Welcome to The Weekend Post #164! The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted at Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme. I will also be joining Deb at Readerbuzz for the Sunday Salon and Marlene of Reading Reality in her meme Stacking The Shelves.
My Week:
It’s been another busy week filled with appointments and helping my parents navigate the mountain of paperwork they’re required to complete. The world seems increasingly focused on doing everything digitally, which can be overwhelming for the elderly. It often creates more confusion than convenience for those not comfortable with technology. Back in junior high, I took “computer science,” though it was more about feeding punch cards into a mainframe than anything remotely useful today. Thankfully, I also took several typing classes in school—skills that came in handy for writing university papers and continue to serve me well now. Uploading digital files for various agencies wasn’t something I ever expected to master, but I’ve had to learn out of necessity. I often wonder how others from my generation—and especially my parents’—manage without someone to guide them through it all.
On a brighter note, we’ve had some lovely weather this week, including a much-needed 24 hours of rain to help with the drought. The week ahead looks to be a hot one, but the garden is thriving. It’s bursting with colour, and I love watching the hummingbirds flit from flower to flower. This truly is one of my favourite times of the year.
Books I’ve Added to My Shelves This Week:
From Publishers, Netgalley, & Libro.fm: None. I have two outstanding requests.
From The Library:
Recently divorced and feeling stuck in her small-town life in Lake Como, New Jersey, Jess Capodimonte Baratta retreats to her parents’ basement, sacrificing her own dreams while caring for her family and working in the family marble business. When a tragic loss shakes both the Capodimonte and Baratta clans, long-buried secrets surface, prompting Jess to flee to her ancestral homeland of Carrara, Italy. There, amid the marble mountains of Tuscany and the romance of Milan and Lake Como, Jess begins to rediscover her creativity and worth, especially after meeting Angelo Strazza, a passionate gold artist. As she uncovers the truth about her family’s past, Jess must find the strength to carve out a new life—one filled with art, love, and purpose—in a heartfelt, humorous story about reinvention and the pursuit of a meaningful, creative life.
From Audible:Â None
What I’m Watching:
I’m looking forward to starting Too Much, a new series now streaming on Netflix. It follows Jessica, a New Yorker who decides to make a fresh start in London after falling for a passionate, intense musician. It sounds like the perfect blend of romance, reinvention, and culture clash—and I can’t wait to dive in.
Will you be watching this series too?
On The Blog This Week:
It’s All About Travel For June 2025: Where Books Have Taken Me
Book Review: Courtney Walsh Delivers Joy with The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley
Can’t Wait Wednesday #146: The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen
Pugs and Kisses by Farrah Rochon – Review of This Delightful Dog-Centric Romance
Who Wears It Better in July 2025?
This Post: The Weekend Post #164
Next Week On That Happy Reader:
My Favourite Books of the First Half of 2025
Book Review: Second Chance at Sunshine Inn by Amy Clipston
Can’t Wait Wednesday #147
Book Review: Finders Keepers by Sarah Adler
Book to Screen Adaptations for July 2025
The Weekend Post #165
That’s a wrap on The Weekend Post #164. How was your week?Â
I wish you a wonderful week ahead!
Jonetta | Blue Mood Café
I know what you mean about the digital age being a challenge for aging generations. I got to the point where I managed everything for my mother. Glad you’ve been able to master, Jodie💜
thathappyreader
Not a master but I try hard Jonetta!
mae
I think the whole paperwork issue could be made better if the computer geniuses were really committed to the endeavor.
thathappyreader
Yes. Make things easier Mae.
Deb Nance at Readerbuzz
It’s great that you are there to help your parents with all of the confusing things that they have to deal with. I am sure they are very grateful.
I will look for The View from Lake Como. It sounds intriguing.
thathappyreader
I’m enjoying it so far Deb.
Joy's Book Blog
An American in London is one of my favorite plots, so I’m looking forward to Too Much.
thathappyreader
I hope you enjoy it more than I did Joy.
Carla@CarlaLovesToRead
I ask the same question about technology, Jodie. I know many people my age that don’t have smart phones and many things must be done using one. It seems prejudicial to folks over the age of 60. I am often helping my friend. So happy that you got rain, it was so needed. I probably won’t be watching that series, but I am watching Sullivan’s Crossing right now. I am into season 2. I hope you have a good upcoming week.
thathappyreader
Thanks Carla. I need to start watching Sullivan’s Crossing again.
sjhigbee
I completely agree about digital officialdom not being friendly for older users. Fortunately my mother went to computer classes and has a smart phone, so has kept up. But most of her contemporaries (she’s in her late 80s) simply cannot do it. And even so, my sister has to step in and help out at times. I hope you have a great week, Jodie:).
thathappyreader
Bravo for your Mom Sarah!
Val
How interesting that your computer science class was about punch cards. I didn’t take computer science in school but now I teach it middle school. My background is math and I’ve taken many coding classes since college. It is amazing how far technology has come in my lifetime. And I agree about older adults struggling with it. My mom has passed but she hated all the tech. My dad is 92 and tries so hard to be techy but I still take his phone from him to fix things all the time. I hope your parents are able to work through the paperwork nightmare and get what they need.
thathappyreader
Thank you Val.
Cindy's Book Corner
I agree with your assessment of the world not being especially helpful to older folks. When we pick up our prescriptions at the pharmacy we now have to sign in on a computer thing-not everyone knows how to do that! It’s crazy. We are having less and less interactions with people and more with technology. I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend!
thathappyreader
That is so hard Cindy! What are they thinking?
Anne - Books of My Heart
It’s wonderful you can help them with all that paperwork. My brother does most of it for my Mom as I have plenty for my daughter, although I am working with her to do more of her own as she is handy with computers. I also have the punched cards experience. This week looks to be hot and full of medical appts. I hope yours is better.
Anne – Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
Trish
I agree with you on the paperwork! The worst is when they email a form but it can’t be filled out electronically, so you have to print it out to fill out or sign and then scan to email back to them!
I watched a couple of episodes of Too Much but I didn’t really care for it.
thathappyreader
Oh I’ve had a lot of those too Trish!
Her Digital Coffee
I agree, I help my parents with most things because almost everything is digitalized now. It’s not convenient at all and it can be very frustrating for those who don’t have anyone assisting them. I’m glad you’ve been enjoying the weather! I hope you have a great week, Jodie!
thathappyreader
You too Winnie.