That’s right. Grades are in, out of office reply is on, and my first semester at my new school is done.
I will probably write a reflection post later this week because I have Thoughts, but, well, we know how I do when I promise content.
Let’s get into the week that was, shall we?
1. First of all, I posted some things:
- It’s finals week!
- Save Net Neutrality!
- #AMonthofFaves: Favorite Book to Movie or TV Show
- #AMonthofFaves: Best Changes Made This Year
- Picking Favorites: The “I Should Be Packing” Edition
- #SomethingonSunday: Holiday Edition
2. I read some things (and abandoned one of them):
The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I liked the idea of this more than the execution.
My big problem was the lack of character development. All of the characters were incredibly flat, and the relationships were underdeveloped. So much so that when it was time for the big fights and the big make up scenes, I kind of…didn’t care? I mean, I was interested to see where the story would go but moreso because of the premise than anything else.
Also, this book needed about 40% less Ethan and 75% more Ro.
I think it would make a better movie than book.
Holiday Temptation by Donna Hill
12/16/17 @ 28% — Not for me. And since the first story is usually the strongest, I’m going to just do a pass on the rest.
Fame, Glory, and Other Things on My To Do List by Janette Rallison
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
3.5 stars
Okay, so one of my favorite things about Janette Rallison is that she writes about these shallow characters (most of whom are regulation hotties) and makes me root for them.
Anyway, this book had me laughing out loud on the plane, so yay for that.
Also, one of the things I didn’t mention in my Goodreads review of this one is that there’s a censorship subplot, and the censorship is actually sparked by someone who is considered liberal. When we discuss censorship, students are often surprised that there tend to be more cases of censorship from people who are considered progressive/liberal and not conservative, and the censorship case in this book shows why it’s the former a lot of times and how it’s just as ridiculous (though well-meaning) in either case.
3. Several of the A Month of Faves posts about upcoming TV shows based on books mentioned Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects, and I mentioned it to my friend who pretty much finished it in one day, so I’m making my way through that now.
It’s dark (Flynn loves her some disturbed characters) and intriguing. I should be finished with it by tonight or tomorrow.
4. Today’s A Month of Faves prompt is “I Love…December!” (Rep your home’s holiday look, share pictures of your holiday decorations. Christmas tree, your favorite holiday traditions, holiday festivities, favorite ornaments, places to go, holiday drinks, holiday eats, holiday themed reads.) And, really, I said everything I had to say about that last year, so I’ll mention two new things.
The first is that the book club I used to belong to would do a white elephant ornament exchange. How it worked is that everyone would get a book and wrap it. Instead of a bow, you would put your ornament. And then you would pick the book you wanted based on the ornament. After the ornament exchange happened, everyone would unwrap their books, and then a white elephant exchange was done for the books. It was super fun, and I’m going to miss that tradition.
The second is that two of the shows I watch had Christmas episodes, and they were extra delightful. On Kevin (Probably) Saves the World, Amy decorated her house for Santa and checked weather conditions so she could calculate the trajectory of Santa’s sleight (even though her daughter and friend told her not to explain the math). And The Mayor did an It’s a Wonderful Life homage that may have also had just a hint of A Christmas Carol. A+ work, teams!
5. In other TV news, I’m thinking about quitting Mom (on CBS). They have pretty much dropped the thread of Christy as mom (and even changed the opening credits to remove her two kids), and while, yes, I am interested in her relationship with Bonnie, I’m so much less interested in those two bickering and dating men than I was in seeing Christy trying to balance her newfound sobriety with her relationship with her (also in recovery) mom and her two children who didn’t really want to be around her that much anymore. So. I’ll watch the winter finale and make my decision then.
Have a great week, everyone!
The Englishist 
A white elephant ornament exchange? Hmmm. I had never heard of that, but it sounds very cool.
LikeLike
I had a group of friends that used to do a white elephant ornament exchange, though without the books. I still miss it! Congrats on getting your grades in!
LikeLike