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Happy Labor Day to those in the U.S. For me that’s a perfect title for what the entire long weekend has been…labor intensive! Trying to get set up to teach from home has been incredibly difficult. My whole district is working online, but many people are doing that from the buildings. Those of us who need to work from our actual homes, had to lug all our own technology home and then figure out how to set it up. That has taken a ridiculous amount of time, and is NOT. MY. JOB! Yes, I’m frustrated. I should have spent all that wasted time getting good at using the different computers, attachments, and various platforms we’re using this fall. Looks like that’s what I’ll be doing all day today. Fingers crossed, everything comes together for Tuesday. Thanks for letting me vent!
My reading time has been slim this week. I did finish two books, but only because I was a good way into both already. I have a feeling September may end up being a slim reading month for me, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. Glad I got so many books read over the summer. I also don’t know how many posts I’ll be able to do this month. This might be it for the week, but I am trying to get one review in. I hope you’ve been having the wonderful long weekend that I missed!
Hosted by Kathryn at Book Date
Last Week’s Reads
- I really, really liked the first half of Monogamy by Sue Miller and I also liked the ending. It got a little slow in the second half because it felt like too many people were involved in the main story of a woman dealing with her feelings about both her husband’s death and the discovery of his infidelity. Overall, it was much more of a hit than a miss.
- A Star is Bored by Byron Lane had me feeling the exact same way. This book was heavy on fun glimpses of Hollywood from an insider, but light on real plot. Listening, it all just got old after a while.
DNF
- I tried, but just wasn’t feeling The Big Door Prize by M.O. Walsh. It was a wacky story, which I had expected to be a lot more fun than it was. I gave it 35%, but just wasn’t interested in anyone in this book.
Currently Reading
- The Last Story of Mina Lee by Nancy Jooyoun Kim has been getting some mixed reviews, but I wanted to give it a chance and so far I’m glad I did. At 25%, I’m enjoying this story of a daughter trying to find out how and why her mother died, and more importantly who her mother really was. It uses dual timelines, which I often enjoy.
- I have about zero head space right now, so wanted to listen to something really light. I knew that’s what American Royals had been, so was confident I’d get the same from Katharine McGee’s sequel, Majesty. I’ve only listened to a couple chapters, but I think this will be the perfect listen for right now.
Likely to Read Next
- Some Wendy Walker books I’ve loved and others I haven’t, but I’m really hoping that a psychological thriller will be just right for me next. Don’t Look For Me is the story of a woman who seemingly walks away from her life, and the Goodreads ratings are high!
- A Knock at Midnight by Brittany K. Barnett was in this spot last week, too. The memoir of an attorney helping a woman sentenced to life for a first time drug offense will definitely be my next audiobook. It’s just a matter of when I can get to it!
Ugh, technology is the worst!! Best of luck tomorrow!
It was a rough week. I think I’ll be MIA around the blog for a week or two.
Good luck getting all your technology working. I hope you have a great school year. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
I’m looking forward to reading Monogamy later this year. I would love to start it right away, but I’m focusing on my R.I.P. XV reading challenge choices first.
I hope all goes well with teaching online. I can only imagine the difficulties involved with not only the technology, but with the actually lesson planning and participation of work by the students. It’s unfortunate that the teachers couldn’t get some tech support before the start of the school year. Sending positive vibes your way!
The lesson planning is very time consuming and keeping kids engaged while they’re all in different places has been a real challenge. And then there’s sitting in front of a computer ALL day. It’s exhausting. Thanks for the good vibes.
Good luck with the start of school. My reading dropped when I first started working from home because I was spending so much time on the computer with few breaks. It caused horrible eyestrain and my shoulders/arms hurt so much I couldn’t hold a book. Check out what I read.
I was just checking out standing desk tops. After a week sitting in front of a computer ALL day, my back is not happy!
Eek all that time setting up your work space for teaching. Hope it all is plain sailing from now. I want to read those American Royals books, I’ve heard of them and do want to give at least the first one a go.
I reviewed Mina Lee last week, it was a great read and the two timelines worked well.
I enjoyed Mina, too. Hopefully, I’ll get to a review soon.
You have so much on your plate- your blog should not be a source of stress.
I’m anxious to hear what you think about A Knock at Midnight. I thought it was fantastic in a devastating way. It really made me want to get involved.
I’m listening to more interesting nonfiction right now- Hidden Valley Road. Have you read it? Yikes. A family of 12 children, 6 of whom have schizophrenia.
I’m going to have to take a week off of the blog. I just can’t find time for much but work right now. I pray things get easier because I can’t keep this up. I think I have a copy of Hidden Valley Road here, but haven’t yet tried it. I think the idea of a lot of science was unappealing to me.
It’s okay to go ahead & vent! When I was still in journalism … they used to tack on a lot of extra online duties … to our regular jobs that was never part of it before …. so many platforms that your head would spin. So I understand extra responsibilities … that aren’t even in one’s job. Part of the whole internet world bahhh. I’m still hoping the Sue Miller book is good enough!
Thanks, Susan. It’s definitely a challenging time for teaching. I’m planning on retiring in a year or two, so don’t really care all that much about getting great at the technology. Still, it needs to get easier.
I enjoyed the Sue Miller book. It just got a little slow in the second half, but still a very good story.