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Sunday Rundown – That’s What She Read

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You find me writing this Sunday Rundown in an unusually good mood today. Even though it’s already after 11pm and I’m only just starting to write this. But I’ve always enjoyed the pressure of a deadline drama. The reason I’m so positive today? I’ve spent a lovely chunk of it eating amazing food and spending time with wonderful people. As I’ve made abundantly clear on this blog already, I’m turning 30 in just over a week. As part of the ongoing celebrations some of my work-friends and I went to a Michelin star restaurant for lunch today. It was so wonderful that I don’t even care how unproductive I’ve been. Head to my Instagram for some sensational (even if I do say so myself) example of food porn. Maybe this whole “turning 30” thing won’t be that bad after all?

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SUNDAY RUNDOWN – THAT’S WHAT SHE READ

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I’ve just got back from a weekend spent at a music festival and, despite really wanting to sleep, I’m finishing off my rundown. Because I’m all about the schedule. It was a three day event that I went to with my sister and her husband. Instead of having to camp I was able to stay at their house near the festival ground. I’ve been to a few festivals over the years and, whilst I don’t hate camping per se, I’ve never been able to sleep in the din of the campsite. Plus, brushing my teeth in front of strangers is never a great thing. So being able to sleep in a proper bed and shower and stuff was a massive plus point. The festival itself was great. I can’t complain about the music, despite not knowing many bands that were playing. And it was one of the nicer grounds I’ve been to. There were plenty of people complaining about the portaloos but really I’m happy if there’s toilet roll, hand sanitiser and no naked strangers when I walk into a festival toilet. But I’ve always been fairly easy to please.

Currently Reading

  • One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus
I had’t meant to start this yet but I wanted to have a book this weekend. So I figured this YA would be an easy one to get in and out of. So far I think it’s living up to all of its cliches and I can see me getting more annoyed as time goes on. Still, it is a super quick read and I should be done soon enough.

Just Finished

  • Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
So my August Austen read along is over and I’m done with Sense and Sensibility. Rereading this was fine but I still find Austen frustrating in general. Here, more than ever, it all just seems to neat to be realistic. Everything has to tied up in a neat bow even if it doesn’t feel right. Marianne shouldn’t have settled for Brandon and Brandon, in turn, should have realised that Elinor was the woman for him. Nobody ends up with the right partner and it just sucks.
  • The 7th Function of Language by Laurent Binet
I was going to look back and work out how long I’d been reading this for but that would have made me too sad. Now I’ve reached the end I can see this for the great read it was. It’s a great book that deserved a better reader.

Recently Purchased 
  • How Not To Be a Boy by Robert Webb

I was doing really well this week and not buying books. Then I went on Facebook and somebody reminded me that comedian Robert Webb’s memoir, that also tackles the subject gender stereotyping, was out. I have loved Robert Webb since I first watched him and his comedy parnter, David Mitchell, in Peep Show. I think he’s a great man and have always loved his writing for The Guardian. So I was excited to read this anyway but the added bonus of exploring gender norms just pushed this over the edge. I can’t wait to get this.


Recently Watched 
  • Netflix Binges: Modern Family
I think I’m finally up-to-date with Modern Family now thanks to my latest short binge. I watched all of the remaining episodes of season 8 that I hadn’t watched so, when I was done, decided to go back to the beginning. They look so bloody young. I can’t cope.

  • Minions
I put myself through the arduous task of watching this for my last TBT review. Find out how bad I really found it here.

SUNDAY RUNDOWN – THAT’S WHAT SHE READ

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I’m not going to lie, this has been a terrible work week. The girl who is responsible for out rotas messed up everyone’s holiday so we’ve been pretty short staffed this week. As it’s the school holidays that means we’re extra busy so we’ve all been feeling the strain. It’s times like this when everyone starts to feel unappreciated and used. There’s a very bad atmosphere in the branch right now and it’s not a great place to be. It’s also meant that I’ve been super tired and not really in the mood for reading much this week. So I’ve barely got any further with my reading. And it doesn’t help that I’ve officially got 3 books on the go. Even though student me was more than capable of reading three books at once, it seems that 30 year old me is only just able to cope with one. But I really don’t see why I care so much. I think starting Instagram has made me more competitive about reading quickly but this also means I’m more likely to read badly. If I’m focusing on quantity rather than quality then I’m not giving each book my full attention. So I’m vowing to give up on yearly book quotas and just focus on getting better at the basic act of reading.

Currently Reading

  • Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
The only bit of reading I’ve done this week has been to get a few more chapters into this book. I’m reading my old university copy so it’s both lovely and cringe-worthy to read my old notes. Some of them of so silly that I’m a bit ashamed.
  • Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling
I’m gonna just say it. I hate The Chamber of Secrets. If I decide to get back to this then I might skip a few chapters until Harry and co are back at school. It’s just too boring at first.
  • The 7th Function of Language by Laurent Binet
It’s frustrating that I really want to finish this but that I need to focus on Sense and Sensibility. I’m going away for a few days next weekend so I’ll take this with me and see how it goes.

Recently Purchased 
  • Jane Austen Collection (Arcturus Classics) by Jane Austen

I couldn’t resist this hardcover boxset of Jane Austen novels when I found it pretty cheaply. I’m not exactly her biggest fan but these covers are to die for. You may have seen them grace my Instagram recently and I can promise you that you’ll be seeing them time and time again. 

  • In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
I bought this book for three reasons: 
      1. I have an upcoming Instagram prompt that I need it for. 
      2. I really have wanted a copy of this for ages. 
      3. The new eau-de-nil covers for Penguin Modern Classics are just gorgeous. 
I mean, for a book with pictures of two murders on the front, this is one beautiful book. I’ve spent all day filling my virtual basket with more of the new green backed classics and watching the as the total racks up to an insane amount of money. I’ll probably just buy them sporadically instead of all in one go.

Recently Watched 
  • Netflix Binges: Futurama, Veep
I’m quite enjoying my subscription to Now TV. I miss Netflix, obviously, because their original content is pretty damn good for the most part. However, there are plenty of shows I’m finally getting the chance to rewatch or start from scratch. I’ve only seen the later seasons of Futurama once so I’m not as familiar with them but there are some great episodes that I’d forgotten about. I’m not as big a fan of the series of specials but season 7 onwards has some gems. Then there’s Veep which I’d never seen until now. I love it. It’s got everything great about the Thick of It but with Julia Louis-Dreyfus being awesome as an added bonus. I’ve also got my eye on Silicon Valley but have yet to start that binge.

  • Baby Driver
An ex-colleague and I have a standing arrangement to get together at least once a month to go to the cinema. She and I have pretty similar taste in films but she desperately wants to see Valerian. I managed to convince her that Edgar Wright’s new film was the better choice. Come back Tuesday to hear my thoughts.
  • Rough Night
Had been quietly tempted by this because of my love of Kate McKinnon. I should probably stop basing my film choices solely on my love for the actors involved. I reviewed this for my last Tuesday’s Review.

  • Very Bad Things
There have been plenty of comparisons between Rough Night and this 90s dark comedy. So I decided to revisit it to see what all the fuss was about and so I had something to talk about for TBT this week.