The Sunday Post #253 | July 11, 2021

       

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
It's a chance to share news: a post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books,
 and share what's coming up on your blog in the week ahead. 
I hope everyone had a happy and safe 4th of July (for those that celebrate). We randomly decided to take a drive in the evening (no chance of going to bed with all the noise of the fireworks) and we ended up seeing a pretty impressive fireworks display at our amenities center. Less than a mile from home, no traffic, no crowds... nice!

Unfortunately, my brother-in-law had an accident on the 4th and was taken to the ER. He had a fall and broke his hip. Ouch! He had hip replacement surgery on Tuesday and is now back at home. I'm sure he has a lot of physical therapy ahead of him but we're all relieved that he's doing so well. 

The big excitement came this week when my team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, won the Stanley Cup in Game 5 of the series Wednesday night! For the second year in a row! I was beyond excited and was practically jumping up and down as they all took to the ice in celebration. Such an exciting series, and exciting season, and it was great fun to get caught up in it all.


I tried a new recipe this week and it was quite the hit. This chicken sandwich is  practically a dupe for Chick-Fil-A sandwiches and they were delicious! We weren't impressed with the sriracha mayonnaise so next time we'll just use regular mayo. These were made in the air fryer and if you're interested you can find the recipe here.

Photo credit: skinnytaste.com

This week's 80's music fix is Boulevard (1980) by Jackson Browne. 


Tuesday, July 6

Thursday, July 8

WHAT I COMPLETED IN THE LAST WEEK

  

READ:

LISTENED TO:


WHAT I'M CURRENTLY READING

 

READING:

LISTENING:

NOT A THING.




How was your week? Any new books? Any news to share?
I'd love to hear about it!
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Review: Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Taylor Jenkins Reid
Publication date: June 1, 2021
Genres: Adult Fiction
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
4.5 Stars

Malibu: August 1983. It's the day of Nina Riva's annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over--especially as the offspring of the legendary singer Mick Riva.

The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud--because it is long past time for him to confess something to the brother from whom he's been inseparable since birth.

Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can't stop thinking about promised she'll be there.

And Kit has a couple secrets of her own--including a guest she invited without consulting anyone.

By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family's generations will all come bubbling to the surface.

Malibu Rising is a story about one unforgettable night in the life of a family: the night they each have to choose what they will keep from the people who made them . . . and what they will leave behind. 

Malibu Rising is the story of the Riva family – particularly the Riva siblings – in all their beautiful, talented, flawed glory.

While we are introduced to the Riva siblings – famous surfer/model Nina, champion surfer Jay, photographer Hud, and feisty Kit – in 1983, in the hours leading up to their much-anticipated party, Reid quickly takes us back to 1956 and the first meeting of June Costas and Mick Riva. The dual timeline continues throughout the first half of book, unraveling the tangled, unhappy history of Mick and June, while showcasing the aftermath of their tumultuous relationship and its effects on their children.

Each of the siblings was dealing with potentially life-changing catalysts in their lives on the day of the party and a delicious kind of tension built as the story progressed. The legacy of their famous father loomed large over their lives, as did the love and the shortcomings of their mother. And, in some cases, it seemed history was repeating itself.

My favorite aspect of this gripping story was the unshakable bond between the Riva siblings. The sacrifices that were made, the support that was so freely given, the connection they had through shared loss – they were a testament to family and loyalty and love.

If I were to have one quibble (and it’s such a minor one), it’s that as the epic party progressed late into the night (and on into the morning) Reid started to include the points of view of various revelers who weren’t integral to the story. I imagine it was choice to display the evolution of the night into absolute chaos, but it also had me itching to get back to the story that was rapidly unfolding.

I was completely captivated from the start of this remarkable story. Taylor Jenkins Reid has long been a favorite and Malibu Rising is a perfect example why. Her incredible gift of storytelling is almost unmatched. She creates nuanced characters who feel completely authentic and I slide easily into their lives as they navigate the highs and lows. I fell in love with the Riva siblings and was completely invested in their lives. I ached for their past and yearned for a better future.

In short, Malibu Rising was one of my most anticipated books of the year – and it totally delivered.

HAVE YOU READ MALIBU RISING?
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Top Ten Tuesday: Why I Love to Read, Let Me Count the Ways

  

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic: 
Why I Love to Read



Reading lets me experience other lives/realities.
Through reading I have been able to experience far more than I would ever be able to in a single lifetime. Whether it's the experience of someone in another profession, a different stage of life, or life in a far-off country, reading has granted me access to lives far outside my own.

Reading makes me think... and sometimes challenges my perspective.
Reading has given me new perspectives on topics and themes and ideas. Sometimes my opinion remains the same, sometime it changes, and sometimes I gain a new understanding that I wouldn't otherwise have. Almost any story can offer some food for thought.

Reading provides escapism.
Now more than ever, reading provides an escape from daily life and from a world that is increasingly chaotic. Twenty-four news, social media... it doesn't take much to feel overwhelmed or discouraged. Escaping into book, and someone else's life and experiences, is the perfect antidote.


Reading is solitary.
As a total introvert, I crave time alone and often have a need to "recharge" after spending time in the company of others. Reading is the perfect way to enjoy the quiet down-time that I need.

Reading is also social.
Even though the act of reading may be solitary, overall it can still be a social activity. Being able to interact with other readers is one of the joys of reading. Shouting your love for a new favorite book, venting about a character or a plot twist, or buddy-reading a book together - sharing the love of books and reading with others is priceless.

Reading has introduced to me characters who became friends.
Over the years (40+ years of reading), I've met countless characters. And they've run the gamut from lovable to loathsome and everything in between. And there are those that made a lasting impression on me and stayed with me long after I finished their story. Maybe they felt like a friend I would love to have in real life, or maybe I felt a particular kinship with their struggles. But there are definitely those who were unforgettable.


Reading has given me stories that made an impact.
Some books you read, set aside, and move right on to the next one. Some are good but ultimately forgettable. But then there are those rarities that stand out far above the rest. The stories that were so powerful, so moving, so... something, that their impact was felt long after you turned the last page. There are some stories that my mind returns to years after reading the book. 

Reading is a connection to family.
I come from a family of readers. My mom read to me when I was a child and we made many, many trips to the library. She and my father were both readers and that love was definitely instilled in me and my two sisters. While we don't often read the same books (or even the same genres), we still often share what we're currently reading and offer up book recommendations to one another.


Reading and Books allow me to indulge my love of lists.
I've never met a list I didn't like and everything about lists brings me a sense of happiness (starting a new list, maintaining lists, adding to a list, finding a reason to make a new list). Books and reading are major contributors to my bevy of lists. Word docs, Excel spreadsheets, Google docs, paper lists, iPhone notes... the lists are everywhere. And the topics are just as varied: lists of books I own, lists of books I've read, lists of books I want to read, lists of series... and on and on it goes. 


Books are pretty.
Yes, I'm ending on what could be considered a shallow note, but admit it... books are pretty! :) Haven't we all been swayed by a gorgeous cover? To-die for-endpapers? A stunning stepback? The very aesthetic of books makes me happy.


Why do you love to read?
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