Friday, September 18, 2015

2015 Literary Pickers Reading Challenge: Quarterly Update #3

This is my third quarterly update for the Literary Pickers Reading Challenge 2015 hosted by Sophia at Delighted Reader. This is one of my "Just for Fun" Challenges for 2015, and I'm finding quite a few of these--definitely more than I expected originally. I've copied the items I found up until this point, and this will be where I update that list until my next quarterly update.
 

Objects

   Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko
   A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens




   The Cottage in the Woods by Katherine Coville

   Don Tillman: The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
   Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper





   Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham
   The Great Library: Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine
   North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
   Frog and Toad Audio Collection by Arnold Lobel

   Animal Rescue Team Collection: Vol. 2 by Sue Stauffacher

   The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
  Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein


   Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

   Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot




   Love and Other Theories by Alexis Bass

   The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis






   You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) by Felicia Day

   Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin

Transportation
   The Coventree Chronicles: Disenchanted by Janet Ursel
   The Land of Stories: A Grimm Warning by Chris Colfer
   The Virgin's Guide to Misbehaving by Jessica Clare
   The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
   Billionaire Boys' Club: Romancing the Billionaire by Jessica Clare
  Better Homes and Hauntings by Molly Harper

   Yes Please by Amy Poehler
   Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen


Places

   A Song of Ice and Fire: A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
   Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

   Magisterium: The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

   Mr. Toppit by Charles Elton
   Billionaires and Bridesmaids: The Billionaire and the Virgin by Jessica Clare

   Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

   Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich
   Red Rising by Pierce Brown

Personages/Animals
   Poetry magazine "July/August 2014"
   The Mortality Doctrine: The Eye of Minds by James Dashner
   Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales by The Brothers Grimm
   The Julian Chapter: A Wonder Story by R.J. Palacio
   Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
   The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
   Chocoholic Mystery: The Chocolate Book Bandit by JoAnna Carl

   Dragonriders of Pern: Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey

   Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo
   Canyon Sacrifice: A National Park Mystery by Scott Graham
   Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
   The Remedy by Thomas Goetz
   Age of Legends: Empire of Night by Kelley Armstrong
   The Disney Fairies Collection Vol. 6 by Gail Herman


Clothing



   Booked for Trouble: A Lighthouse Library Mystery by Eva Gates
   By Book or by Crook: A Lighthouse Library Mystery by Eva Gates

   The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini





   Age of Legends: Forest of Ruin by Kelley Armstrong
   Blacktop Cowboys: Saddled and Spurred by Lorelei James
   Fairyland: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente

   Emma by Jane Austen
The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
   His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

   Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie



Food
   Don Tillman: The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion
   Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami
   Dilbert: I'm Not Anti-Business, I'm Anti-Idiot by Scott Adams
   Voracious: A Hungry Reader Cooks Her Way through Great Books by Cara Nicoletti
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Saturday, September 12, 2015

2015 We Read Diverse Books Challenge: Quarterly Update #3

This is my third quarterly update for the We Read Diverse Books Challenge hosted by Janet Ursel at Gourmet Reading. There is a different challenge designed to question the way we see the world each month, and I've found each monthly choice really enlightening so far. It's taking me some time, but I'm reading them bit by bit. I'll update this regularly as I find out the next challenge, choose a book, and read the book.

Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales by The Brothers Grimm

May Challenge: Age
The Remedy: Robert Koch, Arthur Conan Doyle, and the Quest to Cure Tuberculosis
by Thomas Goetz

August Challenge: Religion

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
 
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2015 Banned Books Challenge: Quarterly Update #3

This is my third quarterly update for the Banned Books Challenge 2015 hosted by Christine at Buckling Bookshelves. I started out with the "Trouble-Maker" level (3-5 books) and re-set my goal to the "Rabble-Rouser" level (6-9 books), which I've met now as well. Some of these have been really great books! I've re-posted the books that I've read for this challenge thus far, and I'll keep updating this list here until my next quarterly update.
 

Books Read Thus Far:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other Banned Books Read:
 
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2015 TBR Pile Challenge: Quarterly Update #3

This is my third quarterly update for the 2015 TBR Pile Reading Challenge hosted by the ladies at Bookish! My level of choice is "A Friendly Hug," so 11-20 books. I've already reached my goal with 14 books, but I'm not planning to re-set it since there's only a few more months left in the year. I've re-posted the links to my reads for this challenge thus far, and this is where I'll keep my list and links for the challenge until the next quarterly update.

TBR Pile Reads Thus Far:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Then Again by Diane Keaton

More TBR Pile Reads:

 
Dragonriders of Pern: Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey

Don Tillman: The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham

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2015 Audiobook Challenge: Quarterly Update #3

This is my third quarterly update for the 2015 Audiobook Challenge hosted by the ladies at The Book Nympho and Hot Listens. I can't believe we're about 3/4 of the way through the year already! I signed up for the "Stenographer" level (10-15 books). I've read 8 books for this so far--I think I'm gonna' meet my goal! I've re-posted the links to my reads for this challenge thus far, and this is where I'll keep my list and links for the challenge until the next quarterly update.
 

Audiobook Reads Thus Far: 

 
  
 
  
  
 
 
More Audiobook Reads: 
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Thursday, September 10, 2015

Audiobook: Emma

Emma is one of Jane Austen's six finished novels. The main character is the spoiled younger daughter of an aging, anxious man of some wealth and establishment. Her favorite pastime is meddling in the love affairs of others in her community and trying to match them up. Lately, however, she has been striking out wherever she turns. Emma is misguided but well-intentioned, and she discovers a lot about herself through the changes in her community over the period of a year or so.

(picture taken from Goodreads)

I actually listened to one of the Librivox editions of Emma, but I've read the book so many times, I figure it doesn't matter which copy I picture here. In fact, Emma is supposed to have blonde hair, and I could only find a couple of covers where she did--perhaps because so many of them use classic paintings not originally intended for this book? Anyway, one of them is pictured below. It is the cover from the Spanish version of Marvel's graphic novel interpretation. It's a little cartoony, but I love the serene colors. The absolute picture of summertime!

(picture taken from Goodreads)

Re-read Conclusion: Emma used to be one of my least favorite Austen books. I just couldn't relate to the main character at all! She seems incredibly self-centered and takes everything in her life for granted, at times even abusing those without her blessings in life and laughing about it. However, it's really grown on me since I've gotten older. While Emma is a pretty self-centered character, she's not purposely selfish. She cares a lot about her family and friends, and she takes very good care of her father. She visits some of the poor and sick families in the area and tries to do her duty to those that she feels deserve it. And while her jealousy of Jane Fairfax and a desire to satisfy her friends by attempting a relationship with Frank Churchill get in the way, Emma notices when she makes mistakes and tries to correct them. She really matures and changes her behavior as she learns better, which to me says a lot more for her character than just how she started. And Mr. Knightley! "If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more. But you know what I am. You hear nothing but truth from me." (sigh) What a great line and a great guy! Anyway, I just love this book. My favorite movie versions are the two from 1996--one with Kate Beckinsale and Mark Strong, the other with Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeremy Northam--both fantastic; I can't choose!

2015 is the 200-year anniversary of the publication date for Emma, so this is a great time to read it! This is my eighth 2015 Audiobook Challenge read--I'm almost to my goal!
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Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Five Bookish (and Not so Bookish) Thoughts

"Bookish (and Not so Bookish) Thoughts" is a meme created by Christine over at Bookishly Boisterous. I'll admit to not having read much of her blog yet, but this is such a fun idea, and I've seen a lot of my blog friends using it lately. Also, I'm sure many of you have noted my silence lately, so I thought posting this might explain some things and get me started again. So, (in no particular order) here goes!


1) Gabe is so big now! Three and a half years old...it's insane. The picture above is from his recent trip to the dentist for the first time, which went really well. I was worried that he would be worried (typical first-child business), but the dentist and nurses made it really fun for him. He's almost fully potty-trained (thank God for that) and showing a distinct interest in learning how to read. He is such a perfect mix of Tony, me, and his own little flair. Every day I'm amazed by him.

2) Tony's Grannie recently had heart surgery, and we've been spending a lot of time with family sorting some things out. It's a very tentative, stressful situation. I know I don't usually talk about a lot of personal issues on here, but I felt that my inattention to the blog has been telling and there's no harm in connecting with some of my favorite online buddies. You guys are awesome. I'm hoping that her healing process will be smooth and not quite so worrisome in the near future.

3) Speaking of the future, Tony just started his senior year toward a B.S. in Computer Science! I am so proud of him for everything--transitioning from the Army, switching majors to do what he loves, excelling in school while helping me raise our little boy...it's a lot. And this also means we're probably moving in a little less than a year. I'm making a lot of emotional as well as practical decisions right now about what I want to do next. It's a lot of pressure but also exciting! Who knows where we'll end up or what will be next for us!


4) Time to get positive! I received this little beauty in the mail last week! By far my favorite cover for A Room with a View by E.M. Forster!


5) I discovered a children's picture book by J.R.R. Tolkien the other day titled Mr. Bliss! I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but I ordered it immediately and, come on, you can't go wrong with Tolkien!

I guess that's enough for now. I hope I didn't bum you guys out too much! Thank you for being patient with me. I have six or so unfinished book reviews waiting for you all to see them, so I hope I can find some time and energy to finish and post those soon. Have a wonderful day!
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