Friday, October 16, 2015

Weekly Rewind 10.17.15

Friday, October 16, 2015 7:13 PM with 16 comments
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Weekly Rewind
The new books on my shelves and my week in a nutshell.


Since I started this blog I've participated in Stacking the Shelves, which is a weekly feature hosted by Tynga's Reviews, and I'm going to continue linking to that meme. Throughout my student teaching semester I was using my weekend post as a way to let people know what's going on in my life, so I've decided to rename my weekend post because this feature is more personal than just what books I've received. The Weekly Rewind will be about what's going on with me and my blog, as well as about the books I've added to my shelves.

Life and Blog
 
Life: I'm staying in VA for the weekend since I just did the drive on Monday and simply don't have the 8 hour round-trip in me this weekend. I have 75 essays to grade anyway, which I wouldn't even look at if I went home (or if my husband came here), so it is fine. While it kind of sucks we won't see each other, going two weeks is nothing after last year when we were going as many as 8 or 9 weeks apart. Perspective.
 
This week was pretty great. It's always nice to have a four-day work week. We started reading our anchor text this week. Each teacher in my department chose what they were going to use to teach plot (exposition, rising action, climax, etc). I chose A Monster Calls and my students are LOVING it. I've been reading part of it to them (I'm, frankly, a better narrator than they are), but have also let them take turns reading aloud. If you've read the book, you know the best parts are the stories the monster tells the main character, so I've been reading those parts. Today was hilarious. I stopped after reading the second story (which ends on a bit of a cliffhanger), and in each one of my classes when I said, "Alright, and we are going to stop there," pretty much every student in every class shouted: NOOO! Cracked me up. I love how much they are loving it. When the students are enjoying your class, it makes the days SO much easier and more enjoyable.
 
Fall is in full force here. Driving back from PA last weekend was unbelievably gorgeous. Both PA and VA are full of gorgeous color right now. I hope the leaves are still on the trees next weekend. I'm hoping my husband is able to come down because I would like to explore the wilderness around my new area. Find a lake or something new we can explore (so I can take some pretty foliage pictures to post on IG. Lol)
 
Blog and reading: Just a WoW this week for a book that sounds like a YA Groundhog's Day. One good thing about staying here this weekend is that I'll hopefully be able to get some posts written up. I have a discussion post I would really like to draft tomorrow. I'm also hoping to get a film or two watched, so hopefully I'll get a movie review up next week. This week I finished reading/listening to Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson. While more serious than Let's Pretend This Never Happened, it is still incredibly funny in parts, and just so real in others. Maybe I'll get a review for it drafted this weekend, too. Right now I'm reading Carry On and Black Widow: Forever Red. When those two books came in for me at the library, everything else I was reading kind of fell by the wayside. I'm currently listening to Rooms by Lauren Oliver. I've seen middling reviews for the book, but I'm enjoying the audio so far. It has different narrators for the different parts, which I like.
 
New books: I have some awesome new books for review, but it is my library haul that I'm most excited about. So without further ado, I hope you are all having fabulous weekends!
 
For Review
 
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These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly
This historical novel follows a girl trying to solve the mystery of her father's murder. I love this cover.
Persuasion by Martina Boone
I've heard great things about the first book, but haven't read it yet.
Underneath Everything by Marcy Beller Paul
I really don't know much about this beyond that it is about a toxic friendship...but I love stories about toxic friendships, so it sounds right up my alley.
Flashes by Tim O'Rourke
This is supposed to be a detective thriller with a supernatural twist. Sounds intriguing.
 
What I snagged from the library
 
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Books:
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
Like most people who read Fangirl, I was intrigued by the Harry Potter-like world that Cather wrote fan-fic about, so of course I was beyond excited when my hold for this came through immediately. I'm roughly a hundred pages in, and though it is seriously reads like a HP rip-off, I'm still enjoying it.
Black Widow: Forever Red by Margaret Stohl
I've been excited for this since first hearing about it. I love Marvel, and am so happy that Black Widow is getting singular attention.  
Diary of a Teenage Girl by Phoebe Gloeckner
After learning that Kristen Wiig's latest film was based on a this book, I immediately ordered it. I love that it is a combination of diary entries and comics, but I cannot help but weirded out that it is about a teenage girl who is sleeping with her mom's boyfriend. Because, ew.
Audio:
Rooms by Lauren Oliver
Like I said in my ramblings, I'm enjoying this audio book about a woman, her grown daughter and her daughter, and her teenage son who have gathered at her estranged husband's house after his death. The book is mostly narrated by the ghosts who live in the house--which is different. I like that the audio is narrated by several people.
Movie:
Unfriended
We'll see...It looks pretty bad, but I love me some scary movies.
 
Well that's it for me this week. Feel free to leave a link to whatever weekend post you do (Stacking the Shelves, In My Mailbox, etc). I love to see what books people have recently snagged and especially enjoy hearing about my fellow bloggers' weeks. I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend!

16 comments:

  1. I really enjoyed reading your post.

    Here's my post: https://rathertoofondofbooks.wordpress.com/2015/10/17/my-weekly-wrap-up-and-stacking-the-shelves-2/

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  2. I'm having some sort of withdraw pangs while I wait for "Carry On" to come in at the library. Happy reading!

    Tsuki’s STS

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  3. I've been seeing These Shallow Graves & Black Widow on a lot of blogs. I'm curious if they are any good. The reaction of the class after reading to them is too funny! Love it! It's so great knowing you're reaching them.

    Great haul! Happy Reading!

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  4. Awesome haul of books. I see quite a few that look really good. I enjoyed Black Widow.

    Grace @ Books of Love

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  5. That is a great library haul. I read Rooms when it was first released and although it gets mixed reviews, I really liked it. I have to get my hands on Black Widow. Enjoy all your books.

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  6. Great looking book haul! I'm also excited about the Black Widow book :D About time she got some singular attention.

    And 75 essays to grade?! 75! I don't blame you for staying put with all of that to do this weekend.

    http://natalieslife.com/2015/10/stacking-the-shelves-181

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  7. I really need to read Carry On soon but there are some books I have to read first. But sooooon!

    Happy Reading!

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  8. Looks like you had a great week! I hope you enjoy your weekend before the long drive. So many great books. I hope you enjoy your new books. Happy reading! STS

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  9. Nice ones! These Shallow Graves always catches my eye when I see it. Have a good reading week.

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  10. One of the ways to warm my heart is to hear kids get all riled up when it is time to stop hearing stories read out loud, or when they have to pause in their reading.

    I hope this encourages them to continue to read in their lives. Finding that one book that makes you stay up late, absorbing as much as you can, makes life just a bit sweeter.

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  11. I am really looking forward to Carry On! I will definitely be reading it this week!
    http://dualreads.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/sunday-post-18th-september.html

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  12. I have been wanting to check out the Unfriended movie! It looks perfect for Halloween. I hope you have a good week.
    Krystianna @ Downright Dystopian.

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  13. I also want to watch Unfriended, but I'm a bit scared to lol
    Enjoy your books :)

    Sugar & Snark - Latest haul

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  14. I really enjoyed A Monster Calls, I hope your class enjoys it, it sounds like they are!
    I am excited for Carry On but still nervous about it.

    My StS

    Ashley @ The Quiet Concert

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  15. best of luck with all those essays and hope you get to enjoy your time this weekend and take tons of awesome fall photos too :) that's truly a fantastic haul, i just read carry on and loved it!

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  16. I really enjoyed These Shallow Graves and Persuasion, hope you do too! ~Pam

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Hello, there! Thanks for taking the time to comment. I read each and every one and will do my best to respond--usually on your blog instead of on mine. I will, however, always answer direct questions. Due to serious time restraints, this blog is now an award free zone, but I appreciate the thought!