August Recap

I had a very solid reading month after a disappointing July.  I read 13 books.  I posted one review and I’m really proud of it…Not the review exactly, but I’ve been trying to achieve that formatting in HTML for awhile and finally got it. 

Books Read

Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson
Made You Up by Francesca Zappia
Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour
Girl, Stolen by April Henry
What You Left Behind by Jessica Verdi
The Devil You Know by Trish Doller
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
The Royal We by Jessica Morgan and Heather Cocks
Crazy for Love by Victoria Dahl
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Wonder by R. J. Palacio

Challenge Update

I finished two more books for the Read Harder Challenge from Book Riot this month.  Ironically, neither of them are the books I mentioned as in progress in my July Recap.  In total I have 19 complete out of 24, and hoping to finish All the Light You Cannot See by Anthony Doerr for sure in September.

On My Blog Roll

Gotta love unique book storage even if some of it isn’t practical.  I WANT the checkmarks!

19 Rad Bookshelves For Your Home (Or Dream Home)

I want self-driving cars ASAP so I can read on my commute.

Why Google's self-driving cars will be great for cyclists and pedestrians

And this one gave me an idea for a post.

An Odd DNF Scenario

In Other News

I picked up two bookcases and a hutch on Craigslist to turn my basement into a library of sorts so you can probably anticipate a post on book organization in the future.

I helped my parents move a couple weeks ago (with only a few weeks left to use the pool) and we’re still waiting for Cox Communication to visit the apartment to install.  The original schedule for install was 8/16.

July Recap

And my July reading slump continues.  This is annual.  I only read 5 books in July.  Seriously 5.  I knew I was slumping but that’s a bigger slump than I though.  I did one review post of two mini books reviews.  So at least it wasn’t a review goose egg month.

Books Read

Paperweight by Meg Haston
Bully by Penelope Douglas
Up in Smoke by Tessa Bailey
Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
Between the Notes by Sharon Huss Roat

Challenge Update

Shockingly, I made no progress for the Read Harder Challenge from Book Riot this month.  In total I have 16 complete out of 24, but everything left is proving very challenging.  I started (slowly) reading All the Light You Cannot See by Anthony Doerr and The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith so hopefully I’ll be able to check off two more categories in August.

On My Blog Roll

Vox.com has had several articles lately on how we view meat and the ethical consequences of meat consumption.  I’ll never be a vegetarian – I’m a 34 year old who struggles to eat vegetables – but I still found these really thought provoking.

What’s the difference between eating pork belly and puppy belly? Not much.

Why eating eggs causes more suffering than eating beef

The Dorito Effect: Healthy food is blander than ever — and it's making us fat

Emily Henderson is always good and this month had an bookish post.

DIY ‘BOOK’ BOOKENDS

In Other News

I rewatched Jurassic Park a couple weeks ago and came away with two observations: the soundtrack is iconic and it’s too scary for me. Yes I’m pathetic.

Lot of purging of excess stuff lately.  I’ve taken several loads to Goodwill lately and Salvation Army is coming for bigger stuff today. 

I’m still traveling for work and the town we’re in now has quite a few antique shops.  I hit one of them over lunch last week and found some really interesting pieces.  Hopefully I get a post with pics up soon.  AND I only bought a set of candlestick holders.  I need to NOT replace all the stuff I’m purging.  At least not right away.

 

June Recap

I kept up my reading pace and finished 10 books in June.  After setting personal record and posting 3 reviews in May, reverted to form and only posted one review in June, although it was for a wonderful book.

Books Read

Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

Everything that Makes You by Moriah McStay

Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry

Taking the Heat by Victoria Dahl

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

The Cage by Megan Shepherd

Life in Motion by Misty Copeland

Obsidian by Jennifer L Armentrout

Sophomore Year is Greek to Me by Meredith Zeitlin

Onyx by Jennifer L Armentrout

Challenge Update

The Cage by Megan Shepherd counts as my sci-fy book for the Read Harder Challenge from Book Riot this month.  In total I have 16 complete out of 24, but everything left is proving very challenging.

In Other News

I started checking out movies from the library as well as books and now highly recommend Pride.  I watched it a couple weeks ago and I loved the movie and am OBSESSED with the song “Bread & Roses”.  I’d never heard it before, but I’ve probably watched that clip from the movie 20+ times now.  The song starts around the 1:00 min mark. 



 
My brother and his wife returned from a trip to England so my travel bug is biting harder then ever, now I just need to make a plan and go somewhere.

May Recap

Sorry this is a bit late.  I was insane this month and read 15 books and DNF’d another.  I posted 3 reviews – which might be an all time record.  I also attended a book signing with Rainbow Rowell and David Levithan.

Books Read

The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver

First There Was Forever by Juliana Romano

All the Rage by Courtney Summers

Top 10 Clues You’re Clueless by Liz Czukas

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay (reread)

Lies I Told by Michelle Zink

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Simon vs the Homo Sapien’s Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me by Mindy Kaling 

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

99 Days by Katie Cotugno

Gathering Prey by John Sandford

The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E Smith

Books Reviewed

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

99 Days by Katie Cotugno

Lies I Told by Michelle Zink

Challenge Update

I completed one book towards the Read Harder Challenge from Book Riot this month.  The Life changing Magic of Tidying Up counts as either my self help book or a translation.  In total I have 15 complete out of 24.  I gave up on my Sci-fy read so I’m looking for another one if anyone has a recommendation. 

In Other News

Rainbow Rowell recommended Short Term 12 on Twitter ages ago and the recommendation was totally justified.  Amazing movie.

Other than that my TV/Movie choices have been a little suspect this month.

I’ve always found Emily Osment really appealing for some reason so I watched the entire first season of Young & Hungry.  It’s a little cheesy, but still enjoyable and I just find her really charming (the only reason I’ve seen more that one episode of Hannah Montana).

I also watched Left Behind (the new one) on Netflix because I thought it would be mockable.  It was, but not for the reasons I expected it to be

I also got a bid on having a bunch of yard work done (bushes and volunteers removed/trees trimmed) so I need to remember to take before shots of my very ugly yard.

April Recap

I read 7 books this month but it really felt like a slump month. I started and put down at least 7 more books that I just couldn’t get into.  Again I complete 2 reviews – that is seriously my magic number for a month, I just can’t seem to break the 2 review barrier.

Books Read

Yes Please by Amy Poehler

Nice Girls Don’t Ride by Roni Loren

17 First Kisses by Rachael Allen

I’ll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

Finding It by Cora Carmack

Girl Defective by Simmone Howell

Chase Me by Tessa Bailey 

Books Reviewed

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Mariller

My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga

Challenge Update

I made ZERO progress on the Read Harder Challenge from Book Riot this month except to realize that reading The DUFF back in February counted as my book by an author under 25.  That adjusts my total to  In total I have 14 complete out of 24.  I’m 50% complete with my choice for Sci Fy – not my favorite category and my goal is to finish at least one more in May.

In Other News

Totally stuck about 15% into the fifth Harry Potter book.  I remember it being a frustrating book to read and it’s even more frustrating in audio.  Teenage angst can be like nails on chalkboard for me, once you add it that the reason for Harry’s angst is justified makes listening to it so hard. 

I binged on the first season of The Americans on Amazon Prime and I totally recommend it.  So addictive.  

I started running again…and stopped running again.  And started running again…and stopped.  It’s about the only exercise that’s convenient with the travel I’m doing but I so wish I could take a dance class or go back to kickboxing.