Eleanor Roosevelt was a smart lady.
She has a bunch of good quotes and seemed pretty knowledgeable about life and living and being good at public speaking and making memorable quotes.
I keep having moments of clarity - reality checks.
Being grumpy and sad and melancholy about life isn't going to get me anywhere. I am allowing myself to have grumpy, sad, melancholy moments, but I refuse to ruin an entire day over something that is already done.
OUR CHOICES ARE ULTIMATELY OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
I can choose to be a sad panda.
Or i can choose to make the most out of my situation.
and be thankful for what I have (and don't have, in some situations).
I am going to go on a couple vacations in 2013. I have one scheduled already (I'm coming for you, Texas!) and another floating in my head for the fall. I want to see things I've never seen before. I want to be places I've never been before.
I am going to work on my CMSRN certification. I am going to get myself a study guide for Christmas (heck yes, nerdy christmas gift) and start doing it. It is going to be hard, but it is going to be worth it.
I am going to continue to try to find the beauty in each day, open myself up to new experiences, and recognize that sometimes you just have to take a step back, accept responsibility for your choices, and let others do the same.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Friday, October 19, 2012
long time, no read
I haven't posted in a while.
Partially because I literally haven't read more than 30 pages in a book (until this weekend), since before my last post.
On labor day, I spent about an hour outside reading. Enjoying the day off, soaking up the sun. I had a day off from work and Devin was home. I thought we were going to lounge around, take the dogs on a hike, grab an early dinner and just hang out. Instead, at 10:03 a.m., my husband of a little over four years told me he wanted a divorce.
By noon I left the house for him to get some of his things.
By 2:00 p.m., he was out of the house, only to come back 1 more time and pack up the rest of his things (save for a couple that I gave to him this weekend.)
I tried to read to get my mind off things. It didn't work. It hasn't worked. It normally always works when I am in a state of overwhelm (I know that isn't the proper use of overwhelm but this is my blog, my rules). But I've never been in this severe state of overwhelm before.
As time goes on, it gets easier. That's what I told myself on labor day. It's been almost 2 months and it has gotten easier. It is beginning to feel more real. (for a while it felt like a dream. People would talk and it would sound muffled. I felt like I was walking through water.)
So naturally, I've been working working working. I started going to a trivia night (where I actually know about 8% of the answers!) I just got home (less than 12 hours ago) from a mini-vacation at my dad's house - where in which i got some sweet deals at Banana Republic's factory store (I NEVER get sweet outlet deals. I was so excited), I spent HOURS walking MILES on the beach by myself, I caught a legit shark with legit teeth off the coast (THREE FEET LONG IS LONG ENOUGH TO BITE YOUR ARM OFF, KIDS!), I talked to my dad, who is awesome, and my step-mom, who is also awesome, about everything going on. They both had (now cherished) words of wisdom.
And I cracked open Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. And I actually read some of it.
Partially because I literally haven't read more than 30 pages in a book (until this weekend), since before my last post.
On labor day, I spent about an hour outside reading. Enjoying the day off, soaking up the sun. I had a day off from work and Devin was home. I thought we were going to lounge around, take the dogs on a hike, grab an early dinner and just hang out. Instead, at 10:03 a.m., my husband of a little over four years told me he wanted a divorce.
By noon I left the house for him to get some of his things.
By 2:00 p.m., he was out of the house, only to come back 1 more time and pack up the rest of his things (save for a couple that I gave to him this weekend.)
I tried to read to get my mind off things. It didn't work. It hasn't worked. It normally always works when I am in a state of overwhelm (I know that isn't the proper use of overwhelm but this is my blog, my rules). But I've never been in this severe state of overwhelm before.
As time goes on, it gets easier. That's what I told myself on labor day. It's been almost 2 months and it has gotten easier. It is beginning to feel more real. (for a while it felt like a dream. People would talk and it would sound muffled. I felt like I was walking through water.)
So naturally, I've been working working working. I started going to a trivia night (where I actually know about 8% of the answers!) I just got home (less than 12 hours ago) from a mini-vacation at my dad's house - where in which i got some sweet deals at Banana Republic's factory store (I NEVER get sweet outlet deals. I was so excited), I spent HOURS walking MILES on the beach by myself, I caught a legit shark with legit teeth off the coast (THREE FEET LONG IS LONG ENOUGH TO BITE YOUR ARM OFF, KIDS!), I talked to my dad, who is awesome, and my step-mom, who is also awesome, about everything going on. They both had (now cherished) words of wisdom.
And I cracked open Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. And I actually read some of it.
Friday, September 7, 2012
oh the great world spins
I got out of my reading funk! Hooray!
And then my little world was flipped onto its top. Life has taken a strange turn, strange indeed.
I don't think anyone actually reads my blog (I don't blame anyone, it isn't very interesting nor do I post regularly - i swear this is not a pity party about my lack of readers), but I ask anyone who does, anyone at all, one simple request. Never apologize for your independence. Never feel bad because you are independent. Never feel guilty because you can stand on your own two feet and keep fighting.
(enter Beyonce song here. Or Adele. She's all over the place lately.)
Once my life gets a little bit more settled and I don't feel like I am walking under water, I will read more. and then I'll post about it. Hell, maybe I will post an actual book review or something.
And then my little world was flipped onto its top. Life has taken a strange turn, strange indeed.
I don't think anyone actually reads my blog (I don't blame anyone, it isn't very interesting nor do I post regularly - i swear this is not a pity party about my lack of readers), but I ask anyone who does, anyone at all, one simple request. Never apologize for your independence. Never feel bad because you are independent. Never feel guilty because you can stand on your own two feet and keep fighting.
(enter Beyonce song here. Or Adele. She's all over the place lately.)
Once my life gets a little bit more settled and I don't feel like I am walking under water, I will read more. and then I'll post about it. Hell, maybe I will post an actual book review or something.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
In a funk...
This bookworm has been hibernating.
I was supposed to read The Tiger's Wife for my book club and I didn't. Well, I cracked it open and read the first 100 pages, but just couldn't get into it.
I read/finished quite a few books last month (Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern; The House of Velvet & Glass by Katherine Howe; Employee of the Month and Other Big Deals by Mary Jo Pehl; I Suck At Girls by Justin Halpern; The Likeness by Tana French; and 1 Dead In Attic by Chris Rose) and this month I have just been in a lull.
I was also supposed to do a Read-a-Thon starting this week and just didn't.
I tried to read! I got all comfy in my chair outside in the shade. I stacked up my pillows on the couch. I thought about buying a frou-frou coffee drink and going to the library. But again, the lull!
But it isn't all for naught! I'm 3 books ahead on my GOODREADS CHALLENGE for the year! (I recognize this does not give me the ability to slack! Better to be ahead!)
I was supposed to read The Tiger's Wife for my book club and I didn't. Well, I cracked it open and read the first 100 pages, but just couldn't get into it.
I read/finished quite a few books last month (Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern; The House of Velvet & Glass by Katherine Howe; Employee of the Month and Other Big Deals by Mary Jo Pehl; I Suck At Girls by Justin Halpern; The Likeness by Tana French; and 1 Dead In Attic by Chris Rose) and this month I have just been in a lull.
I was also supposed to do a Read-a-Thon starting this week and just didn't.
I tried to read! I got all comfy in my chair outside in the shade. I stacked up my pillows on the couch. I thought about buying a frou-frou coffee drink and going to the library. But again, the lull!
But it isn't all for naught! I'm 3 books ahead on my GOODREADS CHALLENGE for the year! (I recognize this does not give me the ability to slack! Better to be ahead!)
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
I'm a reader.
One look at my blog and you know I'm a reader.
One look at my pinterest and you know I'm a reader who likes batman and easy crafts for my house and really wants to travel more.
One look at my instagram and you know I'm a reader who shamelessly takes pictures of my dogs and cat (seldom myself) and loves antiques.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Whew!
It is definitely summer-time here in the Midwest. I've been spending a lot of reading time outside enjoying the sunshine (and the shade!)
I just finished my 18th book for this year (to follow what I've been reading as the year goes on, you can go here: EVERYTHING I'VE READ SO FAR. I can honestly say I haven't read anything and been super duper in love with it yet. 22 more books to go! That's 22 more chances for my socks to be wow-ed off. Good luck, books.
Luckily for me, I have a list a mile long of things I want to read this summer:
And I just bought this for my kindle, which is going to be what I start tonight after bookclub (or before my lunch date)
I'm hoping to love them!
It is definitely summer-time here in the Midwest. I've been spending a lot of reading time outside enjoying the sunshine (and the shade!)
I just finished my 18th book for this year (to follow what I've been reading as the year goes on, you can go here: EVERYTHING I'VE READ SO FAR. I can honestly say I haven't read anything and been super duper in love with it yet. 22 more books to go! That's 22 more chances for my socks to be wow-ed off. Good luck, books.
Luckily for me, I have a list a mile long of things I want to read this summer:
And I just bought this for my kindle, which is going to be what I start tonight after bookclub (or before my lunch date)
I'm hoping to love them!
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Read-a-thon
I've never done a read-a-thon before!
Believe it or not, I am new to the whole blogging thing. (As you can tell, from all of the empty seats in the audience.)
I'm enjoying reading - I'm definitely enjoying participating in the Mixing it Up Challenge over at http://musingsofabookshopgirl.blogspot.com/ It's encouraged me to read outside of my regular reading zones and even helped me get un-lazy with my Sookie Stackhouse series that's been gathering some dust. Book club has chosen some books I would NEVER choose on my own accord.
Plus, the dates of this read-a-thon (July 9-11) falls during the week, which is when I'm off work, so I will actually get some reading done!
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Light and fluffy
Lately, my favorite place to read has been outside on our back patio in our anti-gravity chair enjoying the sunshine.
I take breaks from reading every chapter or so to look at the clouds and laugh at something awesome my dogs are doing. Today, Scout was lounging in the grass and a fly was pestering him. Everyone few seconds he would chomp at this near-invisible pest. Adorable.
I'm getting closer to being on-target with my reading goal of 40 books this year. Right now I'm on #15. I decided to go with something light and fluffy - #7 of the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris, All Together Dead. I started reading the series in November 2009 (can I take a second to mention how much i LOVE goodreads? I love that I can find out when I read a book!) and gave up on it in August 2010 (seriously. Goodreads is amazing) when witches and more fantasy-land creatures came crawling from the pages. That was right around when HBO's True Blood season was over and I got rid of cable completely. I pretty well lost interest in it, even though I own book 1-9. 7, 8, and 9 have been sitting on my shelf - Quietly waiting for me to need to indulge in some guilty pleasure reading.
Enter summer of 2012! I've read some heavy topics lately: Ethiopian twin doctors trying to make sense of their childhoods during wartime (death count 15+) after their nun mother dies during childbirth and their birth father disappears (Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese) and a memoir about a girl who loses her virginity at 14-years old and ends up being betrayed by the boy she "loved" at age 15. After I finished The Only Girl in the Car by Kathy Dobie I felt the urge to take a hot, hot shower.
So now I'm reading light and fluffy. The buttercream of my 2012 reading list - Sookie Stackhouse.
I take breaks from reading every chapter or so to look at the clouds and laugh at something awesome my dogs are doing. Today, Scout was lounging in the grass and a fly was pestering him. Everyone few seconds he would chomp at this near-invisible pest. Adorable.
I'm getting closer to being on-target with my reading goal of 40 books this year. Right now I'm on #15. I decided to go with something light and fluffy - #7 of the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris, All Together Dead. I started reading the series in November 2009 (can I take a second to mention how much i LOVE goodreads? I love that I can find out when I read a book!) and gave up on it in August 2010 (seriously. Goodreads is amazing) when witches and more fantasy-land creatures came crawling from the pages. That was right around when HBO's True Blood season was over and I got rid of cable completely. I pretty well lost interest in it, even though I own book 1-9. 7, 8, and 9 have been sitting on my shelf - Quietly waiting for me to need to indulge in some guilty pleasure reading.
Enter summer of 2012! I've read some heavy topics lately: Ethiopian twin doctors trying to make sense of their childhoods during wartime (death count 15+) after their nun mother dies during childbirth and their birth father disappears (Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese) and a memoir about a girl who loses her virginity at 14-years old and ends up being betrayed by the boy she "loved" at age 15. After I finished The Only Girl in the Car by Kathy Dobie I felt the urge to take a hot, hot shower.
So now I'm reading light and fluffy. The buttercream of my 2012 reading list - Sookie Stackhouse.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
the ABCs of this here bookworm
Age: 27
Bed size: queen.
Chores that you hate: All of them - if I had to pick just one, it would be laundry.
Dogs: I love them! and I have two: Scout Pants and Watson Bean, who frequent my instragram account frequently (racheleff)
Essential to start your day: Feeding my dogs happens before everything else or they go bonkers until it happens.
Favorite color: grey and purple
Gold or silver: silver
Height: 5'7
Instruments you play: I can't play any instruments. I used to play the flute (about 15 years ago)
Job title: Registered Nurse, ya'll
Kids: Ew no thanks. Some of my friends have kids and they are okay. I don't like kids enough to spend more than a few hours with many of them.
Live: what.
Mother's name: Brenda.
Nicknames: Rach, Rachem, Rachemface, Rachies, The Rachies, Mitch
Overnight hospital stays: I had to stay overnight a couple times as a kid (once for Scarlet Fever and once for pneumonia). Not too shabby.
Pet peeves: Right now, the pet peeve of the day is lack of assertiveness amongst my peers. Get your shit done, idiots.
Quote from a movie or TV show: "Bye, bye, Lil Sebastian."
Right or lefty: Right
Siblings: I have a full-sister and two-half brothers.
Time you wake up: If I am working - 0600. If I am off, usually 0800.
Underwear: Aerie from American Eagle. So comfortable!
Vegetable you hate: CELERY
What makes you run late: Usually the only time I am late is when either I can't get Cobra to come inside (which is often, I just stopped arguing with her about it) or when Devin makes me late (and we are only ever late to movies, usually only enough to miss previews)
X-rays you've had: teeth, spine, chest/lungs, right shoulder, right hip, right ankle (all at different times).
Yummy food you make: I make a mean asparagus risotto.
Zoo animal: Camels and giraffes. I like the long necks.
Bed size: queen.
Chores that you hate: All of them - if I had to pick just one, it would be laundry.
Dogs: I love them! and I have two: Scout Pants and Watson Bean, who frequent my instragram account frequently (racheleff)
Essential to start your day: Feeding my dogs happens before everything else or they go bonkers until it happens.
Favorite color: grey and purple
Gold or silver: silver
Height: 5'7
Instruments you play: I can't play any instruments. I used to play the flute (about 15 years ago)
Job title: Registered Nurse, ya'll
Kids: Ew no thanks. Some of my friends have kids and they are okay. I don't like kids enough to spend more than a few hours with many of them.
Live: what.
Mother's name: Brenda.
Nicknames: Rach, Rachem, Rachemface, Rachies, The Rachies, Mitch
Overnight hospital stays: I had to stay overnight a couple times as a kid (once for Scarlet Fever and once for pneumonia). Not too shabby.
Pet peeves: Right now, the pet peeve of the day is lack of assertiveness amongst my peers. Get your shit done, idiots.
Quote from a movie or TV show: "Bye, bye, Lil Sebastian."
Right or lefty: Right
Siblings: I have a full-sister and two-half brothers.
Time you wake up: If I am working - 0600. If I am off, usually 0800.
Underwear: Aerie from American Eagle. So comfortable!
Vegetable you hate: CELERY
What makes you run late: Usually the only time I am late is when either I can't get Cobra to come inside (which is often, I just stopped arguing with her about it) or when Devin makes me late (and we are only ever late to movies, usually only enough to miss previews)
X-rays you've had: teeth, spine, chest/lungs, right shoulder, right hip, right ankle (all at different times).
Yummy food you make: I make a mean asparagus risotto.
Zoo animal: Camels and giraffes. I like the long necks.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
2012 So Far (bookwise)
January:
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Anne Frank Remembered by Miep Gies
February:
The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan
We Bought a Zoo by Benjamin Mee
The Good Good Pig by Sy Montgomery
Sloppy Seconds: The Tucker Max Leftovers
March:
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Little Children by Tom Perrotta
April:
These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf
Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip--Confessions of a Cynical Waiter by Steve Dublanica
Which brings us to May!
Right now I'm reading Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosney and Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. I should have Cutting for Stone read by next Thursday - it's for book club and Sarah's Key has been a quick enough read I might have that done shortly after that! Both of those books are a couple more for the Modern Fiction category for the Mixing It Up Challenge - which puts me at a LOT of books for Modern Fiction.
I need to still hit the following categories:
Crime & Mystery
Horror
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Travel
Science & Natural History
Social Sciences & Philosophy
But I might ditch the Horror section entirely. I've been trying to read In Broad Daylight about that sociopath from Missouri who was gunned down in the middle of town in the middle of the day with no witnesses (crazy, right?!), but they go through all of that jerk's wrongdoings/law-breaking first and it gives me the creeps. I don't know if I want to keep reading horror-type stuff if I'm home alone!
Also - I want to read 40 books this year and I have only read 11. According to goodreads, I am 2 books behind schedule. Hrumph.
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Anne Frank Remembered by Miep Gies
February:
The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan
We Bought a Zoo by Benjamin Mee
The Good Good Pig by Sy Montgomery
Sloppy Seconds: The Tucker Max Leftovers
March:
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Little Children by Tom Perrotta
April:
These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf
Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip--Confessions of a Cynical Waiter by Steve Dublanica
Which brings us to May!
Right now I'm reading Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosney and Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. I should have Cutting for Stone read by next Thursday - it's for book club and Sarah's Key has been a quick enough read I might have that done shortly after that! Both of those books are a couple more for the Modern Fiction category for the Mixing It Up Challenge - which puts me at a LOT of books for Modern Fiction.
I need to still hit the following categories:
Crime & Mystery
Horror
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Travel
Science & Natural History
Social Sciences & Philosophy
But I might ditch the Horror section entirely. I've been trying to read In Broad Daylight about that sociopath from Missouri who was gunned down in the middle of town in the middle of the day with no witnesses (crazy, right?!), but they go through all of that jerk's wrongdoings/law-breaking first and it gives me the creeps. I don't know if I want to keep reading horror-type stuff if I'm home alone!
Also - I want to read 40 books this year and I have only read 11. According to goodreads, I am 2 books behind schedule. Hrumph.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
“Life is an experiment in which you may fail or succeed. Explore more, expect least.” - Santosh Kalwar
I am exploring more.
Thanks to instragram, I am photographing more of my explorations in a hip, trendy way. What can I say, I'm a sucker for new photos that look old.
Two weeks ago, Lauren met a horse named Smoke. She introduced us. Now he and I friends.
Two weeks ago, Lauren and I also ventured to Iowa. More specifically, we ventured to the wonderful town of Des Moines, Iowa. Niether of us had ever been to Iowa until two weeks ago!
When were in Des Moines, we went to a restaurant called the Zombie Burger + Drink Lab. We got burgers and milkshakes and these really delicious garlic french fries. I slipped and skinned my knee right out front. Ahh, memories.
That's really all of the exploring I have done lately. Hopefully the rest of the year will also be filled with wandering explorations, but in the meantime, I can appreciate the beauty of the park down the street.
Or the beauty in my own backyard.
(Of course I posted a picture of my dog. He's gorgeous.)
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Paddle Your Own Canoe
I LOVE the NBC TV show Parks & Recreation. I think it is way too funny for its own good (a good thing) and I am always looking forward to watching it Friday evening online (we don't have any TV channels through our TV and have to watch them online. If this service were to disappear, I would be a little upset and then cave and get TV channels again).
Here is a song, written by Andy Dwyer (who is played by Chris Pratt) and performed by his band, MouseRat, about a beloved little horse (Lil Sebastian) from Pawnee, who passes away. It is amazing.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
routine update
I have been going to the gym frequently. If I'm not going to the gym, I am trying to do other active stuff. Devin and I went on a hike by his parents' house the other day and hung out in the woods for a while.
I started taking one picture every day so I can make a little slideshow/video at the end of the year (I will actually finish it on March 6, 2013 - one year from when I started). It can be kind of hard to remember, especially after I work 12 hours.
I'm working on reading a few different books right now. Waiter Rant, Generation Me, and Lamb. I need to start These Things Hidden for book club pretty soon too.
Tons of reading, tons of activity, and (when it isn't raining like it has been for the last 3 days) tons of sunshine! I love springtime!
I started taking one picture every day so I can make a little slideshow/video at the end of the year (I will actually finish it on March 6, 2013 - one year from when I started). It can be kind of hard to remember, especially after I work 12 hours.
I'm working on reading a few different books right now. Waiter Rant, Generation Me, and Lamb. I need to start These Things Hidden for book club pretty soon too.
Tons of reading, tons of activity, and (when it isn't raining like it has been for the last 3 days) tons of sunshine! I love springtime!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Hosting a Book Club!
So a few months ago, my friend Ashley approached me to join in a book club. She said she has enough friends who like to read and like to talk about books, so she decided she would get some of her friends (from all different sectors of her life) together and we could talk about books!
We've read 3 books so far - today is our fourth book! - and had a pretty good time. I'm hosting it tonight with We Bought a Zoo by Benjamin Mee and treats! Oh the treats!
I made super easy cheesecake, cake batter cookies (with sprinkles!), and beer/cheese dip. When it gets closer to starting time I am going to whip up some garlic chicken bites and spinach/feta bites.
Now I just have to finish cleaning my house and tucker out my dogs so they aren't too terribly annoying!
We've read 3 books so far - today is our fourth book! - and had a pretty good time. I'm hosting it tonight with We Bought a Zoo by Benjamin Mee and treats! Oh the treats!
I made super easy cheesecake, cake batter cookies (with sprinkles!), and beer/cheese dip. When it gets closer to starting time I am going to whip up some garlic chicken bites and spinach/feta bites.
Now I just have to finish cleaning my house and tucker out my dogs so they aren't too terribly annoying!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Mixing-It-Up Details
Ok - so I am yanking this right off of Musings of a Bookshop Girl's blog post regarding her Mixing-It-Up Reading Challenge.
The reason I want to participate is that I often get stuck in a rut with my reading. I want to read 40 books this year, and without something to inspire me (other than Book Club) to read something other than my usual, I won't. I will stick to fiction (which is strange, because the first year I did a 50-Book reading challenge I mostly read non-fiction). The problem with sticking to fiction is that I will most likely only stick to the fiction that I know. I NEED TO TRAVEL (both in reading and in real life). One of my resolutions is to travel more, so here I am. And Musings' challenge is helping me!
If her bookshop wasn't halfway around the world I would totally stop in with a thank you note personally. But it is. And while I want to travel this year, I don't quite have the funds to make it to the UK. Bummer, dude.
1. CLASSICS: This can be any classic work, from Alcott to Zola. Always fancied trying Great Expectations, or finally feel like tackling Jane Eyre? Now's your chance! From the fun to the frightening, the gentle satire to the all-out swashbuckling epic, there are hundreds of years' worth of books to choose from.
2. BIOGRAPHY: This can be modern or historical, biography or autobiography. From the latest celebrity autobiography to an academic biography of Henry VIII - it all counts! Perhaps you fancy a book on your favorite classic movie star, athlete or musician.
Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip - Confessions of a Cynical Waiter by Steve Dublanica
The Only Girl in the Car by Kathy Dobie
Employee of the Month & Other Big Deals by Mary Jo Pehl
Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas
3. COOKERY, FOOD AND WINE: Ideas for this one range from a delectable cookery book to a food memoir (like Nigel Slater's Toast or Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential), a book on wine to the history of marmalade.
4. HISTORY: More scope to indulge a whole range of interests here, including local history, military history or world history. It might be a biography of Anne Boleyn, a book on World War II aircraft, a study of the American civil war, or something with a much smaller focus, like Bill Bryson's At Home or Mark Kurlansky's Salt: A World History. Whatever floats your boat!
Anne Frank Remembered by Miep Gies
1 Dead In Attic by Chris Rose
5. MODERN FICTION: This covers literary and popular fiction, so you can't really go wrong with this one. From Sophie Kinsella to Haruki Murakami, Wilbur Smith to Isabel Allende, Jenny Colgan to Kate Mosse, you should be able to find something to fit your tastes!
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin
The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Little Children by Tom Perrotta
These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
The House of Velvet & Glass by Katherine Howe\
Heft by Liz Moore
6. GRAPHIC NOVELS AND MANGA: This will be an entirely new genre for me, but I'm looking forward to hitting the library to see what all the fuss is about! First on my 'to check out' list will be Neil Gaiman's Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes and Alan Moore's V for Vendetta.
7. CRIME AND MYSTERY: This category will cover everything from the genteel Agatha Christie and the scrummy Hannah Swensen Mysteries by Joanne Fluke, through Henning Mankell and Stieg Larsson, to the gruesome forensics of Martina Cole and Val McDermid. You could even delve into some gritty true crime if that's more your style.
The Likeness by Tana French
Saving Max by Antoinette van Heugten
8. HORROR: One for Hallowe'en, perhaps! Maybe a modern writer like Stephen King or James Herbert, or you could turn to the classics with Edgar Allen Poe or the ghostly writings of M.R. James? Some YA novels would also fit into this category - Darren Shan, or Lindsey Barraclough's Long Lankin - but no paranormal romance!
9. ROMANCE: I'd say the cheesier the better for this one, but it's up to you! Mills and Boon, paranormal romance, chick lit fluff, whatever. Personally I'll be browsing our Mills and Boon shelf at the shop and pulling out the trashiest title I can find! :)
10. SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY: Again, plenty of scope here. From the hilarious characters of Terry Pratchett's Discworld to Tolkien's epic Lord of the Rings, Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire Mysteries to Frank Herbert's Dune, you can go modern or classic, and pick from any number of sub-genres.
All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris
11. TRAVEL: The world is your oyster, as it were! Maybe you're going somewhere interesting on holiday and want to read up on it first? Rough Guides, Lonely Planet guides, that kind of thing. You could pick a Bill Bryson (always popular) or choose a book on a particular city, country or continent, like Francesco da Mosto's Venice or one of Michael Palin's books. Then there are all the delectable memoirs by people who've moved abroad and opened a taverna/olive farm/vineyard!
12. POETRY AND DRAMA: This could be a novelty collection of limericks, a collection by a particular poet, or if that sounds a bit daunting, a single, longer narrative poem. How about 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner', 'Hiawatha' or 'The Waste Land'? My particular favourite is probably Christina Rossetti's 'Goblin Market', which is more like a simple fairytale that just happens to rhyme. Or you could choose a play - how about Ibsen, Miller, Shakespeare or the brilliantly witty Wilde?
13. JOURNALISM AND HUMOUR: This one might take a little more thinking about, but it should be a bit of fun! Journalism collections can range from Nick Hornby's Shakespeare Wrote for Money to Marian Keyes's Under the Duvet, Jeremy Clarkson's The World According to Clarkson to Bill Bryson's Notes from a Big Country. Anything that's been published in a newspaper or magazine first! Humour could be a book of cartoons, a novelty joke book or The Wicked Wit of Oscar Wilde!
The Good Good Pig by Sy Montgomery
Sloppy Seconds: The Tucker Max Leftovers by Tucker Max
Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern
Employee of the Month & Other Big Deals by Mary Jo Pehl
I Suck At Girls by Justin Halpern
14. SCIENCE AND NATURAL HISTORY: Again, this one throws the doors wide open for you to follow your interests. Always fancied learning more about space? Are you curious about the life of Charles Darwin? Or got a lifelong love for a particular animal? There are some wonderful 'popular science' books around too, including things like The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, David Attenborough's natural history books, and the entire works of the brilliantly funny Mary Roach.
15. CHILDREN'S AND YOUNG ADULT: This leaves the way open for pretty much anything, whether it's reading The Hungry Caterpillar or The Magical Faraway Tree to your kids, revisiting the joys of The Secret Garden or Treasure Island, or devouring something from the modern tide of YA. Lots of dystopian fiction, coming-of-age novels and supernatural shenanigans to choose from!
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
16. SOCIAL SCIENCES AND PHILOSOPHY: Another wide area! Books on society and women (Female Chauvinist Pigs, Living Dolls), books on society and children (Toxic Childhood, Nurtureshock), books on how television and the internet are affecting our lives, Jostein Gaarder's Sophie's World, books on Freud or Marx...
I plan on reading at least one book from all of the categories that I put in bold. The categories that I don't plan on reading up on are simply that way because I am not a big fan of smoochy romances or Manga. We'll see!
The reason I want to participate is that I often get stuck in a rut with my reading. I want to read 40 books this year, and without something to inspire me (other than Book Club) to read something other than my usual, I won't. I will stick to fiction (which is strange, because the first year I did a 50-Book reading challenge I mostly read non-fiction). The problem with sticking to fiction is that I will most likely only stick to the fiction that I know. I NEED TO TRAVEL (both in reading and in real life). One of my resolutions is to travel more, so here I am. And Musings' challenge is helping me!
If her bookshop wasn't halfway around the world I would totally stop in with a thank you note personally. But it is. And while I want to travel this year, I don't quite have the funds to make it to the UK. Bummer, dude.
1. CLASSICS: This can be any classic work, from Alcott to Zola. Always fancied trying Great Expectations, or finally feel like tackling Jane Eyre? Now's your chance! From the fun to the frightening, the gentle satire to the all-out swashbuckling epic, there are hundreds of years' worth of books to choose from.
The Only Girl in the Car by Kathy Dobie
Employee of the Month & Other Big Deals by Mary Jo Pehl
Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas
3. COOKERY, FOOD AND WINE: Ideas for this one range from a delectable cookery book to a food memoir (like Nigel Slater's Toast or Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential), a book on wine to the history of marmalade.
1 Dead In Attic by Chris Rose
The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Little Children by Tom Perrotta
These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
The House of Velvet & Glass by Katherine Howe\
Heft by Liz Moore
6. GRAPHIC NOVELS AND MANGA: This will be an entirely new genre for me, but I'm looking forward to hitting the library to see what all the fuss is about! First on my 'to check out' list will be Neil Gaiman's Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes and Alan Moore's V for Vendetta.
Saving Max by Antoinette van Heugten
8. HORROR: One for Hallowe'en, perhaps! Maybe a modern writer like Stephen King or James Herbert, or you could turn to the classics with Edgar Allen Poe or the ghostly writings of M.R. James? Some YA novels would also fit into this category - Darren Shan, or Lindsey Barraclough's Long Lankin - but no paranormal romance!
9. ROMANCE: I'd say the cheesier the better for this one, but it's up to you! Mills and Boon, paranormal romance, chick lit fluff, whatever. Personally I'll be browsing our Mills and Boon shelf at the shop and pulling out the trashiest title I can find! :)
11. TRAVEL: The world is your oyster, as it were! Maybe you're going somewhere interesting on holiday and want to read up on it first? Rough Guides, Lonely Planet guides, that kind of thing. You could pick a Bill Bryson (always popular) or choose a book on a particular city, country or continent, like Francesco da Mosto's Venice or one of Michael Palin's books. Then there are all the delectable memoirs by people who've moved abroad and opened a taverna/olive farm/vineyard!
12. POETRY AND DRAMA: This could be a novelty collection of limericks, a collection by a particular poet, or if that sounds a bit daunting, a single, longer narrative poem. How about 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner', 'Hiawatha' or 'The Waste Land'? My particular favourite is probably Christina Rossetti's 'Goblin Market', which is more like a simple fairytale that just happens to rhyme. Or you could choose a play - how about Ibsen, Miller, Shakespeare or the brilliantly witty Wilde?
Sloppy Seconds: The Tucker Max Leftovers by Tucker Max
Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern
Employee of the Month & Other Big Deals by Mary Jo Pehl
I Suck At Girls by Justin Halpern
14. SCIENCE AND NATURAL HISTORY: Again, this one throws the doors wide open for you to follow your interests. Always fancied learning more about space? Are you curious about the life of Charles Darwin? Or got a lifelong love for a particular animal? There are some wonderful 'popular science' books around too, including things like The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, David Attenborough's natural history books, and the entire works of the brilliantly funny Mary Roach.
16. SOCIAL SCIENCES AND PHILOSOPHY: Another wide area! Books on society and women (Female Chauvinist Pigs, Living Dolls), books on society and children (Toxic Childhood, Nurtureshock), books on how television and the internet are affecting our lives, Jostein Gaarder's Sophie's World, books on Freud or Marx...
I plan on reading at least one book from all of the categories that I put in bold. The categories that I don't plan on reading up on are simply that way because I am not a big fan of smoochy romances or Manga. We'll see!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Mixing-It-Up Reading Challenge for 2012
My official, update-as-I-make-progress, Mixing-It-Up-Reading-Challenge-for-2012 Post!
The link to the actual challenge is here:
I plan on doing the "Mixing Bowl" level - one book from 9-12 categories. While I want to read a book from ALL categories, I don't know that I will and I don't want to set myself up to fail.
Here are links to the reviews of the books I have read this year (another reading goal of mine is to write at least a little bit about the book, maybe just why I did or didn't like the book, rather than just give it a ___/5 rating and move on with my day):
January:
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin falls under the Modern Fiction category of the challenge. It could also be a Crime & Mystery, but I think I am going to hunt for something a little more mysterious than this particular book to meet that quota.
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher gets my credit for the Children's & Young Adult category of this challenge.
Anne Frank Remembered by Miep Gies meets the History category of the challenge.
February:
The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan is another book for the Modern Fiction category. I guess I could throw it under Romance but I really didn't feel like it was a romantic book so much as a book about Love, actually.
We Bought a Zoo by Benjamin Mee doesn't fall under ANY category! How crazy is that!? Either way, it is a memoir. It could possibly fall under the Journalism & Humor category since Benjamin Mee is originally a DIY author for a magazine and this soo-purchasing experience was an Animal Planet special, but I won't use it for that category unless I need to.
The Good Good Pig by Sy Montgomery is going to hit my Journalism & Humor list. While it is kind of a memoir, Ms. Montgomery is a frequent writer for many magazines/documentaries and Christopher Hogwood has come up in those writings. Bam!
Sloppy Seconds: The Tucker Max Leftovers can actually qualify as Journalism & Humor since it is found in the Humor part of a bookstore. I think I only laughed out loud a handful of times, which means either I have gotten more mature or Tucker Max has gotten less mature. (Don't worry, Tucker. It's me, not you.)
March:
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein is my favorite book I've read so far and the third to go under Modern Fiction.
Little Children by Tom Perrotta is another Modern Fiction read. Man, I'm getting quite a few under that category! I need to space it out!
April:
These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf is another Modern Fiction book. Don't worry, the next few I have been reading aren't, so I'm trying to cover some more ground. Also, I'm a little behind with how many books I've wanted to read at this point - so I kind of need to pick up my pace!
Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip--Confessions of a Cynical Waiter by Steve Dublanica is a memoir, so I guess I can count it as a Biography. I was pretty bummed out about this book. I felt it had the potential to be so good... so disappointed.
May:
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghase can plop down under the Modern Fiction category. I thought I would take a break from Modern Fiction for a bit, but that doesn't seem like it's happening! I am switching it up now though!
Sorry, Wrong Answer: Trivia Questions That Even Know-It-Alls Get Wrong by Rod L. Evans is a collection of trivial knowledge. Somehow doesn't fall under a category. Bummer, dude.
The Only Girl in the Car by Kathy Dobie is a memoir that gets tucked into the Biography category. One of the first memoirs I wasn't a big fan of, maybe because I wanted to grab 14-year old Kathy by the shoulders and shake some sense into her.
Singing Over Me by Danielle Stammer is a brief accounting of one woman's (and her family's) experience before, during and after the tragic Joplin, Missouri tornado that occurred in May 2011. I have had the opportunity to get to know Danielle Stammer's husband, Andrew, through work. Being able to read about their experience was great and I think it is awesome that Danielle was not only able to write about it, but have her writing published to be shared with the world.
All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris, the 7th book in the Southern Vampire Series (aka the Sookie Stackhouse books aka True Blood) has been sitting on my bookcase for literally two years and I am just now reading it. Not only am I cranking out a book that has been waiting to be read for years, but I knock out the Science Fiction & Fantasy category. AND this is my 4th non-fiction read in a row. Breakin' that streak, baby!
HOLY HELL! IT IS ALREADY JUNE
June:
Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern can get tossed under the Journalism & Humor category. Definitely my favorite under that category, Sh*t is a quick read (finished it over the course of an afternoon) and made me laugh out loud a couple times. I also enjoy shit like this, so if you don't, then you probably won't like it.
The House of Velvet & Glass by Katherine Howe is another (historical) Modern Fiction read for the year. I wish I could differentiate between historial modern fiction and non-historical modern fiction, but alas, I cannot do that for this challenge.
Employee of the Month and Other Big Deals by Mary Jo Pehl is a memoir tossed in the Biography category - although it was also funny, so it could go under Journalism & Humor too.
I Suck At Girls by Justin Halpern is another Journalism & Humor book to go w/ the last Justin Halpern read (see above). I liked this book more than Shit My Dad Says.
The Likeness by Tana French is my Crime & Mystery read for the year! There might be another one or two, but holy hell. It took me nine months to getting around to finishing this book. I LOVED Tana French's first book, In the Woods but I dreaded reading The Likeness, which is why it took me nine months to finish it.
1 Dead In Attic by Chris Rose is the second History book I've read. It doesn't seem very historical, since Hurricane Katrina spit out her wrath only 7 years ago, but I think it goes down in history as a bitch of a storm.
July:
Saving Max by Antoinette van Heugten is my second Crime & Mystery read for the year - about a mother and son who are being accused of the murder of a mentally handicapped teenager (whom Max has a history of disliking). I saw the "twist" from a mile away, but it was still a quick page-turner!
Harry Potter: Film Wizardry by Brian Sibley doesn't really fall under any category. But a kick ass book nonetheless!
(holy crap, i slacked in July. Big time!)
August:
Heft by Liz Moore is another Modern Fiction book we read for book club.
Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas is another Biography read. She even writes about when she told her Iranian parents she was writing a book and specified it was a memoir and they asked what it would be about. Pretty cute.
The link to the actual challenge is here:
I plan on doing the "Mixing Bowl" level - one book from 9-12 categories. While I want to read a book from ALL categories, I don't know that I will and I don't want to set myself up to fail.
Here are links to the reviews of the books I have read this year (another reading goal of mine is to write at least a little bit about the book, maybe just why I did or didn't like the book, rather than just give it a ___/5 rating and move on with my day):
January:
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin falls under the Modern Fiction category of the challenge. It could also be a Crime & Mystery, but I think I am going to hunt for something a little more mysterious than this particular book to meet that quota.
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher gets my credit for the Children's & Young Adult category of this challenge.
Anne Frank Remembered by Miep Gies meets the History category of the challenge.
February:
The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan is another book for the Modern Fiction category. I guess I could throw it under Romance but I really didn't feel like it was a romantic book so much as a book about Love, actually.
We Bought a Zoo by Benjamin Mee doesn't fall under ANY category! How crazy is that!? Either way, it is a memoir. It could possibly fall under the Journalism & Humor category since Benjamin Mee is originally a DIY author for a magazine and this soo-purchasing experience was an Animal Planet special, but I won't use it for that category unless I need to.
The Good Good Pig by Sy Montgomery is going to hit my Journalism & Humor list. While it is kind of a memoir, Ms. Montgomery is a frequent writer for many magazines/documentaries and Christopher Hogwood has come up in those writings. Bam!
Sloppy Seconds: The Tucker Max Leftovers can actually qualify as Journalism & Humor since it is found in the Humor part of a bookstore. I think I only laughed out loud a handful of times, which means either I have gotten more mature or Tucker Max has gotten less mature. (Don't worry, Tucker. It's me, not you.)
March:
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein is my favorite book I've read so far and the third to go under Modern Fiction.
Little Children by Tom Perrotta is another Modern Fiction read. Man, I'm getting quite a few under that category! I need to space it out!
April:
These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf is another Modern Fiction book. Don't worry, the next few I have been reading aren't, so I'm trying to cover some more ground. Also, I'm a little behind with how many books I've wanted to read at this point - so I kind of need to pick up my pace!
Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip--Confessions of a Cynical Waiter by Steve Dublanica is a memoir, so I guess I can count it as a Biography. I was pretty bummed out about this book. I felt it had the potential to be so good... so disappointed.
May:
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghase can plop down under the Modern Fiction category. I thought I would take a break from Modern Fiction for a bit, but that doesn't seem like it's happening! I am switching it up now though!
Sorry, Wrong Answer: Trivia Questions That Even Know-It-Alls Get Wrong by Rod L. Evans is a collection of trivial knowledge. Somehow doesn't fall under a category. Bummer, dude.
The Only Girl in the Car by Kathy Dobie is a memoir that gets tucked into the Biography category. One of the first memoirs I wasn't a big fan of, maybe because I wanted to grab 14-year old Kathy by the shoulders and shake some sense into her.
Singing Over Me by Danielle Stammer is a brief accounting of one woman's (and her family's) experience before, during and after the tragic Joplin, Missouri tornado that occurred in May 2011. I have had the opportunity to get to know Danielle Stammer's husband, Andrew, through work. Being able to read about their experience was great and I think it is awesome that Danielle was not only able to write about it, but have her writing published to be shared with the world.
All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris, the 7th book in the Southern Vampire Series (aka the Sookie Stackhouse books aka True Blood) has been sitting on my bookcase for literally two years and I am just now reading it. Not only am I cranking out a book that has been waiting to be read for years, but I knock out the Science Fiction & Fantasy category. AND this is my 4th non-fiction read in a row. Breakin' that streak, baby!
June:
Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern can get tossed under the Journalism & Humor category. Definitely my favorite under that category, Sh*t is a quick read (finished it over the course of an afternoon) and made me laugh out loud a couple times. I also enjoy shit like this, so if you don't, then you probably won't like it.
The House of Velvet & Glass by Katherine Howe is another (historical) Modern Fiction read for the year. I wish I could differentiate between historial modern fiction and non-historical modern fiction, but alas, I cannot do that for this challenge.
Employee of the Month and Other Big Deals by Mary Jo Pehl is a memoir tossed in the Biography category - although it was also funny, so it could go under Journalism & Humor too.
I Suck At Girls by Justin Halpern is another Journalism & Humor book to go w/ the last Justin Halpern read (see above). I liked this book more than Shit My Dad Says.
The Likeness by Tana French is my Crime & Mystery read for the year! There might be another one or two, but holy hell. It took me nine months to getting around to finishing this book. I LOVED Tana French's first book, In the Woods but I dreaded reading The Likeness, which is why it took me nine months to finish it.
1 Dead In Attic by Chris Rose is the second History book I've read. It doesn't seem very historical, since Hurricane Katrina spit out her wrath only 7 years ago, but I think it goes down in history as a bitch of a storm.
July:
Saving Max by Antoinette van Heugten is my second Crime & Mystery read for the year - about a mother and son who are being accused of the murder of a mentally handicapped teenager (whom Max has a history of disliking). I saw the "twist" from a mile away, but it was still a quick page-turner!
Harry Potter: Film Wizardry by Brian Sibley doesn't really fall under any category. But a kick ass book nonetheless!
(holy crap, i slacked in July. Big time!)
August:
Heft by Liz Moore is another Modern Fiction book we read for book club.
Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas is another Biography read. She even writes about when she told her Iranian parents she was writing a book and specified it was a memoir and they asked what it would be about. Pretty cute.
Reading, whoa whoa whoa whoa, Reading
I am such a terrible blogger. Forgive me.
A few years ago (2008, I think) I decided to participate in the 50-Books-a-Year challenge over on goodreads.com. As the clock struck midnight, I finished my 50th book. I loved reading that year. More so than other years because I had set a goal for myself. I made it a point to seek books that I was interested in, books that I knew I would finish and would want even more.
In 2011, I read 35 books. My initial goal was 30 and 1/2 through the year, I upped it to 35. I was pretty happy with that given the first half of my year was bananas busy. B A N A N A S.
This year, 2012, I decided to up it again to 40. I'm in a book club (mentioned briefly in the previous post), which will give me the opportunity to read books I normally wouldn't choose. And since I'm so dang active on pintrest, I found this little gem too:
A few years ago (2008, I think) I decided to participate in the 50-Books-a-Year challenge over on goodreads.com. As the clock struck midnight, I finished my 50th book. I loved reading that year. More so than other years because I had set a goal for myself. I made it a point to seek books that I was interested in, books that I knew I would finish and would want even more.
In 2011, I read 35 books. My initial goal was 30 and 1/2 through the year, I upped it to 35. I was pretty happy with that given the first half of my year was bananas busy. B A N A N A S.
This year, 2012, I decided to up it again to 40. I'm in a book club (mentioned briefly in the previous post), which will give me the opportunity to read books I normally wouldn't choose. And since I'm so dang active on pintrest, I found this little gem too:
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