Tag Archives: Friendship

Sunday Matters: Seasonal Reading

Sunday Matters

Another blogger recently posted about an event titled 20 Books of Summer, or something close to that. It intrigued me. I could never commit to that many books over the summer because for me, seasonal reading is all about mood and the flexibility it brings. Plus, this summer will be filled with moving. But, I like the idea of it. Planning for seasonal reads pulls me out of my boxed-in existence so I might do a short list. What about you? Do you have reading plans this summer?

Right Now:

It’s the Hub’s birthday today! We celebrated yesterday with a nice meal out because of church, then youth group today. He’s easy to please. He wanted a Japanese dinner, the kind where they cook at your table. It was delicious. My tofu was so delightful. The truth.

On another note, my youth group graduates very soon and then? Not sure what I will be called to do. When I became a youth leader I vowed to take them through the entire cycle, JHigh through High School but I don’t think I can cycle back around and do another seven years. Stay in youth ministry? Try children’s ministry? Or something else? Not quite sure yet. This is what I am pondering as this season ends.

This Week:

On Tuesday I get my second dose of Moderna.

On Saturday The Girl interviews for a summer camp counselor position! This would be her first job and she grew up in this summer camp! It would be a good fit.

Reading:

I finished Rules of Civility and should have the review posted for tomorrow.

My next book is one I am excited about. I am participating in a little marketing push for The Invisible Husband of Frick Island and I am here for it.

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island

Watching:

I’ve been watching an eclectic mix of things. I’ve been very unsettled and jumpy and it’s affecting what I watch too. After a few minutes I am ready to move on to something else so either the content isn’t working for me or I am just not able to focus.

Grateful for:

In all honesty, I’ve been working myself up into a big ball of anxiety. It’s been hard to find good things to set my mind on. But, there’s always something if you really think about it.

  • I am so very grateful for my daughter’s future roommate and her adorable, kind family. They live about two hours away from Missouri State and they offered to accept some shipments for us like bedding sets, etc. We plan to get a lot of stuff when we go, but bedding in a small town will be slim pickings. This allowed my daughter to find something she loves and not have to worry about getting it there.
  • A new friend on FB is recovering from COVID and she found this great new band while bedridden and shared it on FB. I am LOVING them and I am obsessed! Dirty Honey. It is reminding me of high school and all the hair bands I was into. Looks like she is turning a corner with COVID too.

That’s all I have. Let me know what you are doing these days. It’s been hot hot hot here. It’s too early for 97 degree temps and we have already had three local fires. Entirely too early for this.

Review: Outlawed

Outlawed

Outlawed
By Anna North
Bloomsbury Publishing, 9781635575422, January 2021, 272pp.

The Short of It:

A rollicking adventure unlike anything I’ve read.

The Rest of It:

In 1894, young Ada is seventeen and newly married to a man she loves but after a year of not getting pregnant, his family wants to know what’s wrong with her. Ada’s mother is a midwife for the town and her advice is to sleep with another man to get the job done. When that proves fruitless and women in town begin to lose their own babies, the finger is pointed towards Ada. Only a witch like Ada would cause such bad luck to fall upon the town.

Ada is heartbroken. She loves her family but also knows from her mother’s wisdom that the town is out for blood and with a young girl killed at the gallows recently, Ada is sent to live at a convent. But at this convent, she learns of a group of people who might be able to help her. The Hole in the Wall gang are a bunch of outlaws who go through their lives thieving but their freedom and sense of community appeals to Ada so she sets out to find them.

This is a Western but not the kind you’ve grown-up with. This band of rebels is headed up by The Kid. The Kid has vowed to protect outcast women but this proves more and more challenging as their supplies dwindle and the Sheriff from Ada’s hometown takes to the hills to look for her.

There are a few surprises which I won’t giveaway here but this was a completely unique story which I enjoyed very much. I will say, that about halfway through it seemed to drag a little. The group gets comfortable and the action ceases but it quickly picks up again. I blew through this story in just a few hours. What a fun, adventurous read.

Content Note: 

The story touches on some sensitive topics and at times discusses the baby Jesus. Just so you know, the two don’t always jive with one another. I wanted to mention this for anyone who might be sensitive to it. Think feminism, women’s rights, gender roles, etc.

Source: Borrowed
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.