Sunday Post 61

Hello, friends!

Through Monday I am linking with the following: 

Reading Reality, who hosts Stacking the Shelves

Readerbuzz, who hosts Sunday Salon

Caffeinated Reviewer, who hosts Sunday Post

The Book Date, who hosts It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

On these 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. 

Success! My Kindle case arrived last Monday and I love it! Sometimes when items are ordered online, you never know if it will be as described on the website. I can honestly say the case is everything I expected. The color (vintage brown), the style, the way it feels when I use it, the functionality...everything! 

One reason I bought the style that I did is because when it's folded back, it can turn into a kickstand. Sometimes I sit at the dining room table to read, so this feature comes in handy. If I'm just sitting on my favorite cushy chair in the living room to read, I don't open the kickstand. I just fold it back. The case is magnetic, so when folded back it stays put. There is a slot on the inside to insert a credit card (as suggested on the website), but I think I'll just use that for wallet-sized pictures. When folded back, the case also has a strap in which I can insert a few of my fingers. This makes it easier to hold and more stable. I could not be happier with this case!

As for the Kindle itself, I love it also. I'm really glad I got the Paperwhite and not the most basic Kindle. My favorite feature on it is that the backlight can be adjusted. I can set the brightness and the warmth to find just to right sweet spot. I have the option to set it so that the brightness and warmth change automatically at certain times of the day, but I like where it's at all the time. I never realized how bright my phone is until I compared it to the Kindle Paperwhite. It makes a huge difference.

I'm definitely reading faster on the Kindle than I do in any other book format too. I think that's because the font is larger and the lighting is dimmer and warmer than on my phone. My eyes don't get tired as quickly. Also, there are of course no pages to turn. I just tap it. 

I used to be exclusively a physical book format reader. You couldn't pay me to read an e-book. I still enjoy reading physical books, but I'm really loving e-books too, now that I have the Kindle.

And now for the name reveal. Yes, I've named my Kindle. The full name is Cocoa Bean Kindle. Cocoa Bean or Cocoa for short. I think the name Cocoa sounds modern and cozy at the same time. Also, the case is a chocolate brown color. I decided on this name yesterday, but today I realized something else. I started using my Kindle regularly on December 13th. That's National Cocoa Day! So I have no doubt I've chosen the right device, the right case, and the right name!

IN THE BOOKS

To see how I'm doing with my 2023 bookish challenges, click on 2023 Bookish Challenges on the right sidebar. 

RECENTLY FINISHED

🍄🍄
I finished listening to The Matzah Ball, written by Jean Meltzer and narrated by Dara Rosenberg. I didn't enjoy this book as much as many others did. To find out why, you can read my full review here. And you can read some excerpts from this book here.

IN PROGRESS

I started reading The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, by Marie Benedict. It is about the mysterious real-life, 11-day disappearance of Agatha Christie. Each chapter alternates between two time periods - one time period begins when Agatha first meets her husband-to-be and the second time period begins years later on the first day of her disappearance. I'm putting this on hold for now so I can focus on a couple of other books, but I am planning to finish it by the end of the year.

I am currently listening to Slashing Through the Snow (Christmas Tree Farm Mystery 3), written by Jacqueline Frost and narrated by Allyson Ryan. I am really enjoying my time in Mistletoe, Maine. I have less than two hours to go in this book and I should finish on Monday.

I received an e-arc of Dearly Deleted (Book Blogger Mystery 2), by Sarah E. Burr, and I'm about halfway done. Release day is Tuesday, December 19th, so I'm planning to post my review around that date. I loved the first one in this series, Over My Dead Blog, and I'm really enjoying this second installment too! (This is the first book I'm reading on my Kindle device.)

UP NEXT

After I finish listening to Slashing Through the Snow, I'll listen to Stalking Around the Christmas Tree (Christmas Tree Farm Mystery 4), written by Jacqueline Frost and once again narrated by Allyson Ryan. Then I'll be all caught up with this wonderful series!

This book is not "in season", but I want to read #TagMe for Murder (Trending Topic Mystery 2), by Sarah E. Burr, before the next one is published. I really have enjoyed all of her books, including the first one in this series, #FollowMe for Murder, so I'm looking forward to reading this one next. I had planned to read it over the summer, but I fell behind. Maybe reading about a warm time of year will be good during the chill of December.

ON TELEVISON

• Holiday movies
• Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up - I had already watched this movie, but I watched it again. It's silly and fun. I think Lacey Chabert is best in these kinds of comical roles. She just looks like she's having so much fun.
• Christmas on Cherry Lane - Wow! What a delightful surprise! I thought this was going to be just your average family-oriented Christmas movie, but it was SO much more than that. It takes place over three different time periods that are all tied to together. It was unique for Hallmark and fun.
• To All a Good Night - I will watch any movie that stars Kimberly Sustad (whom I first "met" in The Nine Lives of Christmas). She is such a talented actress and this movie did not disappoint.
• Round and Round - Hallmark always seems to have success with Hanukkah-themed movies and this one, too, certainly delivered. If you like Ground Hog Day, you'll probably enjoy this one.
• Other movies
• Downton Abbey - I have been wanting to watch this movie for so long. I first binged the entire series a couple of years ago. I didn't like the way they portrayed disability in one season, but other than that, I loved the series. I finally borrowed the movie from the library. I enjoyed it. I'm so glad it maintained the same vibe with many members of the original cast members.
• Downtown Abbey: A New Era - I figured I might as well watch both movies. This one was also good. It was much more of a tearjerker than the first movie, though, so I don't know that I could ever go through that again. I read somewhere that a season 8 of the series is in the making. I hope that's true because I would definitely watch it. This second movie was a satisfying conclusion, but I can also see how they could continue the series. I'm guessing it would be on Peacock. A continuation of this series would be enough to convince me to pay for a subscription to Peacock.

• Friends - I'm at the point in season 6 where Rachel has just moved out and Chandler is moving in with Monica. One of my favorite scenes in the whole series is when Monica is looking at the now empty room where Rachel used to stay and Chandler walks up behind her and puts his arms around her. You just know Monica will be okay because Chandler is there. It's such a heartfelt scene.

WEEKLY BLOG RECAP 

• Sunday Post 12/10 - Weekly Recap
• Top Ten Tuesday 12/12 - Books on My Winter TBR List
• Book Review - 12/14 - The Matzah Ball, by Jean Meltzer
• Five for Friday 12/15 - Book Collection, Dearly Deleted, and Fiona Competing with Holiday Decorations
• Puzzle 12/16 - Christmas Train

Note: I originally had the wrong title on Friday's post, but it has since been corrected.

That's all for now! Have a great week!