Sunday Post 14

 Happy Sunday, friends!

Today I am once again linking with Reading Reality, who hosts Stacking the Shelves and The Book Date, who hosts It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (This is posted on Mondays, so be sure to check the link then.)  On their blogs you will be able to see links to the posts from others who are participating in these blog hops, and if you're a blogger you can join too! 

I am juggling several books right now, so let's see what they all are.

I finished reading this non-fiction book, Golem Girl: A Memoir by Riva Lehrer. I participated in the book club discussion (done virtually) on Thursday. The author herself was able to join us for a little while, but she had to leave early. Still, it was great to connect with her even for a short time, and with others who read the book. It contains some foul language in it, which I'm never a fan of, but otherwise it was a worthwhile read. It is a heavy book, in every sense of the word, and some aspects may be a trigger for some people. On the other hand, it could also encourage people to confront their feelings, if they are experiencing similar situations, and heal. This was the first book I finished reading in 2023 (but started in December 2022) and although I'm glad I read it, I'm ready to move on to lighter reads. I gave it four out of five stars on Goodreads.

So far I've only read the introduction in  The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times, by Michelle Obama yet, but I will dive into it more this week since I finished the memoir I had been reading. The introduction in this book is 20 pages, which I felt was a bit long. I'm looking forward to getting into the heart of the book.

I started reading the e-book version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, by J.K. Rowling, this weekend. My preference is print books, but there's a very long wait for it at the library and I don't own a copy. I started reading this years ago, but I never did finish it. I am only on Chapter 2 right now, but so far I am really enjoying it, more so than I did years ago.

Assault and Buttery (Popcorn Shop Mystery 3), by Kristi Abbott, is my first cozy mystery read of the year. I am doing something a little different with this series - I am reading it backwards, starting with the third (and I believe final) and ending with the first book in the series. So far I really like it and I don't feel lost even though I am just now meeting the characters. When references to previous events are made, it just makes me more excited to eventually read the first two books in the series.

Last week I listened to the audiobook version of Lending a Paw (Bookmobile Cat Mystery 1), by Laurie Cass, as part of The Cozy Mystery Book Club "rereads". It's my first audiobook listen of the year and the first cozy mystery I logged on Goodreads in 2023 (as well as my cozy challenges). I will be posting a review of it on my blog on Monday, so stay tuned!

My audiobook listen for this upcoming week will be Pies and Prejudice (Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery 1), by Ellery Adams. This is The Cozy Mystery Book Club pick for this month. I was so hoping to get a print copy of the book, but that has proven to be quite the challenge even though I requested it from my library five weeks ago. My second choice would have been to borrow the e-book version, but I can't find that anywhere on the book borrowing apps I use (Hoopla and Libby). So I borrowed the audiobook from Hoopla. Nothing makes me happier than reading cozy print books, but I think I will enjoy the audiobook version. I love that this series has magic in it. That's my favorite theme. I'm not expecting it to have anything to do with Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, but that would be a fun surprise if it did.

I began a slow and steady read of David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens. Wowwwweee!!! This is MUCH different, as expected, than reading a cozy mystery! Lol! I am only on Chapter 1 right now, but I can tell it will be an entertaining read. It is a bit challenging getting used to the way Dickens wrote, so I will take my time with it.

I am also participating in another blog hop today - Sunday Post, hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. With this blog hop, I'll recap what I've posted over the couple of weeks. If you missed a post you want to read, just click on the link below. 

• Sunday Post 01/08- What I've been reading and watching
• Mystery Monday 01/09 - Review of High Strung (Glass Bead Mystery 1), by Janice Peacock
• Top Ten Tuesday 01/10 Favorite movies of 2022
• Felines and Fill-ins 01/13 - Weekly bookish question, felines update, and fill-ins 
• Puzzle  01/14 - Winter gear

As for highlights of what I've been watching, I watched The Wedding Veil Expectations, Family History Mysteries: Buried Past, and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. The Wedding Veil Expectations was good, but I didn't think it measured up to any of the original trilogy movies. I thought Family History Mysteries: Buried Past was good, but not great. I'm always up for watching Hallmark movies that star Niall Matter and if more movies are made in this series I will watch them. I love that we have a mystery series that isn't about murder. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was excellent!! This movie combines two of my favorite things - mystery and magic. Based on what I've read so far, I'm impressed with how well the movie aligns with the book. I'm excited to read the rest of the book and eventually watch the rest of the movies. I'm participating in a book blog reading group for the entire series this year.

This week I'll be watching The Wedding Veil Inspiration and The Way Home, both on Hallmark (among other movies, I'm sure). 

Have you read any of these books or seen any of the movies I mentioned? I hope you all have a great week ahead!