and don't want to keep my kids home - I have at least that much faith in the schools' precautions. But it's the rest of the community that drives me nuts. But hey, we live in the free world over here, where my freedom is more important than your health, so you dare not tread on my rights over here. </p><p>I feel extremely sad for all the kids, stuck in a world that we cannot even agree to keep safe (whether from the pandemic or global warming or the hypothetical comet in <i>Don't Look Up</i>). Sorry I'm all doom and gloom over here. It's no fun when I hear about all the people I know getting covid left right and center and then wondering when is it going to be us. We've also been wanting to visit Disney this year but I'm so torn about that as well. I feel mad about this because my kids will one day be too old for Disney and I would never even have taken them there. Yeah, it's a first world problem but a serious mom-guilt moment.</p><p><br /></p><h2>Today</h2><p>We had a very busy Saturday. My daughter wanted it to be a mother and daughter kind of day, which basically means it's all about what she wants to do lol. I managed to squeeze in a new board game I had gotten recently (Trekking the World) and she enjoyed that one a lot, though she was not ready for some aspects of the game. Beyond that, it was groceries, meeting our realtor to check out some investment properties, and trying to get ahead of some chores. Today though, it's mostly quiet. I expect there will be more mother-and-daughter things happening, at least my daughter has a lot of plans, lol. Tomorrow I have work, but my husband and kids are off. </p><p><br /></p><h2>Reading</h2><p>Last week, I finished <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780525436140" target="_blank">There There</a>. I know it has a lot of good reviews, but it was somewhat underwhelming for me. That last incident (readers of the book will know what I mean) felt terribly cinematic and in addition, the idea was to show different Native American lives but I felt like it lost steam halfway through the book. I'm still listening to Amy Cuddy's <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780316256575" target="_blank">Presence</a> but haven't had much time for it this week. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8aCeLDA2bAEDAVBdB6-OLd5FDUyDNI-D-InuBR55y2kvf9ZkJeNXsanQPvktKXNhzBwGdKTXFwOlcl-QPVzg0RUDYkraltESoenWymQ_qrFM7U_WHO0f4FJhBiAoMn96fMLdRoNyuPJnsOUq5nRRrCR2VmXsZluf5vFi5eCHU2Aey3xS1c01deQhZ=s981" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="981" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8aCeLDA2bAEDAVBdB6-OLd5FDUyDNI-D-InuBR55y2kvf9ZkJeNXsanQPvktKXNhzBwGdKTXFwOlcl-QPVzg0RUDYkraltESoenWymQ_qrFM7U_WHO0f4FJhBiAoMn96fMLdRoNyuPJnsOUq5nRRrCR2VmXsZluf5vFi5eCHU2Aey3xS1c01deQhZ=s16000" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>I also started <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780316229296" target="_blank">The Fifth Season</a> this week - not too far in, but looking forward to where it goes.</p><p><br /></p><h2>Watching</h2><p><b>Hotel Transylvania: Transformania</b> movie - This came out in Prime this week and since we were a fan of the first three movies, we were excited for this one too. It certainly delivers and is a fun watch.</p><p><b>Cloud Atlas</b> movie - I chanced upon this movie on Netflix and decided to finally watch it. I had been putting it off because I wanted to read the book first, which I did give a try and found really hard to get into (I was not in the frame of mind for that kind of writing at the time), so I decided I can watch the movie. It was certainly a very interesting watch but it made me wish that I did read the book first.</p><p><br /></p><h2>On the blog</h2><p></p><ul><li><a href="http://www.readingonarainyday.com/2022/01/2021-my-year-in-books-and-reading.html" target="_blank">2021: My Year in Books and Reading</a></li><li><a href="http://www.readingonarainyday.com/2022/01/passing-by-nella-larsen-thoughts.html" target="_blank">Passing by Nella Larsen</a></li><li><a href="http://www.readingonarainyday.com/2022/01/an-interesting-first-week-of-2022.html" target="_blank">An interesting first week of 2022</a></li></ul><p></p><p><br /></p><p><b><i>What are you currently reading or watching?</i></b></p><p><br /></p><p>Linking with <a href="https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz</a> and <a href="https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/" target="_blank">The Sunday Post at Caffeinated Reviewer</a>. </p><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright © 2009-2022. Reading on a Rainy Day. All rights reserved. This post was originally posted by Athira from Reading on a Rainy Day. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.
</div>Athirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-56332648265235743302022-01-13T00:00:00.131-05:002022-01-13T00:00:00.171-05:002021: My Year in Books and Reading<p>Back in July of last year, I had posted my 10 favorite reads from the first half of the year. I am glad I did that because I realized that both the quality and quantity of my reading went south in the second half of the year. Not that I had a bad 6 months in reading. There were some really stellar books but not as many as I hoped. </p><p><br /></p><h2>First half of 2021</h2><p>To recap, these are what I loved from the first half of 2021.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCw-So0DnMajOWotyb_uC36cQYm8Q2eCz0OAUJ0BMOzlfuZKS3vuTFIbsd7dLhLHOhDPErO-eg8_BpzJJNnVG_p-LZqehJ15rDwiVyawKev3lLkkcUBCpuED5VlcvB_9pnrIpY0NCstDMwRujI50bCLXS1aj0Z5vTKNGj3UGdHikMLGJucLiTLAm5M=s1243" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="1243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCw-So0DnMajOWotyb_uC36cQYm8Q2eCz0OAUJ0BMOzlfuZKS3vuTFIbsd7dLhLHOhDPErO-eg8_BpzJJNnVG_p-LZqehJ15rDwiVyawKev3lLkkcUBCpuED5VlcvB_9pnrIpY0NCstDMwRujI50bCLXS1aj0Z5vTKNGj3UGdHikMLGJucLiTLAm5M=s16000" width="600" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I strongly recommend all the above 10 books but the ones that I still remember vividly are <a href="http://www.readingonarainyday.com/2021/03/almost-american-girl-by-robin-ha.html" target="_blank">Almost American Girl</a>, <a href="http://www.readingonarainyday.com/2021/03/good-talk-by-mira-jacob-thoughts.html" target="_blank">Good Talk</a>, <i>So You Want to Talk About Race</i> (So good that I couldn't even review it - all I can say is read it), <a href="http://www.readingonarainyday.com/2021/04/they-called-us-enemy-by-george-takei.html" target="_blank">They Called Us Enemy</a>, and <i>Gender Queer</i> (also so good I couldn't review it).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><h2>Second half of 2021</h2></div><div>There was a lot in life and work during the second half of the year. My years seem to trend that way - I typically start off willing to juggle a lot and then halfway through the year, lose steam. What I need to do instead is do less, but do those more often. These are my top reads from the second half of 2021.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQzeNNCiN0b6GjS_KWhRd5lmO99TRxXK5e_HnC9-IpSMfb90ptAzbvEYAEmLgjfTV963nvBUja5_9LNqjijbN-Pxod1MJCYa4CEKlaX6cKKi3c97SyM9DlGRwOKK45qDEJ4_MBtGnk4n2PlPMfalr5RxRajuMifG07k5HAoDBYfC3IeuOkjgq5qQQk=s1158" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="1158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQzeNNCiN0b6GjS_KWhRd5lmO99TRxXK5e_HnC9-IpSMfb90ptAzbvEYAEmLgjfTV963nvBUja5_9LNqjijbN-Pxod1MJCYa4CEKlaX6cKKi3c97SyM9DlGRwOKK45qDEJ4_MBtGnk4n2PlPMfalr5RxRajuMifG07k5HAoDBYfC3IeuOkjgq5qQQk=s16000" width="500" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrYT39J11D-Q6iUr4ajh0PfaUOGqiFDsnkKWOAcYh9BV8ZJObCe0VZFmJKcJ5bJhU_yccAVfiI7XHBMhJmNw-hhMW--Oc6GJhBImYnQyd_ibQ08rzEoAqOq60eGCJH6N4hkbRkqFwGv5qh-tQNr1C37-DjjFD-xg_SozcaeVTcTAlN--jWLohN9j5Q=s1206" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="1206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrYT39J11D-Q6iUr4ajh0PfaUOGqiFDsnkKWOAcYh9BV8ZJObCe0VZFmJKcJ5bJhU_yccAVfiI7XHBMhJmNw-hhMW--Oc6GJhBImYnQyd_ibQ08rzEoAqOq60eGCJH6N4hkbRkqFwGv5qh-tQNr1C37-DjjFD-xg_SozcaeVTcTAlN--jWLohN9j5Q=s16000" width="500" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Other than <a href="http://www.readingonarainyday.com/2022/01/passing-by-nella-larsen-thoughts.html" target="_blank">Passing</a>, I am yet to review the rest. I'm hoping to burn through the list over the next couple of months.<br /><p></p><p><br /></p><h2>Top 3 from 2021</h2><p>If I have to pick 3 from the above 17 books (ugh, who tries to do this!), if there are only 3 books from this list that you can read, then please bump up</p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p style="text-align: center;">1. <i>The Death of Vivek Oji</i> by Akwaeke Emezi</p><p style="text-align: center;">2. <a href="http://www.readingonarainyday.com/2021/03/almost-american-girl-by-robin-ha.html" target="_blank">Almost American Girl</a> by Robin Ha</p><p style="text-align: center;">3. <a href="http://www.readingonarainyday.com/2021/04/they-called-us-enemy-by-george-takei.html" target="_blank">They Called Us Enemy</a> by George Takei</p><p style="text-align: center;">I did not include <i>So You Want To Talk About Race</i>, but that's because I consider it required reading. </p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h2>And now, some bookish stats...</h2><p>Because who doesn't like charts?</p><p style="text-align: center;">105 <b>books read</b> | 13751 <b>pages read</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">~3.28 days <b>per book on average</b> | ~64 pages <b>per day on average</b></p><p style="text-align: left;">One of my goals in 2021 was to better the above four numbers (compared to 2020). The good news is that they are better but the not so good news is that they are only slightly better. Still, my reasoning behind looking at the above 4 numbers is to make more reading time in my life (instead of wasting that time in instascrolling or doing busy work).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1wtAjYgkCDuuU-0TXtgCB5JeGopwjjOWuqJ4JWpk9x73Ugk8c-49qfIrwZtjsBY66_liBv36Hw3UwV5Gdz0DZz65XjndiIolegPUquOox1RZfTwgRJNEZ-MXMvR91YDpTdAhlFWoudGp9e88iE4SbZo5eqU5MqEJ4DsdnEirQUeOVmig37xfJ7xZV=s1293" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1wtAjYgkCDuuU-0TXtgCB5JeGopwjjOWuqJ4JWpk9x73Ugk8c-49qfIrwZtjsBY66_liBv36Hw3UwV5Gdz0DZz65XjndiIolegPUquOox1RZfTwgRJNEZ-MXMvR91YDpTdAhlFWoudGp9e88iE4SbZo5eqU5MqEJ4DsdnEirQUeOVmig37xfJ7xZV=s16000" width="500" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVqMkDLFHKu8b4EvzahZadVpHXaXTGO7-4czY8W1-cEXVHuNXm9qHywueIIhlUWhURagvAu3IVq5BUffFfBbEENzOQamAFo096MHxX59LGIOw1QcoXlc1yZeqYw6_9vEPvjgTzHC76S-g_fzrfBjKRgmgFqWUDjDkb6mqStgxFR0hEyVXSiezc6493=s1797" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="1797" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVqMkDLFHKu8b4EvzahZadVpHXaXTGO7-4czY8W1-cEXVHuNXm9qHywueIIhlUWhURagvAu3IVq5BUffFfBbEENzOQamAFo096MHxX59LGIOw1QcoXlc1yZeqYw6_9vEPvjgTzHC76S-g_fzrfBjKRgmgFqWUDjDkb6mqStgxFR0hEyVXSiezc6493=s16000" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p>Around the mid-year point, I abandoned most of the reading challenges I took on, and kept some of the prompt-based challenges, well, to get ideas from the prompts. I've learnt that I can only focus on challenges for a few months at a time. Beyond that, it becomes a chore or something I don't care for anymore.</p><p>Yes, you did see it right that half my 2021 reading was picture books. I guess I do read a lot with my kids. Also interesting that bulk of my reads are 4 or 5 stars. I believe that's because I DNF what I'm not enjoying and also know well what books I tend to enjoy. All win-win. I'm surprised I read almost the same number of books in print as in ebook form, though it may be that picture books are skewing that ratio.</p><p> </p><p><b><i>What's your biggest takeaway from your reading in 2021?</i></b></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright © 2009-2022. Reading on a Rainy Day. All rights reserved. This post was originally posted by Athira from Reading on a Rainy Day. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.
</div>Athirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-73345368696657408672022-01-11T00:00:00.129-05:002022-01-11T00:00:00.194-05:00Passing by Nella Larsen | Thoughts<p><u>Published</u>: 1929 || <u>Format</u>: ebook || <u>Location</u>: US</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7nro7u11NmRVkmaQr75ijihXASvSc_hFHBOCvO6iUNkKrdRG0drFTBjhlQA_XvmDCFmhwgmd7tGqhpGvCOVynwtTedDcouzShpBmvSuyhpbJs7h72WZ2_XWoSCmOuHm73oNmgoDarPOeBYdi3GrM7dpZUFNkyXvivalsTxWhvwIiVk3SOu312eu_q=s400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7nro7u11NmRVkmaQr75ijihXASvSc_hFHBOCvO6iUNkKrdRG0drFTBjhlQA_XvmDCFmhwgmd7tGqhpGvCOVynwtTedDcouzShpBmvSuyhpbJs7h72WZ2_XWoSCmOuHm73oNmgoDarPOeBYdi3GrM7dpZUFNkyXvivalsTxWhvwIiVk3SOu312eu_q=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><u>One line summary</u>: Two old friends/acquaintances reconnect years later, but there's a lot at stake this time especially with one friend passing as white and several relationships forming or dying.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">☆ ☆ ☆ ☆</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p> </p><blockquote>The trouble with Clare was, not only that she wanted to have her cake and eat it too, but that she wanted to nibble at the cakes of other folk as well.</blockquote><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><u>Thoughts</u>:</p><p style="text-align: left;">Irene Redfield and Clare Bellew are two light-skinned Black women living diametrically opposite lives with their families. On the one hand, Irene is living comfortably in the neighborhood of Harlem as a black woman, while Clare is passing as white and living with a white husband, who (ironically) detests black people. When their paths cross one day, there is a strange magnetic pull that both brings them together and keeps them apart.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780142437278" target="_blank">Passing</a> is one of those books where much doesn't seem to happen, and yet much does happen by the time the last page is turned. I first heard about it last year on several blogs and later my interest was piqued when Netflix announced the movie. In addition, several mentioned a twist/shock/out of character ending and that was all I needed to go find the book and read it. I may not read a lot of thrillers but I do love books with twist endings. </p><p style="text-align: left;">A lot of the book is building character and showing gradual changes in both women. I will admit to rushing through the book a few times. But I will not advise others to do that. So much of that twist ending relies on seeing how the story shifts page by page. Even days after reading the book, I was in awe of Nella Larsen's storytelling ability. This is a book that is written to reward rereads. There are all these clues and metaphors that will make more sense during a reread. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Irene is a very rigid person who believes in keeping appearances and doing things the right way. Clare is her opposite in that she is very impulsive, very energetic, and very clingy. I identified more with Irene than with Clare - both in personality and actions. Plus of course, we are more in Irene's head than in Clare's. Through much of the book, I felt vibes of <i>Behind Her Eyes</i> (and if you didn't watch <i>Behind Her Eyes</i> yet, let me explain just how many times I sat in fear at what will come next, just as I used to as a kid watching horror movies I wasn't supposed to be watching). <i>Passing</i> isn't a horror book at all, and yet there is that sense of dread through much of the book. You know something will happen, but you can't quite tell what. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Larsen does a great job showing how risky it was for Black people to pass as white, and also how many Black people still did it. Reading this book in 2021, almost a century later, I felt the sadness of how not much has changed. Black people may outwardly have the same rights as everyone else, but under the hood, we have all been fighting the same problem for centuries. </p><p style="text-align: left;">I watched the movie right after I finished the book - something I don't do often because I almost never enjoy the movie. I noticed how close the story and dialogue were to the book - this is a huge treat as a reader. I certainly enjoyed the movie - I think it showed certain things that the book left implied and that helped inform the story more. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><i>What's your favorite book about friends who are not really friends?</i></b></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright © 2009-2022. Reading on a Rainy Day. All rights reserved. This post was originally posted by Athira from Reading on a Rainy Day. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.
</div>Athirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-34637498711022791392022-01-09T00:00:00.161-05:002022-01-09T00:00:00.169-05:00An interesting first week of 2022 | Weekly Snapshot<p>And just like that, we are through the first week of 2022. Did we make it this far?</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj0bY2Bc4u55OkBM322ysJTMXnZyCeVMP78yt7GfqJqxpx8RzPrqxHWBA1jgyFdXUFe7uey3o6MEoK-dzE6xPgNMSPJkxBtZh3zVgW_PUyRSqBm0HU9hjdDnJ57BjBO9fMTmc6eC0HUw/s1600/WeeklySnapshot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj0bY2Bc4u55OkBM322ysJTMXnZyCeVMP78yt7GfqJqxpx8RzPrqxHWBA1jgyFdXUFe7uey3o6MEoK-dzE6xPgNMSPJkxBtZh3zVgW_PUyRSqBm0HU9hjdDnJ57BjBO9fMTmc6eC0HUw/s1600/WeeklySnapshot.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2>Life</h2><p>Covid is just getting worse and worse again. I know some say it's not as severe as before so it's okay, but c'mon, Covid wasn't even our reality until two years ago, have we already given up on controlling it or wanting to not walk around expecting to possibly getting sick? Over the last two weeks, so many people that my husband or I know have tested positive. I have seen a lot of memes over the last week advising one to quarantine if they are not positive. Quite a reverse now. Anyways, we are trying to stay put as much as possible, masking when outside or near others. </p><p>Monday morning, my daughter woke up in hives. We spent all morning trying to figure out what the cause could be - due to the rise in Covid cases, no appointments were available with her pediatrician that day so we finally elected to do a virtual urgent care at Cincinnati Children's. They suspected that the antibiotics she was taking (for a bad case of cough/fever before Christmas) may be the culprit. Apparently, around 8-10 days after starting amoxycillin, kids can develop a rash. Who knew. Anyways, they have finally cleared up now. Although she was physically okay otherwise, we chose to keep her home for couple of days because she was extremely and visibly spotty and red in the face.</p><p>Work was busy but not too bad, especially for a week right after two quiet work weeks. It did feel good to get into a routine though. I very much crave predictability.</p><p><br /></p><h2>Today</h2><p>Yesterday was mostly chores - I expect today will be similar. I have a few books to return to the library (all overdue but since the library stopped the practice of fines, I have always been a few days late in returning overdue books back). </p><p><br /></p><h2>Reading</h2><p>I'm still reading <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780525436140" target="_blank">There There</a> - it went slow in parts but it is picking up again. I expect to finish it by tonight. Last week, I read an article somewhere praising Amy Cuddy's <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780316256575" target="_blank">Presence</a>, so I quickly picked it up both on audio and ebook on Overdrive. I'm only two chapters in, but so far, it is very good. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8aCeLDA2bAEDAVBdB6-OLd5FDUyDNI-D-InuBR55y2kvf9ZkJeNXsanQPvktKXNhzBwGdKTXFwOlcl-QPVzg0RUDYkraltESoenWymQ_qrFM7U_WHO0f4FJhBiAoMn96fMLdRoNyuPJnsOUq5nRRrCR2VmXsZluf5vFi5eCHU2Aey3xS1c01deQhZ=s981" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="981" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8aCeLDA2bAEDAVBdB6-OLd5FDUyDNI-D-InuBR55y2kvf9ZkJeNXsanQPvktKXNhzBwGdKTXFwOlcl-QPVzg0RUDYkraltESoenWymQ_qrFM7U_WHO0f4FJhBiAoMn96fMLdRoNyuPJnsOUq5nRRrCR2VmXsZluf5vFi5eCHU2Aey3xS1c01deQhZ=s16000" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>I was hoping to start <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780316229296" target="_blank">The Fifth Season</a> last week but that hasn't happened yet. Probably today or tomorrow after <i>There There</i>.</p><p><br /></p><h2>Watching</h2><p><b>Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts</b> - I was very unsure if I wanted to watch this feature. Long time readers here know than I am a big fan of the books and have reread them often and go gaga over anything Harry Potter. And then Rowling decided to spread transphobia. Around the same time, the child in me grew and I also realized that somewhere at the back of my mind, the lack of diversity in the HP books really did and do still bother me. All this to say that all my nostalgia and memories about Harry Potter are also somewhat clouded nowadays. Anyways, I heard enough good reviews about this feature (plus learned that Rowling was not invited) so I decided to watch it. I don't think I can ever compartmentalize the different distasteful aspects surrounding the books but I did still enjoy the feature a lot more than I expected to. Not only do the actors go back to those 10 years of their life, they did it in a way that I visited my own youth years and remembered my several milestones in Harry Potter age.</p><p><b>Don't Look Up</b> movie - I talked about this more on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CYVY2bngE0V/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> - even though this movie was funny and satiric, I came out feeling extremely sad and discouraged. I'm still thinking about how humanity got to where it is right now. Highly recommend.</p><p><b>Boss Baby</b> movie - Took me several years but I finally watched this movie during our family movie night. I really didn't like the boss baby in the trailer so was not initially eager to watch it.</p><p><b>Star Trek Prodigy</b> - It's back! My daughter, more than anyone else, has been waiting for it to return after the mid-season break. It picks up right from where it stopped and we all enjoyed this week's episode.</p><p><br /></p><h2>On the blog</h2><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://www.readingonarainyday.com/2022/01/january-22-reading-plans.html" target="_blank">January '22 plans</a></li><li><a href="http://www.readingonarainyday.com/2022/01/piranesi-by-susanna-clarke-thoughts.html" target="_blank">Piranesi by Susanna Clarke</a></li><li><a href="http://www.readingonarainyday.com/2022/01/happy-new-year-weekly-snapshot.html" target="_blank">Happy New Year</a></li></ul><p></p><p><br /></p><p><b><i>What are you currently reading or watching?</i></b></p><p><br /></p><p>Linking with <a href="https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz</a> and <a href="https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/" target="_blank">The Sunday Post at Caffeinated Reviewer</a>. </p><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright © 2009-2022. Reading on a Rainy Day. All rights reserved. This post was originally posted by Athira from Reading on a Rainy Day. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.
</div>Athirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-60330723855702106272022-01-06T00:00:00.001-05:002022-01-06T00:00:00.169-05:00January '22 Reading Plans<p>This may be the earliest I'm getting a new year's reading goals and plans out. I usually wait until mid January so I can be sure I haven't already abandoned them. Well we'll see how long they last, right?</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwc4k0aR0BMN4Cv2odyXTI0qZFELcOXdGntt1JffPH_P40GLWx081nl32_G31-AN1EHRkZNpHX9HfoQfWsCuunL7yX1V4X6fr0X31dnD5IpceIzcpPlHqT8l6Ha_igWDB9jNu712kh5zmLK8AdS-Qq0Oe8jWx2jbs4cbWzHn5Q-Bb8wmrAwCViCgub=s1079" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="1079" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwc4k0aR0BMN4Cv2odyXTI0qZFELcOXdGntt1JffPH_P40GLWx081nl32_G31-AN1EHRkZNpHX9HfoQfWsCuunL7yX1V4X6fr0X31dnD5IpceIzcpPlHqT8l6Ha_igWDB9jNu712kh5zmLK8AdS-Qq0Oe8jWx2jbs4cbWzHn5Q-Bb8wmrAwCViCgub=s16000" width="500" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2>2022 Plans</h2><p>This year, I am going light on challenges - at the moment, I have not signed up for any. I also don't have any major reading goals, other than maybe a few standard ones. </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I want to read at least 50 books that are not children's books or comic books. That's on par with how much I read in previous years so shouldn't be too hard to reach. </li><li>I would also like to focus on different focus areas or genres each quarter. If I want to. If something is intriguing me. In the past, I jump a lot between different goals or challenges and overwhelm myself a lot. Obviously, I want to read everything I can in not enough time and it still hasn't sunk in that I won't get to all the books I want to read in one lifetime. </li><li>Finally, I want to read a series or two this year. I enjoy the comfort and familiarity one gets from reading books in a series. It's been a long time since I have read a series (though technically that's not true - I read and am still reading through the Murderbot books but they don't necessarily have the feeling of familiarity). There are several series I'm considering this year - N.K. Jemisin's <i>The Broken Earth</i> trilogy, Ken Follett's <i>Kingsbridge</i>, Brandon Sanderson's books set in the Cosmere world, or the current favorite Robert Jordan's <i>Wheel of Time</i>. We'll see which one I start and stick with.</li></ul><p></p><p><br /></p><h2>Goals for this quarter</h2><p>So with that, for this quarter, I want to do couple of things. I'm trying to get back in with some of my favorite online book groups in Goodreads and I'd like to join more club reads, if a title catches my fancy. I have also been going back to my oldest TBR books and slowly cleaning them out. I used to be very indiscriminatory during the beginning of my Goodreads days and TBR'd a ton of books that I don't care for anymore. If there's a book still in there that I would like to read, then maybe I'll give it a try.</p><p><br /></p><h2>Books on my list</h2><p>This month has started off a little slow, what with all the beginning of year, end of year, and post-holiday activities. I started the year with <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780525436140" target="_blank">There There</a> by Tommy Orange. Technically, it was supposed to be my last book of 2021, but I couldn't read much in the last week of the year so it's my first book of 2022 instead. In addition, there are 4 other books and 3 comics on my list for this month.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXJ8uTQpbMi1sHFfqKUrBT7OF2vN7I6EREnlqlYEbd7oyGZZHF-sCf-ZPJXRQhS7HfbXqJkP5kZ-HuXY3ElMaoutnyrQONZq-G2ScrKNEEbz1HHsJAGa2BWGRd_bPkkRYh6BiLuk4Lpj6z6Ua2GagPbyfzzFQh7PdNsBNGeUJzRR_IjTTVv7aB5xCd=s1141" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1141" data-original-width="843" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXJ8uTQpbMi1sHFfqKUrBT7OF2vN7I6EREnlqlYEbd7oyGZZHF-sCf-ZPJXRQhS7HfbXqJkP5kZ-HuXY3ElMaoutnyrQONZq-G2ScrKNEEbz1HHsJAGa2BWGRd_bPkkRYh6BiLuk4Lpj6z6Ua2GagPbyfzzFQh7PdNsBNGeUJzRR_IjTTVv7aB5xCd=s16000" width="500" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><b><i>Have you read any of these?</i></b></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright © 2009-2022. Reading on a Rainy Day. All rights reserved. This post was originally posted by Athira from Reading on a Rainy Day. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.
</div>Athirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-48378752682983005842022-01-04T00:00:00.048-05:002022-01-04T00:00:00.154-05:00Piranesi by Susanna Clarke | Thoughts<p> <u>Published</u>: 2020 || <u>Format</u>: ebook || <u>Location</u>: US</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhTdkefMFPhLoo5WEgxjsucy7zeJ-SZBgSrKiuQjIhNjJ59_LkwWGuU8ZtkKojngK9JG9295Np0psl70XOfC3ZHXQ62I5sSuS8rPGT2Us3CPghaYDCBWox3iqS4FHGvu44FtA41qLNjvjpGnzFCsCWIYw8xFzLzCd1XGtxRTjp5nPaGpoWE7Ckd1rl=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhTdkefMFPhLoo5WEgxjsucy7zeJ-SZBgSrKiuQjIhNjJ59_LkwWGuU8ZtkKojngK9JG9295Np0psl70XOfC3ZHXQ62I5sSuS8rPGT2Us3CPghaYDCBWox3iqS4FHGvu44FtA41qLNjvjpGnzFCsCWIYw8xFzLzCd1XGtxRTjp5nPaGpoWE7Ckd1rl=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><u>One line summary</u>: Piranesi is happily living his days, collaborating with The Other, journaling his activities, until a tear appears in his life fabric, a stranger starts popping up in his house to communicate with him.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p> </p><blockquote>Perhaps even people you like and admire immensely can make you see the World in ways you would rather not.</blockquote><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><u>Thoughts</u>:</p><p style="text-align: left;">Piranesi spends his days cataloguing his activities and taking care of the House where he stays. This is no ordinary house - it has endless corridors, walls, halls, and statues. The floors get flooded and birds fly into the halls. To Piranesi, this is all normal though. According to him, there is only one other person who stays in the house/world. He calls this person The Other. </p><p style="text-align: left;">His sense of normalcy however, is shattered one day when he sees evidence of another person in their world. The Other seems to know who the third person is and believes a terrible danger will befall them if their paths cross with the new person. Piranesi is worried but also realizes that something is amiss here.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781635575637" target="_blank">Piranesi</a> is by far one of the strangest and best executed books I’ve ever read. It’s also incredibly hard to talk about without mentioning at least a few spoilers. So I am going to try hard here to stick with what I thought and felt without mentioning anything major from the story. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Piranesi’s world is certainly very different from the one we inhabit. It has a sense of isolation, calm, and peace. Almost like being at a quiet beach. Piranesi is big into record taking. He journals very frequently and also tracks data about his world a lot. You get that sense right from the beginning - the way the chapters are written, the way he has named the halls, the way he predicts future weather phenomena, the way he numbers his years. </p><p style="text-align: left;">There are a lot of details and it wasn’t clear for a long time where the book was heading but reading the book felt just like taking a walk at a beach - calm, peaceful, and very necessary for the soul. There is a path and a destination but these aren't at the top of one's mind while strolling on the beach. This could have been marketed as a meditation book and I would have loved it. Of course it is far from meditation. </p><p style="text-align: left;">True, everything is not as it seems - we learn early on that Piranesi is an unreliable narrator - so I had more questions by the end than the author answers. I read this book with an online book group and after reading everyone else’s thoughts, I realized it didn’t matter that the book is open-ended. There were a few possible interpretations for the story and ultimately each person was going to interpret it differently depending on their experiences, their life views, their reading tastes, their beliefs, etc. I found that I questioned everything I assumed simply because the book was from Piranesi's pov but after a lot of thinking, I settled for a middle ground. </p><p style="text-align: left;">If you can’t tell yet, I absolutely loved this book. I haven’t read the author's <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781635576726" target="_blank">Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell</a> but that book is high on my wishlist now. I have heard they are very different books but I can’t wait to try it.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><i>Which book comes to mind when you think about unreliable narrators?</i></b></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright © 2009-2022. Reading on a Rainy Day. All rights reserved. This post was originally posted by Athira from Reading on a Rainy Day. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.
</div>Athirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-66623275298884964782022-01-02T07:40:00.001-05:002022-01-02T07:40:10.536-05:00Happy New Year | Weekly Snapshot<p>Happy New Year, fellow readers and bloggers! Here's hoping (again) that this year is the respite we've all been waiting for. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj0bY2Bc4u55OkBM322ysJTMXnZyCeVMP78yt7GfqJqxpx8RzPrqxHWBA1jgyFdXUFe7uey3o6MEoK-dzE6xPgNMSPJkxBtZh3zVgW_PUyRSqBm0HU9hjdDnJ57BjBO9fMTmc6eC0HUw/s1600/WeeklySnapshot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj0bY2Bc4u55OkBM322ysJTMXnZyCeVMP78yt7GfqJqxpx8RzPrqxHWBA1jgyFdXUFe7uey3o6MEoK-dzE6xPgNMSPJkxBtZh3zVgW_PUyRSqBm0HU9hjdDnJ57BjBO9fMTmc6eC0HUw/s1600/WeeklySnapshot.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2>Life</h2><p>It's been a busy week here. We had family visiting us this week from Boston and everyone had a blast. Good food, good family time, all win-win. We stayed up as late as we could on New Year's Eve but eventually decided to crash 20 minutes to midnight as none of us could keep our eyes peeled open. How was your New Year celebration?</p><p>Are you doing New Year's resolutions? I haven't been doing them for years (I'm more a fan of quarterly resolutions) but I am certainly hoping to get back to a plant-based whole food diet. I used to do that before the renovations and then for as long as we didn't have our kitchen, my eating habits went south. Now that we are on the other side of the two most unhealthy weeks of the year, I'm looking forward to eating better and working out more. My husband got himself a Peloton so I am looking forward to trying it.</p><p><br /></p><h2>Today</h2><p>After couple of weeks of being more off from work than on, tomorrow starts a full work week. It will be rough. Being a person of routine, I am looking forward to getting into the swing of things. For now though, I'm going to try and relax before the grind starts again tomorrow. I have a few blog posts to write and complete planning my week. My son also has his swim class today but otherwise we don't have a whole lot going on. While I appreciate and need a little quiet after the busy week, my kids are wishing that the holidays would last forever. I remember wishing for the same when I was a kid but now, as a parent with little ones, I truly am glad that holidays do end lol. </p><p><br /></p><h2>Reading</h2><p>I did not get a whole lot of reading done in the last week of 2021. I went down the rabbit hole of exploring all kinds of reading challenges and resolutions that kept popping on my radar last week. Hopefully that changes this week and I get some reading done. <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780525436140" target="_blank">There There</a> by Tommy Orange is at the top of my list (same as last week). Right after that, I'll be picking <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780316229296" target="_blank">The Fifth Season</a> by N.K. Jemisin for a book club read. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVizkH-WU0R0YUtM8BsQiB4WrShbSFmzSmCT4dD5P7Pw7Umqh63xnMmWZT--ShBQ8VcY9p7j2-m6PkfA9dO0KFF54MVrRpIl6Q-Pr-egs3WaJw7kBXCcjKRV3yLjfZvmvlD_YLqHy_jsjkbfBG3IR0ZmIEeTMBnWclU-UWILy5-cW5uspCQqip4x85=s400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVizkH-WU0R0YUtM8BsQiB4WrShbSFmzSmCT4dD5P7Pw7Umqh63xnMmWZT--ShBQ8VcY9p7j2-m6PkfA9dO0KFF54MVrRpIl6Q-Pr-egs3WaJw7kBXCcjKRV3yLjfZvmvlD_YLqHy_jsjkbfBG3IR0ZmIEeTMBnWclU-UWILy5-cW5uspCQqip4x85=s16000" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3tI3hY4V056AzSJkBuh70W6SUg3_xBQPX8CU4OgQWLryIyx1iw5DzNXXbFTR3xcw6ZJv_-Ey-bWG0vH5Z5cmjZWjVjNsH8gqYmrXUg19_TLpPdkT_Nj_RmXr8-WxCk12JF4slf_d2TFqoabV_eXdc_nwxAdc1Bpi-KxF5Uo1NcZEatcbsTfYs_JOH=s400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3tI3hY4V056AzSJkBuh70W6SUg3_xBQPX8CU4OgQWLryIyx1iw5DzNXXbFTR3xcw6ZJv_-Ey-bWG0vH5Z5cmjZWjVjNsH8gqYmrXUg19_TLpPdkT_Nj_RmXr8-WxCk12JF4slf_d2TFqoabV_eXdc_nwxAdc1Bpi-KxF5Uo1NcZEatcbsTfYs_JOH=s16000" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>For the last few months, I had put aside the Marvel comics that I had been reading. I may look at picking that back up as well.</p><p><br /></p><h2>Watching</h2><p><b>Encanto</b> movie - This was a fun movie to watch about a Colombian family with magical powers that they use for good and a nice reminder that people are much more than the sum of their jobs and responsibilities. (On a related matter, I am loving seeing more and more movies, shows, ads, basically anything on my TV screen with increased representation and diversity. For all the arguments that the non-woke crowd parry around, this is what they are missing - how speaking out about something <b><i>can</i></b> bring about change. I just hope we never reverse course on this but instead see more of it.)</p><p><b>No Time to Die</b> movie - I'm not really a fan of the Bond movies but I usually enjoy watching them. This one was enjoyable as well.</p><p><b>Star Trek Discovery</b> - I am now two episodes behind in this show. Since Discovery is going on a break for a few weeks, I guess I have enough time to watch those. </p><p><br /></p><p><b><i>Happy New Year! How did your first day of 2022 go? </i></b></p><p><br /></p><p>Linking with <a href="https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz</a> and <a href="https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/" target="_blank">The Sunday Post at Caffeinated Reviewer</a>. </p><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright © 2009-2022. Reading on a Rainy Day. All rights reserved. This post was originally posted by Athira from Reading on a Rainy Day. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.
</div>Athirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-79748800319304715042021-12-26T00:00:00.015-05:002021-12-26T00:00:00.164-05:00The last week of 2022 | Weekly Snapshot<p>It's been a month since I've posted here. My first December '21 post and also possibly my last one unless I get my best ofs out this week. A lot has happened over here!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj0bY2Bc4u55OkBM322ysJTMXnZyCeVMP78yt7GfqJqxpx8RzPrqxHWBA1jgyFdXUFe7uey3o6MEoK-dzE6xPgNMSPJkxBtZh3zVgW_PUyRSqBm0HU9hjdDnJ57BjBO9fMTmc6eC0HUw/s1600/WeeklySnapshot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj0bY2Bc4u55OkBM322ysJTMXnZyCeVMP78yt7GfqJqxpx8RzPrqxHWBA1jgyFdXUFe7uey3o6MEoK-dzE6xPgNMSPJkxBtZh3zVgW_PUyRSqBm0HU9hjdDnJ57BjBO9fMTmc6eC0HUw/s1600/WeeklySnapshot.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2>Holidays</h2><p>First off, sending belated greetings your way for all the merry holy-days this month. It's almost time to ring in the new year! Will it be like any of the years since 2016? I hope not but I expect it will be. </p><p><br /></p><h2>Renovation updates</h2><p>Remember that renovation I've talked about way too much over here for the past many many posts? Well, we are thiscloseto done. All that's left are a few finishing touches and some fixing/patching work but these will likely be in the new year at this point. We had started using the kitchen couple of weeks back and then yesterday, started setting up the master bath too. It feels so so good to be in your own bathroom - let me call out that luxury and privilege. </p><p>Will I do a renovation again? I think I may, if needed, but we've also learnt a lot from this experience. For one thing, a renovation will likely take far longer than you expect to. I laugh thinking about how I expected to be back in my bedroom in three weeks, and then three months had passed. Our schedules got impacted quite a bit by several illnesses (including contractor getting Covid-19), shipment delays, items ordered in wrong colors or sizes, etc. Also, as everyone warns you, it does get extremely dusty and can trigger dust allergies. The biggest thing though is that as inconvenient as a reno is, it is the best way to get the house you need, in my opinion. Just need to factor that in when house shopping, if ever. I'm still in awe at all the transformation in our house and I also love every inch of it.</p><p>I will try to have pictures posted another day. I'm a little out of sorts today and my brain's in a funk at the moment.</p><p><br /></p><h2>Life</h2><p>My parents also finally arrived here from India. We all kept pinching our arms for a few days since they arrived because we couldn't believe they made it. This trip had been planned and replanned for the past 1.5 years. We are all so happy to have them with us. After their one week quarantine, we all went and got our booster doses. I was feeling annoyed at not having gotten it sooner, especially as omicron now is making the rounds.</p><p>Later tonight, we have a few family members visiting. Looking forward to more bonding. I have taken much of the last two weeks in December off from work and I realized how much I needed this downtime.</p><p>On the work end, I have some great news to share as well - I recently got promoted to a director role! While in some ways, I had been working towards this for a while, I fully expect work to get busier in 2022. </p><p><br /></p><h2>Reading</h2><p>I've continued reading this month. December started with <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781635577808" target="_blank">Piranesi</a>, which I loved every minute of but also wasn't as fast a read as I thought it may be (probably because I had much going on). If you aren't tired of hearing how awesome this book is, let me add my voice to the chorus. This book was so beautiful to read, had so much to think about, and also leaves you wondering what the author even meant by much of it. </p><p>After that, I read a few quick ones - Sarah Andersen's newest comic, <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781449489793" target="_blank">Oddball</a>, and a reread (or rather a memory refresh) of <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781934169032" target="_blank">A Christmas Carol</a>. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlFTpRJGmC4v3WPKawrU-mrP5pGo2A6rbxbSPGyNon0A1JbeE_UosEe4Su8uQp5K1jINKno3oIPMgYVDZjiNHyMW3F1i4Rz099HJ9Dk7L_176SO6T8Yk110y_Un6iCJhRQUvUZPMRiMkX1to27OI8pxd00vPyGvgqoNyceSEnFyXHG6e7wrKfFx5IB=s1300" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlFTpRJGmC4v3WPKawrU-mrP5pGo2A6rbxbSPGyNon0A1JbeE_UosEe4Su8uQp5K1jINKno3oIPMgYVDZjiNHyMW3F1i4Rz099HJ9Dk7L_176SO6T8Yk110y_Un6iCJhRQUvUZPMRiMkX1to27OI8pxd00vPyGvgqoNyceSEnFyXHG6e7wrKfFx5IB=s16000" width="600" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Couple of nights ago, I started reading <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780525436140" target="_blank">There There</a> by Tommy Orange. Haven't gotten too far with it yet. After this, I'd like to return to <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780765350374" target="_blank">Elantris</a>, which I haven't picked up in a month. I'm really looking forward to reading a fantasy series through 2022. (I know <i>Elantris</i> is not part of a series, but it is part of the same universe as several other books by Brandon Sanderson.)</p><p><br /></p><h2>Watching</h2><p><b>Hawkeye</b> - Felt like there was too much going on in this show and at one point, I wondered what was the point. Really the point was to hand over reins to a new archer-hero and it felt like a long way to do it. Still, it was a good watch, the finale especially so.</p><p><b>Star Trek Discovery</b> - I haven't watched the latest episode yet but so far, the show has been enjoyable, even if it's not as fast-paced and full of twists and turns as before. Its focus is more political this time - something I'm not sure I really care to watch about much. There's enough of that ugly business in real life, even down at the local level (esp in the US). </p><p><b>The Wheel of Time</b> - This quickly became my favorite show of the season. I like all the ways it is different from GOT (an unfortunate comparison) and really love the vastness of the universe. I know many are reading the books currently and I want to as well but 14 books (!) with a couple of poorly rated ones too (!) is a long commitment. That said, I may be interested in a readalong or a buddy read if others are considering reading the books, or even if just the first book.</p><p><br /></p><p><b><i>Happy New Year in advance! May 2022 be much much better than many of the recent years. How do you plan to ring in the new year? </i></b></p><p><br /></p><p>Linking with <a href="https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz</a> and <a href="https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/" target="_blank">The Sunday Post at Caffeinated Reviewer</a>. </p><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright © 2009-2022. Reading on a Rainy Day. All rights reserved. This post was originally posted by Athira from Reading on a Rainy Day. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.
</div>Athirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-63407873414346032942021-11-28T11:05:00.002-05:002021-11-28T11:05:57.859-05:00Refreshed from a road trip | Weekly Snapshot<p>I'm getting an extremely late start to this post. After the long drive yesterday back home and then a late evening meetup with our neighbors, I was out of juice very fast and needed to crash. And what does Sunday morning mean after a busy week? Tis a day full of chores. Ugh. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj0bY2Bc4u55OkBM322ysJTMXnZyCeVMP78yt7GfqJqxpx8RzPrqxHWBA1jgyFdXUFe7uey3o6MEoK-dzE6xPgNMSPJkxBtZh3zVgW_PUyRSqBm0HU9hjdDnJ57BjBO9fMTmc6eC0HUw/s1600/WeeklySnapshot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj0bY2Bc4u55OkBM322ysJTMXnZyCeVMP78yt7GfqJqxpx8RzPrqxHWBA1jgyFdXUFe7uey3o6MEoK-dzE6xPgNMSPJkxBtZh3zVgW_PUyRSqBm0HU9hjdDnJ57BjBO9fMTmc6eC0HUw/s1600/WeeklySnapshot.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2>Life</h2><p>We spent this past week in Boston with my brother-in-law and his wife. We all got the break we needed - we did some shopping, watched lots of TV, and enjoyed lots of family time. I started writing this post on our drive back but didn't get to schedule in advance. We opted to drive the 13-hour route so although it made for some very long days, it felt good to get out of the house and enjoy a road trip. The weather cooperated all the days in all the places we were in those days so that was a plus. </p><p>As always after a long vacation, we have come back to a lot to do. I have so much to catch up with and need to do some of that today as there's just as much to do on the work front from tomorrow. </p><p><br /></p><h2>Renovation updates</h2><p>So much got done while we were out this week. I joked to our contractor that maybe we need to take more vacations. Of course, part of it is because of not seeing daily progress, so it feels like a lot changed in five days. The great news is that our island cabinets arrived in the right color before we left for our trip - this was 3 weeks ahead of schedule (unheard of in this era of supply chain delays though possibly there was a cushion in that schedule - anyways I'm not complaining). This is great news because they were able to install the granite countertops and sink, and complete the backsplash this past week. Next up in the kitchen is to connect the plumbing, then install the stove and hood, and finally patch and paint. We are almost done! That said, some part of this week will go into laying hardwood floors in the master bedroom - that was the one room not done yet due to work in the master bathroom. So we still have 2-3 weeks of work left but I'm relieved that most of that will be off the main living area after this week.</p><p>If you're wondering why I'm stressing out about the schedule so much knowing what we've gotten ourselves into, my parents will be arriving from India on December 9th and I really really really really truly deeply need the living and kitchen areas back by then. That's the kicker and the contractors have been awesome in working with us with that timeline in mind. Right now, the kids, the husband, and I are mostly hanging out in the basement and it does get very depressing staying in a room that doesn't get much natural light. (Speaking of parents, this is the third time we are trying to arrange the trip and we are crossing our fingers and toes that nothing delays it this time. I say this as I watch the news about the omicron variant. So much to say and write about this but all I'll say is that the pandemic has been so exhausting.) </p><p><br /></p><h2>Reading</h2><p>My reading spree has continued and I'm relieved to once again be turning a lot of pages. Over the last two weeks, I finished 4 books - <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781250191786" target="_blank">Rogue Protocol</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50776459-shape-up" target="_blank">Shape Up</a> (which I read for work), <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780525575115" target="_blank">I was their American Dream</a>, and <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781982159467" target="_blank">Infinite Country</a>. </p><p><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781250191786" target="_blank">Rogue Protocol</a> by Martha Wells: This was a fun continuation of the Murderbot series. Just like the previous two, this is a short and fast read as well. I won't say a whole lot here because anything at this point is spoiler-ish if you plan to read the book. I'll just say that I wish there was more ART here. Other than that, Murderbot is still the fun character they are and I loved all the human bonding they tried to dabble in. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCJjjfzC7oIVzrCk5s01fP5cv7R_rn1zAc6LX2fWZEoqMnfJM_q-f1FU0DpnYKKHQWT_pEVFnmoKHGcSm0Z_XUwerhVSqiPRoLU4zgj504PwiklM9USikgrSN_2fa0PLOvZ51FEIBwu8/s1300/nov28reads.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1081" data-original-width="1300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCJjjfzC7oIVzrCk5s01fP5cv7R_rn1zAc6LX2fWZEoqMnfJM_q-f1FU0DpnYKKHQWT_pEVFnmoKHGcSm0Z_XUwerhVSqiPRoLU4zgj504PwiklM9USikgrSN_2fa0PLOvZ51FEIBwu8/s16000/nov28reads.png" width="600" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Currently, I am reading <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781451666175" target="_blank">Hyperbole and a Half</a> by Allie Brosh and <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780765350374" target="_blank">Elantris</a> by Brandon Sanderson. I'm late to reading a book by Allie Brosh. I had tried reading <i>Hyperbole and a Half</i> when it first came out and struggled with the format then. For whatever reason, I'm digging the format now. </p><p>As for <i>Elantris</i>, I've been yearning to start a new epic fantasy series but never found the right time as I didn't want to commit to chunksters or the wait between books previously. Hopefully, now's the time.</p><p><br /></p><h2>Watching</h2><p><b>Star Trek Discovery</b> returned to screens last week. Although it feels a little underwhelming so far, I’m looking forward to where it goes from here. We are continuing to watch <b>Star Trek Prodigy</b> with my kids. Both of them are following along though only my daughter is old enough to get context. We also started watching two new shows that premiered last week. We had been waiting for <b>Hawkeye</b> for a while now and the first two episodes did not disappoint. The unplanned show that we started watching was <b>The Wheel of Time</b>. I had been forever planning to read the books but now that the show is airing, I may not get to them. While the first episode was meh, the next three picked up the place several notches. At this point, <i>The Wheel of Time</i> is the one I cannot wait to continue watching.</p><p><br /></p><h2>On the Blog</h2><ul><li><a href="http://www.readingonarainyday.com/2021/11/finally-some-books-weekly-snapshot.html" target="_blank">Finally some books</a></li></ul><div><br /></div><p><b><i>With only one month left in the year, how do you plan to use it and round out 2022? </i></b></p><p><br /></p><p>Linking with <a href="https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz</a> and <a href="https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/" target="_blank">The Sunday Post at Caffeinated Reviewer</a>. </p><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright © 2009-2022. Reading on a Rainy Day. All rights reserved. This post was originally posted by Athira from Reading on a Rainy Day. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.
</div>Athirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-24008016063150552472021-11-14T09:32:00.001-05:002021-11-14T09:32:21.771-05:00Finally some books | Weekly Snapshot<p>Wow, I've been in a blogging blackout for quite a bit. Honestly, it feels extremely unmooring being out of it for this long. The good news is, I have a few posts planned out and am hoping to spend some time today and tomorrow trying to get caught up. At least that's the plan, we'll see what tries to come in the way of that.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj0bY2Bc4u55OkBM322ysJTMXnZyCeVMP78yt7GfqJqxpx8RzPrqxHWBA1jgyFdXUFe7uey3o6MEoK-dzE6xPgNMSPJkxBtZh3zVgW_PUyRSqBm0HU9hjdDnJ57BjBO9fMTmc6eC0HUw/s1600/WeeklySnapshot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj0bY2Bc4u55OkBM322ysJTMXnZyCeVMP78yt7GfqJqxpx8RzPrqxHWBA1jgyFdXUFe7uey3o6MEoK-dzE6xPgNMSPJkxBtZh3zVgW_PUyRSqBm0HU9hjdDnJ57BjBO9fMTmc6eC0HUw/s1600/WeeklySnapshot.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2>Renovation updates</h2><p>Not a whole lot to report here. The work in the kitchen had to be paused while we wait for new island cabinets and granite to come along. I am hoping for some progress on the granite this week - if that happens, we will be able to start using everything except the island and that will be a huge win for me. At this point, I am trying to get the house as ready as it can be before my parents travel from India. It will be extremely tight. </p><p>Most of the recent work has been in the master bathroom. It's coming along nicely, albeit a little slower than we hoped. </p><p><br /></p><h2>Life</h2><p>We were expecting to have visitors over the Thanksgiving week as our renovations were expected to be done by then. So instead, we are visiting my husband's brother in Boston. We are planning to drive (about 13 hour drive), and maybe stop along the way. We'll see. A lot is going to depend on whether we can leave Friday evening. I just hope we don't run into a blizzard - that happened the last time we drove to Boston and it was treacherous being on the road. (For some reason, we seem to be visiting Boston more often in winter.)</p><p>I have several hours of PTO to use up at work so I decided to take next week off. The break is very much needed. </p><p><br /></p><h2>Reading</h2><p>Finally, I am reading more! It feels great to be out of a rut. I've finished <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780142437278" target="_blank">Passing</a> by Nella Larsen last week. It's one of a few books that I just couldn't rate immediately. I felt like there was a whole subtext that I missed and may have to read again to pick it. It was certainly a good read - it's a slim book and on the surface, it is about Irene reconnecting with an old friend, Clare, and how this changes the trajectory of both their lives, but underneath it all, there are a lot of subtle elements - race and how it has both empowered and discriminated against blacks, Irene's almost-erotic fascination with Clare conflicting with her extreme sense of propriety and morality, the impact of depression in a family, and running away from the very thing you yearn for in your life. I know I'm going to keep peeling this onion for a while. Right after I finished reading the book, I also watched the movie (just released last week on Netflix). Right away, I could tell that the director stayed extremely faithful to the book. A lot of the scenes and dialogues are 1-to-1 between the book and the movie. There are some differences of course and I felt they help showcase some of the aspects of the story that were left to assumption in the book. With all that said, I don't know if the movie is worth a watch - it helped clarify several points from the book for me but for someone who didn't read the book, it may not be their cup of tea. Besides, you really need to get to the ending (of either the book or the movie) to truly get the "point" of the story. Until then, one may be wondering where this is going. </p><p>If you read the book or watched the movie, what did you think?</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAt-52ZbWQbaLtDTwloiL6FWcnctQI8ZlcVxa9BmqZS2GfBGKVfBO3Igx_vG2rWRyHb1i7QYDHbF4fGnJcGRzQg-B1w48tKxCO2dxKB2D4buxQ9_qHN2MahOMZxwiGZ_x92g6WZ7-5Y0/s1389/nov14reads.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="1389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAt-52ZbWQbaLtDTwloiL6FWcnctQI8ZlcVxa9BmqZS2GfBGKVfBO3Igx_vG2rWRyHb1i7QYDHbF4fGnJcGRzQg-B1w48tKxCO2dxKB2D4buxQ9_qHN2MahOMZxwiGZ_x92g6WZ7-5Y0/s16000/nov14reads.png" width="600" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>On Friday night, I was looking for a couple of quick reads, so I binged on two graphic "scribble" nonfiction - Sarah Andersen's <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781449479619" target="_blank">Big Mushy Happy Lump</a> and Christopher Grady's <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781449479930" target="_blank">Lunarbaboon</a>.</p><p><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781449479619" target="_blank">Big Mushy Happy Lump</a> by Sarah Andersen: I loved this author's <a href="http://www.readingonarainyday.com/2016/11/adulthood-is-myth-and-one-more-quick.html" target="_blank">Adulthood is a Myth</a> so I was eager to read this one. I completely missed all the books she had released over the past few years, plus she has a new one coming this month. As with her first one, she has several pictures that book lovers and introverts will especially love. She does talk a lot about her tendency to overthink her decisions and overanalyze her actions, thus keeping her in an endless cycle of being unable to make friends sometimes. Overall, this is a wonderful scribble collection and I had several moments of "aha that's me!"</p><p><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781449479930" target="_blank">Lunarbaboon</a> by Christopher Grady: As soon as I finished <i>Big Mushy Happy Lump</i>, this book came up in my recommendations. Who doesn't enjoy reading a humorous take on parenting. <i>Lunarbaboon</i> is a collection of the author's experiences as a father. There are several pictures here that many parents will connect with. If you are looking for a quick fun read about misadventures in parenting, then this book may be for you.</p><p>Currently I am reading the third book in the <i>Murderbot</i> series - <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781250191786" target="_blank">Rogue Protocol</a> by Martha Wells. I stumbled upon a free copy at Overdrive and also in my library, which is extremely unusual so I'm reading between the print and the ebook versions.</p><p><br /></p><h2>Watching</h2><p>We are continuing to watch <b>Star Trek: Prodigy</b> and loving it so far! I also watched <b>Passing</b> (see note above).</p><p>This weekend, <b>Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings</b> finally arrived on Disney Plus. I've been waiting for it forever. We finally watched it last night and loved it! It's certainly one of Marvel's better movies - all the visuals and character development was great. And of course, you can never go wrong with Awkwafina - I will watch anything she is in and completely enjoy it.</p><p><br /></p><h2>On the Blog</h2><ul><li><a href="http://www.readingonarainyday.com/2021/10/happy-halloween-weekly-snapshot.html" target="_blank">Happy Halloween</a></li></ul><div><br /></div><p><b><i>Have the 2022 planning and challenge list started? Please spam me with whatever you got.</i></b></p><p><br /></p><p>Linking with <a href="https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz</a> and <a href="https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/" target="_blank">The Sunday Post at Caffeinated Reviewer</a>. </p><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright © 2009-2022. Reading on a Rainy Day. All rights reserved. This post was originally posted by Athira from Reading on a Rainy Day. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.
</div>Athirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-6281009270443677372021-10-31T00:00:00.149-04:002021-10-31T00:00:00.166-04:00Happy Halloween | Weekly snapshot<p>Happy Halloween! I hope the day is as spooky as you like it to be. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj0bY2Bc4u55OkBM322ysJTMXnZyCeVMP78yt7GfqJqxpx8RzPrqxHWBA1jgyFdXUFe7uey3o6MEoK-dzE6xPgNMSPJkxBtZh3zVgW_PUyRSqBm0HU9hjdDnJ57BjBO9fMTmc6eC0HUw/s1600/WeeklySnapshot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj0bY2Bc4u55OkBM322ysJTMXnZyCeVMP78yt7GfqJqxpx8RzPrqxHWBA1jgyFdXUFe7uey3o6MEoK-dzE6xPgNMSPJkxBtZh3zVgW_PUyRSqBm0HU9hjdDnJ57BjBO9fMTmc6eC0HUw/s1600/WeeklySnapshot.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2>It's the year-end, almost.</h2><p>Halloween to me, is the beginning of the end of the year. It's when I acknowledge that I can start thinking about and planning for November and December, and maybe even talk like the holidays are here. I still have two weeks worth of days to take off from work or I lose them all, so I have some fun weeks off work coming up that I'm looking forward to. This time around, I'm considering forgoing the whole yearly planning thing I try to do. I've never succeeded with yearly plans, I prefer doing them quarterly. So we'll see what the next two months look like. </p><p><br /></p><h2>Renovation updates</h2><p>And we finally hit not one, but two renovation/schedule hiccups. While installing the cabinets for the kitchen, we discovered that the cabinet company delivered the island cabinets in the wrong color. We had ordered blue, they came in white. On top of that, the granite company is running extremely behind on orders that we may not get the granites slabs on time. Needless to say, we are extremely frustrated now. I get it, delays are probably more common than not during renovations. That said, without going into a lot, there was a lot of avoidable human error involved in this planning. (I am a project manager by profession, so this annoys me even more because I can see where things could have been done differently. I know, I know...)</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnJfqObFbZhy54ZcfP7pNslGtiAAFT6PtldSAbftokhc10R_yeXsAOa-6xaIhwuWmTOYoyY_2jLPbQ11gp1cbbvmZRdSsRlSLL2MlnB7oIIQ55A90t8jWJDn0vg67XRpoXz7SNS-OSZs/s2048/2021-10-20_13-49-32_532.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnJfqObFbZhy54ZcfP7pNslGtiAAFT6PtldSAbftokhc10R_yeXsAOa-6xaIhwuWmTOYoyY_2jLPbQ11gp1cbbvmZRdSsRlSLL2MlnB7oIIQ55A90t8jWJDn0vg67XRpoXz7SNS-OSZs/s16000/2021-10-20_13-49-32_532.jpeg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shortly after cabinets were installed two weeks ago (sorry for the washed out look)</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>Anyways, at this point, they have started work on the master bathroom. No delays are expected here because everything has already been ripped out (and there are no surprises), plus everything except the vanity and some readily available custom shelving have been delivered/picked up. I don't want to jinx this schedule but we may be able to start using the master suite two weekends from now. We don't know much yet about the kitchen schedule at this point, but hoping to hear more this week.</p><p>On the plus side, we finished setting up our office room. This took a while because apart from the deep cleaning that needed to be done, I also had to set up the bookshelves. This time around, I decided to go with The Home Edit's Rainbow color scheme, so that took days to do but was well worth the time! I will probably never find the book I am looking for but this setup gives me so much peace to look at.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtS7W5az7M0MD2nC5LnHW5gDyaWKqAeTm-n3nZZ_CngRuZBXexFu6nJUwduqBZp_Cq4YDHqYWRu6Q2XWo88NcFxp51msgJpUHY_Me2p1mO3OB5X9sr5R4XSsUorp5UYGq3-PWOX7W8tc/s2674/IMG_3338.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="2674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtS7W5az7M0MD2nC5LnHW5gDyaWKqAeTm-n3nZZ_CngRuZBXexFu6nJUwduqBZp_Cq4YDHqYWRu6Q2XWo88NcFxp51msgJpUHY_Me2p1mO3OB5X9sr5R4XSsUorp5UYGq3-PWOX7W8tc/s16000/IMG_3338.HEIC" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apparently, most of the books I own have either white or black covers. </td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><h2>Family visits</h2><p>One great news is that with the travel bans to US finally lifting, my parents and brother will be able to be here in early December. They were initially supposed to come over during Summer of 2020, but then Covid happened. Then they were supposed to come during Summer of this year, when the disastrous 2nd wave swept through India. So this is the third try now. I'm so looking forward to seeing them after so long. The idea was that our renovation would be complete by then, but that may not happen, so we'll have to start thinking about Plan B.</p><p><br /></p><h2>Reading</h2><p>Not a whole lot yet. I'm just trying to read something every day, even if it takes me days to get through the book. I did finish <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062498533" target="_blank">The Hate U Give</a> by Angie Thomas, which I loved and recommend heartily. At the same time I was reading it, our contractor would also share stories from his childhood, growing up black in New York and hoping to get to 35 years of age, the few times he was stopped by police while driving, and the countless injustices he has seen in his life. And all this while I watch in dismay the arguments of some of candidates running for local council and school board elections. Whenever I hear someone say racism isn't a thing, it gets my blood boiling.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUKwR6tSokcGBHbZ2_BO9HatDtIiGYrwTdG2iFe8yX6tf1Dd2Ce2NlDdtcjEoHqNrvNmNApMyLNKTGxEGhAHTS9mYn9MU-NXdlvNS6atdGyqIe84gLU2ev99oIRLeLhmkgqv0e3d9bOk/s697/oct30reads.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="697" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUKwR6tSokcGBHbZ2_BO9HatDtIiGYrwTdG2iFe8yX6tf1Dd2Ce2NlDdtcjEoHqNrvNmNApMyLNKTGxEGhAHTS9mYn9MU-NXdlvNS6atdGyqIe84gLU2ev99oIRLeLhmkgqv0e3d9bOk/s16000/oct30reads.png" width="300" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Last night, I started reading <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780142437278" target="_blank">Passing</a> by Nella Larsen. It's been on my list for a while and when Netflix came up with its own book club, I figured I should bump it up my list. I am also very curious about the ending that many seem to talk about. </p><p><br /></p><h2>Watching</h2><p>We started watching Star Trek: Prodigy. The first episode was fun even if oriented towards kids. Looking forward to seeing how this will shape out.</p><p><br /></p><h2>On the Blog</h2><ul><li><a href="http://www.readingonarainyday.com/2021/10/chicago-more-renovation-and-squid-game.html" target="_blank">Chicago, more renovation, and Squid Game</a></li></ul><div><br /></div><div>Nonfiction November is starting tomorrow! It's an event I look forward to every year but I think I'm going to sit this one out. I don't think it's in my schedule this time. But I'll vicariously celebrate through you all if you are participating. Have fun! I'm sad to miss this year.</div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><b><i>Have you been 2022-planning already?</i></b></p><p><br /></p><p>Linking with <a href="https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz</a> and <a href="https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/" target="_blank">The Sunday Post at Caffeinated Reviewer</a>. </p><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright © 2009-2022. Reading on a Rainy Day. All rights reserved. This post was originally posted by Athira from Reading on a Rainy Day. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.
</div>Athirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-43193768166213391782021-10-17T00:00:00.102-04:002021-10-17T00:00:00.207-04:00Chicago, more renovation, and Squid Game | Weekly Snapshot<p>I think I can say that Fall is finally here. Or at least the crisp Fall air is finally here. The colors not so much. We still haven't gotten around to any Fall activities, and at this point, I'm not sure when or if we'll do them. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj0bY2Bc4u55OkBM322ysJTMXnZyCeVMP78yt7GfqJqxpx8RzPrqxHWBA1jgyFdXUFe7uey3o6MEoK-dzE6xPgNMSPJkxBtZh3zVgW_PUyRSqBm0HU9hjdDnJ57BjBO9fMTmc6eC0HUw/s1600/WeeklySnapshot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj0bY2Bc4u55OkBM322ysJTMXnZyCeVMP78yt7GfqJqxpx8RzPrqxHWBA1jgyFdXUFe7uey3o6MEoK-dzE6xPgNMSPJkxBtZh3zVgW_PUyRSqBm0HU9hjdDnJ57BjBO9fMTmc6eC0HUw/s1600/WeeklySnapshot.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2>Renovation updates</h2><p>We are almost at the halfway point into our ground floor renovation. The flooring is almost done, cabinets are ready to be setup, appliances are here. It's exciting to be on the other side of the renovation when things are getting finished. There's still easily 2.5 weeks worth of work left in the kitchen, and another 2-2.5 weeks for the master bathroom, so mid-November is likely when we are done with the renovation. Assuming no delays. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsbwTB0tBgLtEwo4PaEHU7I2ER55-THSU0mCe-tdMg9xA3BrvuNHUj8ETTtoppHT5U1nUiBfF-fc_08eDikq1XS6MB7iDzx3ZLSTx1PbXCvsIDiPE87NxvmxOfQpJ59zerCWWh60ybjY/s1554/floors.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1037" data-original-width="1554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsbwTB0tBgLtEwo4PaEHU7I2ER55-THSU0mCe-tdMg9xA3BrvuNHUj8ETTtoppHT5U1nUiBfF-fc_08eDikq1XS6MB7iDzx3ZLSTx1PbXCvsIDiPE87NxvmxOfQpJ59zerCWWh60ybjY/s16000/floors.png" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flooring coming along</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>All of us are pretty exhausted at this point. Walking up and down the stairs to pick items from the makeshift pantry and then cook on the main floor gets old very fast. I have been able to work from home without issues and I'm grateful for that. I've set up my office in an upstairs guest room, and with the door closed, it's easy to forget all the construction mess downstairs.</p><p><br /></p><h2>Weekend escape</h2><p>Last weekend, we drove up to Chicago for a long weekend to visit friends. Our daughter and their daughter are the same age and are very good friends. They were obviously the saddest when it was over. While in Chicago, we visited another friend we knew, took a speed boat ride on Lake Michigan, and mostly enjoyed being in a home that had a functional kitchen LOL! We also took our dog on the trip - we don't usually take her since she gets stressed out by the new place - but we wanted to give her a change plus our friends love her. She did very well over there - found some cozy spots, cuddled up to everyone and enjoyed the fenced backyard.</p><p><br /></p><h2>Reading</h2><p>One of these days, I promise I will get back to talking more about books. Probably once the renovation is over, and once we've dealt with all the cleaning and moving that happens after. In the meantime, I'm trying to slowly but surely read a book, and also visit blogs when I can. Sorry that it's not frequent enough though.</p><p>After not reading for couple of weeks, I finally got back to <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062498533" target="_blank">The Hate U Give</a> by Angie Thomas. Loving it so far. Though hardly an easy subject to read about, it's a necessary one.</p><p><br /></p><h2>Watching</h2><p>Last weekend, I caved in and binged on <i>The Squid Game</i>. After <i>Hunger Games</i> and <i>Battle Royale</i>, I wasn't in the mood for another story where people are killed as part of a game. But once <i>The Squid Game</i> memes started flooding my feeds (and realizing I'm not <i>getting</i> it), I decided to go ahead watch the show. Am I glad I did that! I actually loved <i>The Squid Game</i> more than <i>Hunger Games</i> and <i>Battle Royale</i>. It's also more thought provoking. Yes there are a LOT of deaths but after the initial shock and cringe factor, it actually ends up being about something more profound.</p><p><br /></p><h2>On the Blog</h2><ul><li><a href="http://www.readingonarainyday.com/2021/10/renovation-updates-weekly-snapshot.html" target="_blank">Renovation updates</a></li></ul><p></p><p><br /></p><p><b><i>How has your October been so far?</i></b></p><p><br /></p><p>Linking with <a href="https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz</a> and <a href="https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/" target="_blank">The Sunday Post at Caffeinated Reviewer</a>. </p><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright © 2009-2022. Reading on a Rainy Day. All rights reserved. This post was originally posted by Athira from Reading on a Rainy Day. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.
</div>Athirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-55224546543156238352021-10-03T00:00:00.102-04:002021-10-03T00:00:00.238-04:00Renovation Updates | Weekly Snapshot<p>Gah, October? Where did the year go? I'm suddenly realizing we are entering the busiest season of the year and there's going to be tons to do for the next three months. It is unseasonably warmer right now, which makes it harder to believe that it's October. The colors have started changing but it's almost like the trees don't care and aren't even trying to put up a show. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj0bY2Bc4u55OkBM322ysJTMXnZyCeVMP78yt7GfqJqxpx8RzPrqxHWBA1jgyFdXUFe7uey3o6MEoK-dzE6xPgNMSPJkxBtZh3zVgW_PUyRSqBm0HU9hjdDnJ57BjBO9fMTmc6eC0HUw/s1600/WeeklySnapshot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj0bY2Bc4u55OkBM322ysJTMXnZyCeVMP78yt7GfqJqxpx8RzPrqxHWBA1jgyFdXUFe7uey3o6MEoK-dzE6xPgNMSPJkxBtZh3zVgW_PUyRSqBm0HU9hjdDnJ57BjBO9fMTmc6eC0HUw/s1600/WeeklySnapshot.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2>Renovation updates</h2><p>At this point, we have completed two weeks in our house while under renovation. Yes, it's every bit as irritating, annoying, frustrating, dusty, and allergy-triggering as they say a renovation can be. But it's also oddly fascinating seeing your house ripped down to the subfloor and peeking inside walls at the things that are typically hidden inside one. It was also satisfying seeing progress made - there's a wall one day, no wall the next day, and then all openings patched up the third day. This coming week is going to see the most progress - the hardwood flooring is finally getting laid. With that, we can slowly start claiming back a part of our main floor from mid-week. But we are still weeks out from having a finished kitchen and master bathroom.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7h9fp-gMmOgug-T1Bf7THoj9f6uYgyGHCLuzR6f_ZktPPbK9RvXG9MA5DPINmjWC88Ae-FFqjhjpKyTEsQzpgFFjOxDH3XCXFAvl83wBvkCSYqhI_8CvpcM9kvcS7lxeb2Fxh56SBZGw/s1962/renopicswk2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="1962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7h9fp-gMmOgug-T1Bf7THoj9f6uYgyGHCLuzR6f_ZktPPbK9RvXG9MA5DPINmjWC88Ae-FFqjhjpKyTEsQzpgFFjOxDH3XCXFAvl83wBvkCSYqhI_8CvpcM9kvcS7lxeb2Fxh56SBZGw/s16000/renopicswk2.png" width="500" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>The thing that has been the hardest during the renovation is eating healthy. We've been using the weekends to make a few meals but we've still eaten out more than we like to. The kids aren't complaining - they are getting their beige diet, ugh. We moved our entire kitchen to the basement so it isn't really hard to whip up a few meals just not fun, plus we're trying not to overdo it and have a smelly basement. So far, we've been okay. </p><p>Perhaps the one most affected by the renovation is our dog. She is restless everyday, running up and down the stairs, following us to every room we go to. Poor girl, not happy losing all her favorite spots where she suns herself.</p><p><br /></p><h2>Reading</h2><p>The book I was reading, <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062498533" target="_blank">The Hate U Give</a> by Angie Thomas, got stuck in the office room where I spent very little time this week and so whenever I was looking to read something, I was too lazy to go get it. Needless to say, I read very little this week. Hopefully, I'll read more this week but I'm doubtful. There's going to be more doing things at the house this week so I expect my evening to go in that.</p><p>I did read a children's book last week, <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781433828546" target="_blank">Something Happened in our Town</a>, which I recommend.</p><p><br /></p><h2>Watching</h2><p>Nothing other than Marvel's current show '<i>What If?'</i>. Finally, <i>finally</i>, things are coming together. Phew. I would hate for it to have just standalone episodes.</p><p><br /></p><h2>Looking Forward To</h2><p>Next weekend is a long one for the kids, with it being Fall Break for them. So we are using that as an opportunity to visit and stay with friends in Chicago. Plus, we get a break from the work at the house. </p><p><br /></p><h2>On the Blog</h2><p></p><ul><li><a href="http://www.readingonarainyday.com/2021/09/george-by-alex-gino-thoughts.html" target="_blank">George by Alex Gino</a> (Thoughts)</li><li><a href="http://www.readingonarainyday.com/2021/09/the-renovation-finally-weekly-snapshot.html" target="_blank">The renovation finally</a></li></ul><p></p><p><br /></p><p><b><i>What images does October bring to you?</i></b></p><p><br /></p><p>Linking with <a href="https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz</a> and <a href="https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/" target="_blank">The Sunday Post at Caffeinated Reviewer</a>. </p><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright © 2009-2022. Reading on a Rainy Day. All rights reserved. This post was originally posted by Athira from Reading on a Rainy Day. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.
</div>Athirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-19854768628753102352021-09-30T00:00:00.191-04:002021-09-30T00:00:00.246-04:00George by Alex Gino | Thoughts<p> <u>Published</u>: 2015 || <u>Format</u>: ebook || <u>Location</u>: US</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlsvhiHhj3pLl_gEBs5UT9heobk1kStxAkxd2CeFz513iXCGgxVQWDC68TPKg3sC1rq1zgi3eXWpaLCZKlSRs-gGXlIqm8HaY3OxnL5oEGsXek-809Pqt9zBmNbaSk_zWPuxxj7fokzO4/s400/george.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlsvhiHhj3pLl_gEBs5UT9heobk1kStxAkxd2CeFz513iXCGgxVQWDC68TPKg3sC1rq1zgi3eXWpaLCZKlSRs-gGXlIqm8HaY3OxnL5oEGsXek-809Pqt9zBmNbaSk_zWPuxxj7fokzO4/s16000/george.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><u>One line review</u>: When Melissa, a transgender girl, shares her desire to be Charlotte in the upcoming school play, she realizes that it's not just the school teacher but the whole world that has a hard time seeing her as the girl she is.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p> </p><blockquote>George stopped. It was such a short, little question, but she couldn't make her mouth form the sounds.<br /><br />"Mom, what if I'm a girl?"</blockquote><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><u>Thoughts</u>:</p><p style="text-align: left;">Melissa is a transgender girl who simply wants the people around her to stop seeing her as a boy. But this is easier said than done, considering she has been working up the courage to let her mom know about it but has not been able to talk about it. When her school starts auditions for the play Charlotte's Web, Melissa wants to be Charlotte. But the school policies are clear - only those assigned girls at birth can audition for Charlotte's role. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Before I go further into this review, I want to mention something about the title. George is Melissa's birth name. I found it extremely odd that the title of the book is <i>George</i> and not Melissa. It sort of makes sense in a way that Melissa is still discovering her identity through the book (also why she is referred to as George in much of the book) but I personally still struggled with the title being <i>George</i>. When you start the book, the name feels okay but when you turn the last page, it feels impossible to call the book or the character as George. The author, Alex Gino, explains at the end of the book that editorial reasons had a part in the naming of the book and confirmed that they would probably name it something else if they were naming the book right now. Something to keep in mind if you choose to read this book.</p><p style="text-align: left;">On to my thoughts about the book...</p><p style="text-align: left;">I LOVED this book. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Her self-discovery, her struggles with her classmates, how she tries to step up for herself, how she reconnects with the people in her life, this is all beautiful. I loved that the author doesn't try to explain things at all. There is no need to explain or justify one's gender and that is the tone throughout. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Melissa and her classmates are in the still-innocent and open-minded fourth grade class. They call out things as they see it but also are willing to see beyond their worldview. That does not make Melissa's experience any easier. I appreciated that the author showed how some misunderstood Melissa's gender identity due to their stereotypical definitions of gender and sexuality. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Whether or not Melissa gets to play Charlotte, you'll have to find out for yourself. But it's really her journey through fourth grade and her navigation of her relationships with her mother, her brother, and her best friend that's the highlight of this book. I found <i>George</i> to be a very fast read and a very engrossing one as well.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><i>Being banned</i></b>: Of course, some people don't want their children reading about a transgender child. Both my kids already understand that people are of different complexions. Gender may be a little out there for them but the older one does occasionally say how pink is for girls (ugh thank you modern marketing) and I have to keep reminding her that anyone can like pink. She needs to see and read more books like <i>George</i> already (in picture and chapter books). A lot of people today have a hard time understanding gender because they need to first accept that what they learned growing up in wrong or is limited. I am still learning today but I wouldn't even be halfway here if not for the books we read. <i>George</i> is one of the best books I've read that demystifies gender without trying too hard. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><i>If you follow along with Banned Books Week, are you reading anything for this year?</i></b></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright © 2009-2022. Reading on a Rainy Day. All rights reserved. This post was originally posted by Athira from Reading on a Rainy Day. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.
</div>Athirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-91403733309287875502021-09-19T00:00:00.121-04:002021-09-19T00:00:00.271-04:00The renovation finally | Weekly Snapshot<p>I've been having quite a few busy weekends and haven't been able to post often on Sundays. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj0bY2Bc4u55OkBM322ysJTMXnZyCeVMP78yt7GfqJqxpx8RzPrqxHWBA1jgyFdXUFe7uey3o6MEoK-dzE6xPgNMSPJkxBtZh3zVgW_PUyRSqBm0HU9hjdDnJ57BjBO9fMTmc6eC0HUw/s1600/WeeklySnapshot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj0bY2Bc4u55OkBM322ysJTMXnZyCeVMP78yt7GfqJqxpx8RzPrqxHWBA1jgyFdXUFe7uey3o6MEoK-dzE6xPgNMSPJkxBtZh3zVgW_PUyRSqBm0HU9hjdDnJ57BjBO9fMTmc6eC0HUw/s1600/WeeklySnapshot.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2>Renovating</h2><p>I have dropped a teaser here a few times but here's the scoop finally - We are renovating a big chunk of our main level. We've been planning this for the past 6-7 months. It started as a kitchen renovation project but now includes flooring through the main floor and master bathroom. We will have the renovation crew start tomorrow and depending on when all the materials get in, it could be 1.5-3 months before they are done. I just hope the flooring is done quickly because then we can reclaim some of the main floor back.</p><p>Not having a kitchen for 2-3 months is going to be very challenging but we've been promised a small work area on the main floor where we can cook early morning and later in the evening. But I'm thinking more about the little things - making coffee while I work, taking care of the day to day activities - the upstairs and the basement can be used but we have to pass through the construction zone to go between the two. Working against a backdrop of construction noise is going to be hard too. I've been working from home since the pandemic started. I may consider going to the office for a few hours depending on how this week goes but I also need to think of my dog. She will be stressed out this week at least with all the changes. </p><p>Despite all that, I'm looking forward to the end result. We are spending this weekend packing and moving things that are on the main level. Come Monday, I'm sure I won't be able to get out of bed. So I've already planned to take that day off from work. It will be interesting and I hope not very frustrating at all. </p><p><br /></p><h2>Reading</h2><p>Finally, after not finishing a non-comic book in more than a month, I raced through <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780545812573" target="_blank">George</a> by Alex Gino which I read for Banned Books Week. This is a fast read and a gem of a book. If you haven't read it yet, I implore you to. George is transgender and wants everyone to see her as the girl she is. But the world is determined to deny that and instead address her by her assigned gender at birth. The book is in first person and is so genuine that I can't think of a better book to recommend to show the struggles that transgenders face, even at a young age.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8w4UZAzb1gbNORKWYTpKT4LaJlkWlWXfSy2iQtfhvElZfddhCxQlya3gJvvHb68mtf85ZnylSQfqpV4r_EdMefU-6kXkP4pPkOhyphenhyphenB-VQnz9W6zRBsGi_z33ODEiGt6t4Ui7gNBlh7-Ks/s893/sep18reads.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="893" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8w4UZAzb1gbNORKWYTpKT4LaJlkWlWXfSy2iQtfhvElZfddhCxQlya3gJvvHb68mtf85ZnylSQfqpV4r_EdMefU-6kXkP4pPkOhyphenhyphenB-VQnz9W6zRBsGi_z33ODEiGt6t4Ui7gNBlh7-Ks/s16000/sep18reads.png" width="500" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Next I hope to read <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781433828546" target="_blank">Something Happened in our Town</a> and <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062498533" target="_blank">The Hate U Give</a>.</p><p><br /></p><h2>Watching</h2><p>Anyone watching Marvel's current show '<i>What If?'</i>? I'm not sure what to make of it yet even though we are already more than halfway through the series. It is interesting - each episode is standalone for now. I'm curious how or if they'll connect at any point or link to the larger multiverse themes in MCU.</p><p>Couple of weeks back, we watched <i>Vivo</i> on Netflix. If you haven't watched that one, it will be well worth your time! Lin-Manuel Miranda composed the music and if you enjoyed <i>Hamilton</i>, you'll love the songs in this musical as well. </p><p><br /></p><h2>Looking Forward To</h2><p>Where the reno will be at the end of this week. It will be far from over but it's still exciting. </p><p><br /></p><h2>On the Blog</h2><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://www.readingonarainyday.com/2021/09/library-finds-notes-from-my-reading.html" target="_blank">Library Finds</a></li><li><a href="http://www.readingonarainyday.com/2021/09/reviving-reading-plans-notes-from-my.html" target="_blank">Reviving Reading Plans</a></li></ul><p></p><p><br /></p><p><b><i>If you typically get the Fall season and are in the North hemisphere, does it feel like Fall where you are? We thought Fall was here two weeks back but it's gotten hot this week and looks to continue to be that way next week as well. </i></b></p><p><br /></p><p>Linking with <a href="https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz</a> and <a href="https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/" target="_blank">The Sunday Post at Caffeinated Reviewer</a>. </p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright © 2009-2022. Reading on a Rainy Day. All rights reserved. This post was originally posted by Athira from Reading on a Rainy Day. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.
</div>Athirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-49694060979933955102021-09-16T00:00:00.070-04:002021-09-16T00:00:00.240-04:00Library Finds | Notes from my Reading<p>Shortly after the total lockdown in the initial weeks of the pandemic, when libraries were considering reopening, the library I used to frequent decided to stay close for an unspecified duration longer. When they finally opened, they only did hold pickups by appointment. As relieved as I was to see them open, the challenge with their new model was that I didn't always manage to get an appointment slot that fit into my schedule. Around this time, I got a library card with the Cincinnati libraries where curbside pickup was available without appointment. Although the latter library was much farther from my home and I went there only during weekends, when I did go there, it was on my own schedule. At this point, both libraries are fully open but I still go to the Cincinnati one for the most part because I love their checkout policies - It's at least a week longer than my local one, they do not charge a fine for late items for up to 30 days, and, get this, they auto-renew my checkouts up to 8 times as long as there is no active hold on them. To the slow reader that I am and the mood reader that I also am, this is an awesome policy.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigA3XPXmdQI73meK_Nw2FmqMBbMtzJWvMOp8eYs7qqOnGp5drxGGRUwH1hUgn15HHze-u9Va2V3GZ_LSfEUdbP-Uk3kGNqo28mBbYcxMbjZUama2aOCLRcYtyleH1TbBVaWjmTFinxTbs/s2000/reading+notes.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual" data-original-height="1428" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigA3XPXmdQI73meK_Nw2FmqMBbMtzJWvMOp8eYs7qqOnGp5drxGGRUwH1hUgn15HHze-u9Va2V3GZ_LSfEUdbP-Uk3kGNqo28mBbYcxMbjZUama2aOCLRcYtyleH1TbBVaWjmTFinxTbs/d/reading+notes.png" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Of course, there's a downside to it, in that if there are no strict deadlines, who even reads a book? (The opposite is also true for me - if there are strict deadlines, who even reads a book? - but I'll argue this case in a different post when it suits me.) I had checked out a few books back in March, always planning to read them, but never actually getting to them. I kept holding on to the books thinking I will finally get to them, but nada, I was never in the mood for them. Finally, this past weekend, I decided to return the whole bundle unread and instead pick up some new ones. Here's what I found<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiie6ym-T-XZBENvt9Bxl0ylMKnPrWf2LrqdZa1t9eVIZ-TYMWddKpM8H3pXR7tdC-A0rHF2ouks0mb7s4IqRPlqboFFuCiGAiaLGYqbALb3ImD1yGiGhXm36myCauRD23VaJAkSeT7dMQ/s1208/libraryfinds20210915.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="949" data-original-width="1208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiie6ym-T-XZBENvt9Bxl0ylMKnPrWf2LrqdZa1t9eVIZ-TYMWddKpM8H3pXR7tdC-A0rHF2ouks0mb7s4IqRPlqboFFuCiGAiaLGYqbALb3ImD1yGiGhXm36myCauRD23VaJAkSeT7dMQ/s16000/libraryfinds20210915.png" width="500" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><h3>Banned Books</h3><p>I try to review a banned book every September during Banned Books Week. While I may read them at any point, this week is to specially call out those books. I grew up reading whatever I wanted to before I was the age they were targeted for. No one policed my reading and I was lucky to have access to education that helped me understand things I read in the right context. With the world (and the US especially) as divisive as it is right now and information being readily available to anyone without moderation, it's better to learn how to handle that information than to grow up in a sheltered cocoon. I picked up three books that were top of the 2020 Banned Books list:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780545812573" target="_blank">George</a> by Alex Kino - I've started reading this book and so far, I love it. George is a transgender girl who struggles a lot with her assigned gender.<br /><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781433828546" target="_blank">Something Happened in Our Town</a> by Marianne Celano - Some people love to argue that children do not see color but my three year old has been saying he is brown and even pointing out other brown people. (Yes, this has raised some embarrassing moments.) Not sure what triggered it but he is clearly able to comprehend what it means. Which is why I feel it is important kids learn from a young age about how they are different from each other and still very similar. So I was happy to find this book but also disappointed that it is banned.<br /><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062498533" target="_blank">The Hate U Give</a> by Angie Thomas - I know this book has received a lot of rave reviews but I am not sure if I will read it this month because I'm going to need a little more mental strength to read it. But I will make time for it. </li></ul><p></p><p><br /></p><h3>Book Club Reads</h3><p>More to give myself more options to choose from than anything else, I picked couple of books that a few of my online book clubs were reading. I don't expect to read with the clubs (I'm already 15 days too late for that) but I'd like to see if I can make room for them.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780525432227" target="_blank">Chemistry</a> by Weike Wang<br /><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781426217272" target="_blank">StarTalk</a> by Neil deGrasse Tyson</li></ul><p><br /></p><h3>Others</h3><p><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780143039976" target="_blank">We Have Always Lived in the Castle</a> by Shirley Jackson - I am still not decided if I'll read anything for RIP XVI but I have the book for it should I choose to.</p><p><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781250205940" target="_blank">Dominicana</a> by Angie Cruz - And then because one can't just walk out of a library without a completely random book, this was that one. I had heard of <i>Dominicana</i> before but remember very little about so I'm looking forward to reading it.</p><p><br /></p><p><b><i>What are you most looking forward to reading next?</i></b></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright © 2009-2022. Reading on a Rainy Day. All rights reserved. This post was originally posted by Athira from Reading on a Rainy Day. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.
</div>Athirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-7742043930031868702021-09-08T00:00:00.128-04:002021-09-08T00:00:00.223-04:00Reviving Reading Plans | Notes from my Reading<p>It's been ages since I've talked about reading seriously. I mean I do mention it now and then, here and there. But for the most part, it's been in the periphery of my mind as that thing I do when I have time (of which I had very little this summer). And to be honest, summer had nothing to do with how little reading I was doing. Life was simply busy. Work has been constantly morphing this year - my company had split at the beginning of this year and I am now part of a smaller company that is, in almost every aspect, a startup. My role has been changing as well, and with that came more responsibilities. I love it all but it does mean that I'm often not in the zone for reading at the end of the day. I want to say that things are more settled now but that wouldn't be true. Instead, I have now adapted to the new normalcy so I'm beginning to think about other things again.</p><p>So if you've been wondering why I've been extra busy over the past few months, that's what it was.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigA3XPXmdQI73meK_Nw2FmqMBbMtzJWvMOp8eYs7qqOnGp5drxGGRUwH1hUgn15HHze-u9Va2V3GZ_LSfEUdbP-Uk3kGNqo28mBbYcxMbjZUama2aOCLRcYtyleH1TbBVaWjmTFinxTbs/s2000/reading+notes.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual" data-original-height="1428" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigA3XPXmdQI73meK_Nw2FmqMBbMtzJWvMOp8eYs7qqOnGp5drxGGRUwH1hUgn15HHze-u9Va2V3GZ_LSfEUdbP-Uk3kGNqo28mBbYcxMbjZUama2aOCLRcYtyleH1TbBVaWjmTFinxTbs/d/reading+notes.png" width="500" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h3>Abandoning reading challenges</h3><p>At the half-year mark, I made a point to recommit to some of the challenges and let go of others. However, after not reading much for 2-3 months, I've decided to let go of them all. I want to read more serendipitously for a while and not be bogged down by TBRs. That said, I had a lot of fun with the <a href="https://www.readingwomenpodcast.com/2021-challenge" target="_blank">Reading Women</a> and the <a href="https://bookriot.com/read-harder-2021/" target="_blank">Read Harder</a> challenges. Even if I may never finish those challenges, they have really good prompts so I will be looking for their lists next year as well. I do think they help a lot in diversifying your reading if that's something you struggle with.</p><p><br /></p><h3>Reading Marvel comics</h3><p>I haven't been entirely truthful about my reading. I have actually been reading a lot of Marvel comics in the past few months. I've finished many great series about Thor, Magneto, Wolverine, Inhumans, and Captain America. I've worried that they may not pack the punch or wow factor of the movies but that's not really true - they progress differently from movies but they tell a story with as much, if not more, poignancy and fun. I expect to continue with this for some time but I've been taking breaks once in a while to read something else.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRClXCwOG6j65P-HkzA7P846Nk4F7KXzWzIPxyivK9-4yMsU_s4AWl9pMRH06xic2yir4nmEcK-QyYOieSLevVAZdtdAniYdFDQZ1V8MuVNqokwMhwzS2F3gtw6jzY_q6kIW1reLQ0l1A/s1045/readingmarvel.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="1045" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRClXCwOG6j65P-HkzA7P846Nk4F7KXzWzIPxyivK9-4yMsU_s4AWl9pMRH06xic2yir4nmEcK-QyYOieSLevVAZdtdAniYdFDQZ1V8MuVNqokwMhwzS2F3gtw6jzY_q6kIW1reLQ0l1A/s16000/readingmarvel.png" width="500" /></a></div><p><br /></p><h3>Looking forward in September</h3><p>I've been reading Casey McQuiston's <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781250316776" target="_blank">Red, White & Royal Blue</a>. So far, this book has been a lot of fun, but also feels ... a bit too much? A lot is going on in this book, which would have been okay if it was also a little bit more believable (and I don't mean the romance between a Prince and the US First Son, which is probably the most believable of it all). My opinion is however premature - I have only read half the book so I'll be commenting again once it's over.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnCZN8GUnaQc58mBww8MuExwKgbyu24W3JeYSDIj7hZCrwLZT2eH_hUJb1PnBvURVujSxy0X-dSfXqLgS4I6bS2YhXd3m5xceY7WIV2WCdC2Jul23EjNthbwiZGM4Ygse3ikcah4V12s/s400/redwhiteandroyalblue.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="261" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnCZN8GUnaQc58mBww8MuExwKgbyu24W3JeYSDIj7hZCrwLZT2eH_hUJb1PnBvURVujSxy0X-dSfXqLgS4I6bS2YhXd3m5xceY7WIV2WCdC2Jul23EjNthbwiZGM4Ygse3ikcah4V12s/s320/redwhiteandroyalblue.jpeg" width="209" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CflV7hNaMWesaN7h_dYUmvXMY9S_qhwziF56-35t31wLbK_ANLF0wGLixZRYf2Ofzncgc2ErJrH1W8a58OQ8NBM6A8K6IQ8RoLOtn7rrPbPtatepRZPd60iI9e5PxYzrEwpkTExA4K8/s400/wehavealwayslivedinthecastle.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CflV7hNaMWesaN7h_dYUmvXMY9S_qhwziF56-35t31wLbK_ANLF0wGLixZRYf2Ofzncgc2ErJrH1W8a58OQ8NBM6A8K6IQ8RoLOtn7rrPbPtatepRZPd60iI9e5PxYzrEwpkTExA4K8/s320/wehavealwayslivedinthecastle.jpeg" width="214" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>For the rest of September, I'm trying to decide what I want to read. Banned Books Week is coming up at the end of this month and RIP XVI is going on. I'm still making up my mind on what I want to read for BBW. As for RIP, I always want to do it but when it finally rolls around, I'm not so sure anymore. I know which book I want to read if I choose to join in - it will be Shirley Jackson's <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780143039976" target="_blank">We Have Always Lived in the Castle</a>. I just don't know if I'm in the mood for it - maybe I'll go get a copy of the book and have it ready for when the mood strikes.</p><p><br /></p><p><b><i>What are your plans for September? </i></b></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright © 2009-2022. Reading on a Rainy Day. All rights reserved. This post was originally posted by Athira from Reading on a Rainy Day. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.
</div>Athirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-54722489032033796442021-08-29T00:00:00.074-04:002021-08-29T00:00:00.219-04:00Hello again | Weekly Snapshot<p>Hi there! Yep, it's me again. It's been a while...</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj0bY2Bc4u55OkBM322ysJTMXnZyCeVMP78yt7GfqJqxpx8RzPrqxHWBA1jgyFdXUFe7uey3o6MEoK-dzE6xPgNMSPJkxBtZh3zVgW_PUyRSqBm0HU9hjdDnJ57BjBO9fMTmc6eC0HUw/s1600/WeeklySnapshot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoj0bY2Bc4u55OkBM322ysJTMXnZyCeVMP78yt7GfqJqxpx8RzPrqxHWBA1jgyFdXUFe7uey3o6MEoK-dzE6xPgNMSPJkxBtZh3zVgW_PUyRSqBm0HU9hjdDnJ57BjBO9fMTmc6eC0HUw/s1600/WeeklySnapshot.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2>Life</h2><p>Sorry I know I've been neglecting this blog and your blogs a little. Last I posted was almost 4 weeks ago and since then it has continued to be as busy as always. Well, maybe that's not completely accurate. The truth is I haven't been reading much. My mornings are busy, my afternoons and early evenings too. And then when I could read, I've been exhausted and not looking for more brain stimulation, which means all those fiction and nonfiction tomes are put aside.</p><p>Over the last month, my daughter has started first grade at her new school. She loves going in a school bus. Her bus timings however don't give me a long enough window to transition off work so I'm still figuring out the late afternoon routine. My son goes earlier to his preschool and comes home later so that helps a little. </p><p>I've also started going back to the gym recently with a friend. Our community center provides fitness classes in dance, cardio, yoga, etc and it is certainly fun doing some dance moves or yoga poses and feeling like you did work out. We'll see if that translates into lost pounds. </p><p><br /></p><h2>Reading</h2><p>Although I have not been reading big books, I have been reading a ton of Marvel Comics, so I'll take that for my reading count. At this point, I need to find THE book that can break the novel rut - I haven't found it yet but I have a few good ones to choose from.</p><p>Our local Barnes and Noble is moving to a new location so they had a month-long sale, initially at 40-50% and later at 75%. I went a few times through the closing sales, and was thrilled when I got a ton of good titles for $4 each on their last day. Now it's a three month wait for their new store to open but I should probably stay away from bookstores anyways, considering the number of new titles I acquired lately.</p><p><br /></p><h2>Watching</h2><p>I'm mostly watching only Marvel shows (currently <i>What If?).</i> I have taken a break from Star Trek shows for now. Other than that, I've seen a few movies here and there.</p><p><br /></p><h2>Looking Forward To</h2><p>Next weekend is a long weekend here in the US for Labor Day. If you're in the US, do you have any plans? We'll have family visiting us for the weekend so that will be a welcome break from routine. </p><p><br /></p><p><b><i>It's almost September. Very soon, it will be all the end of the year stuff. Do you feel great about your year so far?</i></b></p><p><br /></p><p>Linking with <a href="https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz</a> and <a href="https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/" target="_blank">The Sunday Post at Caffeinated Reviewer</a>. </p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright © 2009-2022. Reading on a Rainy Day. All rights reserved. This post was originally posted by Athira from Reading on a Rainy Day. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.
</div>Athirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.com0