Last week sidelined me. Between traveling and a migraine, work and reading took a backseat while I recuperated. And taking that time was smart.
This week, I was more than ready to come back. I was able to get everything done that I just wasn’t able to look at last week. And I’m doing it at a much faster pace than usual. It’s really a wake up call about taking time off every once in awhile, so I can do more.
I also am in the midst of planning our neighborhood’s fall festival. So although being sidelined happened at a bad time, my productivity going up couldn’t have happened at a better time. I’m really ready to get EVERYTHING done.
And with that, let’s talk about what I’m reading right now.
Reading Social Media News
Travel Oregon is pretty much the best in the business when it comes to tourism marketing, and a big part of that is Mo Sherifdeen. Mo is someone I have admired since I first met him. He’s a genius at what he does and yet he’s probably the nicest person in tourism marketing. I was so excited to see his genius recognized by Content Marketing Institute this week. Definitely a must-read.
AI is continuing to be used in ways that are just not appropriate. The latest is the news that YouTube is automating comment replies. Yes, this will increase the amount of engagement on posts with minimal effort, but it just feels icky for it to not be authentic. I don’t know. Maybe this will be better than it seems, but I just wish social media would go back to people talking to each other.
Reading Books, Books and More Books
Past
Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson has to be one of the most readable books I’ve read in a long time. It feels like I’m being told a story by a friend rather than some random character I may or may not care about. It’s fun. It’s light. I figured out the mystery and still had a good time. I am actually grieving that I’ve lost this group of ragtag friends and family I met through this book. My biggest wish is that I could read it again. Score: A
I needed something light and easy to read, so I picked Lisa Jewell’s Then She Was Gone. Jewell is an impeccable writer. She goes through her books with a fine tooth comb and discards all of the mistakes and plot holes. So I can just sit back and enjoy what I’m reading. This book definitely lived up to that. It’s a great popcorn book that didn’t ask anything of me other than to go on its ride. This was exactly what I needed at this point and I loved every juicy turn. Definitely can’t wait to pick up my next Jewell book. Score: A-
Present
I decided it was a good point to read something in my library again. So I picked up Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane. I remembered absolutely loving this book the first time around, and as I turn each page, I’m remembering why. It accurately describes what it’s like to grow up with a parent suffering from a mental illness. It is a harder read in some ways. But it’s totally right for where I am right now.
What are you reading? What books are you looking forward to?