What I'm Reading Wednesday #24 (August 31, 2016)

As usual, Wednesday ROW 80 check-ins will reflect on my reading goals.  I am currently reading The Shadow of the Wind  by Carlos Ruiz Zafón.

My goal for this round of ROW80 is 9 books.

Anyway, here is my progress so far... 
2016 Goal: 32 books
Books Read = 25/32
Books from TBR list: 5
Series completed: 1
ROW80 Round 3 Goal:  4/9
2016 Pinterest Board

January
1.  Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
2.  Foreign Gods, Inc by Okey Ndibe
3.  Dear Mister Essay Writer Guy by Dinty W. Moore
4.  Thunder and Lightning by Natalie Goldberg

February
1.  The Double Life of Fidel Castro
2.  Peeps by Scott Westerfeld (Started a new series)
3.  Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult (TBR)
4.  The Last Days by Scott Westerfeld (Completed a series!) 

March
1.  The Magician by Michael Scott (Book 2 of a series)
2.  The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr
3.  Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld

April
1.  The Art of X-Ray Reading
1.  Doodle Art Handbook by Lana Karr
2.  Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

May
1.  Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (TBR)

June
1.  The Interior Circuit by Francisco Goldman
2.  The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison
3.  Frida's Bed by Slavenka Drakulic

July

1.  The Beach House by James Patterson and Peter De Jonge

2.  The Haters by Jesse Andrews

3.  Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis (TBR)

4.  Room by Emma Donoghue (TBR)
5.  The Sorceress by Michael Scott (Book 3 of a series)

August
1.  Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness (Book 2 of a series)
2.  Armada by Ernest Cline
3.  Wild by Cheryl Strayed (TBR)
4.  The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

What are you reading this week?  How are your reading goals going?

Teaser Tuesday (August 30, 2016)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is my teaser:
"Once, in my father's bookshop, I heard a regular customer say that few things leave a deeper mark on a reader than the first book that finds its way into his heart.  Those first images, the echo of the words we think we have left behind, accompany us throughout our lives and sculpt a palace in our memory to which, sooner or later--no matter how many books we read, how many worlds we discover, or how much we learn or forget--we will return.  For me those enchanted pages will always be the ones I found among the passageways of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books."
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, p.8

Weekly Wrap-Up (August 21, 2016)

A new round of ROW80 has begun.

Progress on my goals is at the end of this post.

Blog Posts

Teaser Tuesday

What I'm Reading #23

The Myth of Happily Ever After

Personal Stuff
I am getting ready for the beginning of the school year and going back to work.  I will be sad to say goodbye to summer, but it will be good to be back. 

What I read

I started The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.  It took me a few chapters to get used to the writing style but I am enjoying it.

Interesting Stuff I Found on the Internet
I have been researching flash fiction this week.  I think it might be an interesting way for me to improve my writing.  I found a free flash fiction class and plan to sign up.

ROW80 Goals
Round 3 of ROW80 has begun.  This round runs from July 4th to September 22nd.  I started a little late, so my number of weeks and days is a little different.  Here is my progress so far:

1.  Read 9 books (3/9)
I am currently reading The Book Thief.  Other books I have read this round are:
Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
Armada by Ernest Cline
Wild by Cheryl Strayed

2.  Continue with my blogging schedule (5/10 weeks)

I am planning a few small changes to my blogging schedule, but so far I have been doing great with this goal.  You can check out my weekly posts through the links at the beginning of this post.

3.  Edit 5 chapters of ZF (0/5)

I would really like to complete this goal this round but I have not begun yet.

4.  Write daily (19/66 days)

Monday: Morning Pages; NaBloPoMo prompt
Tuesday:  Morning Pages; NaBloPoMo prompt
Wednesday: Morning Pages; NaBloPoMo prompt
Thursday: Morning Pages; NaBloPoMo prompt
Friday:  :(
Saturday: :(
Sunday:  Blogging

5.  Continue my Creative Every Day challenge

It has been really hot this week, a heatwave, and I have not been super creative.  I did make two ATCs and then forgot to take pictures :)

6.  Swim at least twice a week. (4/10 weeks)

I swam Monday and Wednesday.

How did your week go?
Do you have a blog post or interesting link you'd like to share with me?

The Myth of Happily Ever After

This post was inspired by the first week of Blogher's August NaBloPoMo prompts.

The most dangerous story that we tell our children is the Disney version.

In the original Cinderella, the step-sisters cut off parts of their feet to squeeze into the glass slipper.  As Cinderella and Prince Charming begin their life together, small birds peck out the step-sisters’ eyes.





In the original version of The Little Mermaid, she trades her life, not her voice, for legs and a chance to woo Prince Charming.  Unfortunately, she is unsuccessful and dies, turning to seafoam.

So why do we feel the need to tell the Disney version to our children?  Why do we as a society insist on sugarcoating everything that is presented to our children?  Why can’t we tell them stories that have sad endings more often?  Do we really expect all their lives to end happily ever after?  Can we really promise that?

I’m not saying that we should abolish the happily ever after ending (I understand we all need to escape once in a while) but I know that life is not perfect, and we should not raise our children to expect a perfect life.  If presented with more stories that show how to deal with life’s difficulties, maybe we can raise a generation of children with real coping skills, who understand that life can continue without happily ever after, who understand the myth of happily ever after.

Image sources: listserv.com, princessdeficit.wordpress.com

What I'm Reading Wednesday #23 (August 17, 2016)

As usual, Wednesday ROW 80 check-ins will reflect on my reading goals.  I am currently reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

My goal for this round of ROW80 is 9 books.

Anyway, here is my progress so far... 
2016 Goal: 32 books
Books Read = 24/32
Books from TBR list: 5
Series completed: 1
ROW80 Round 3 Goal:  3/9
2016 Pinterest Board

January
1.  Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
2.  Foreign Gods, Inc by Okey Ndibe
3.  Dear Mister Essay Writer Guy by Dinty W. Moore
4.  Thunder and Lightning by Natalie Goldberg

February
1.  The Double Life of Fidel Castro
2.  Peeps by Scott Westerfeld (Started a new series)
3.  Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult (TBR)
4.  The Last Days by Scott Westerfeld (Completed a series!) 

March
1.  The Magician by Michael Scott (Book 2 of a series)
2.  The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr
3.  Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld

April
1.  The Art of X-Ray Reading
1.  Doodle Art Handbook by Lana Karr
2.  Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

May
1.  Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (TBR)

June
1.  The Interior Circuit by Francisco Goldman
2.  The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison
3.  Frida's Bed by Slavenka Drakulic

July

1.  The Beach House by James Patterson and Peter De Jonge

2.  The Haters by Jesse Andrews

3.  Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis (TBR)

4.  Room by Emma Donoghue (TBR)
5.  The Sorceress by Michael Scott (Book 3 of a series)

August
1.  Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness (Book 2 of a series)
2.  Armada by Ernest Cline
3.  Wild by Cheryl Strayed (TBR)

What are you reading this week?  How are your reading goals going?

Teaser Tuesday (August 16, 2016)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is my teaser:
"I could introduce myself properly, but it's not really necessary.  You will know me well enough and soon enough, depending on a diverse range of variables.  It suffices to say that at some point in time, I will be standing over you, as genially as possible.  Your soul will be in my arms.  A color will be perched on my shoulder.  I will carry you gently away."
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Weekly Wrap-Up (August 14, 2016)

A new round of ROW80 has begun.

Progress on my goals is at the end of this post.

Blog Posts

Teaser Tuesday

Currently...

Personal Stuff
I got a new obsession this week: a Fitbit Alta.  It will hopefully lead to more healthy habits.  I love that I can track my calorie intake through the app, and it even tracks my sleep.  I am a goal-setter, and this little bracelet has me setting goals and working hard to meet them.  It's awesome.

What I read

I am starting The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.  I've heard a lot of good things about this book and I am excited to read it.

Starting a new book #365frandz #project365 #erinsbookchallenge5 #erinsbookchallenge #amreading

A photo posted by Lisa (@lalocadesigns) on Aug 14, 2016 at 8:35pm PDT

Interesting Stuff I Found on the Internet
This week I have become obsessed with Absolute Write, a writing forum that was recommended to me by someone on another writing forum.  There is so much information, I feel a little overwhelmed, but I am hoping to get help moving forward with my writing and editing goals.

ROW80 Goals
Round 3 of ROW80 has begun.  This round runs from July 4th to September 22nd.  I started a little late, so my number of weeks and days is a little different.  Here is my progress so far:

1.  Read 9 books (3/9)
I am currently reading The Book Thief.  Other books I have read this round are:
Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
Armada by Ernest Cline
Wild by Cheryl Strayed

2.  Continue with my blogging schedule (4/10 weeks)

I am planning a few small changes to my blogging schedule, but so far I have been doing great with this goal.  You can check out my weekly posts through the links at the beginning of this post.

3.  Edit 5 chapters of ZF (0/5)

I would really like to complete this goal this round but I have not begun yet.

4.  Write daily (14/66 days)

Monday:  :(
Tuesday:  NaBloPoMo prompt
Wednesday: :(
Thursday: NaBloPoMo prompt
Friday:  :(
Saturday: NaBloPoMo prompt
Sunday:  NaBloPoMo prompt, Blogging

5.  Continue my Creative Every Day challenge

Pictures get posted on my Instagram if you want to follow my creative progress.  It's been too hot to crochet, so I started a coloring page this week.

My current coloring sheet wip #365frandz #project365 #coloredpencils #coloring #doverpublications #ced2016

A photo posted by Lisa (@lalocadesigns) on Aug 14, 2016 at 12:15am PDT

6.  Swim at least twice a week. (3/10 weeks)

This week I did not swim.

How did your week go?
Do you have a blog post or interesting link you'd like to share with me?

Currently...... (August 10, 2016)

Currently...
is a new feature that I will be trying out every other Wednesday.

Writing...
the August NaBloPoMo prompts on Blogher.  The prompts are all about fairy tales and stories.  The prompts are really fun, and I am enjoying them.

Reading...
Wild by Cheryl Strayed.  I just started it today and I am totally hooked already.

Starting a new book. #365frandz #project365 #erinsbookchallenge5 #erinsbookchallenge #amreading #cherylstrayedwild

A photo posted by Lisa (@lalocadesigns) on Aug 9, 2016 at 5:44pm PDT

Listening...
to Lindsey Stirling.  We saw her in concert for the third time on Monday.  Yet again, she was awesome.  This show was very similar to the last one we saw but she played a couple of songs from her new album and one with her opening act.  It always amazes me how she plays her violin while dancing!

Lindsey Stirling at the Hult #365frandz #project365 #hult #lindseystirling #oregon #music @lindseystirling

A photo posted by Lisa (@lalocadesigns) on Aug 8, 2016 at 11:22pm PDT

Eating...
low-calorie food :(  I'm trying to take better care of myself and lose a little weight along the way, so I am eating more healthy food and watching how many calories I eat.  Hopefully it becomes a habit.

Drinking...
sparkling water.  I love sparkling water, and I just discovered some new flavors of La Croix at a nearby grocery store.  The most recent one I have been drinking is Apple Cranberry flavor.

Wearing...
my Cure concert t-shirt and my favorite comfy sweater.  It has been cooler here recently, and my favorite comfy sweater is perfect.

Feeling...
nervous because I am trying to set up a date for my next hip surgery and I don't like to think about it right now.

Weather...
is cloudy and cool, but it's supposed to get into the 90's later this week.

Wanting...
to eat the chocolate that is sitting in my fridge.  The first few days of healthy eating are always the hardest.

Thinking...
about school starting back up in a couple of weeks.  I am going to miss my summer break.

Watching...
CSI: NY.  I recently finished all eleven seasons of Criminal Minds on Netflix and now I am working my way through CSI: NY.  I do love a good crime show.

Enjoying...
the fact that my elderly cat has been doing so well recently.  She's 18 years old and diabetic but recently she has been doing great.  I'll take every moment I can get.

Teaser Tuesday (August 9, 2016)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is my teaser:
""My name's Bud," the man behind the counter said when I asked for a room.  He had a hangdog expression and a smoker's cough.  Tan jowls hung off the sides of his wrinkled face.  When I told him about hiking the PCT, he insisted on washing my clothes.  "I can just throw them in with the sheets and towels, darling.  It ain't nothing at all," he said when I protested."
Wild by Cheryl Strayed, p. 79

What I'm Reading Wednesday #22 (August 3, 2016)

As usual, Wednesday ROW 80 check-ins will reflect on my reading goals.  I am currently reading Armada by Ernest Cline. 

My goal for this round of ROW80 is 9 books.

Anyway, here is my progress so far... 
2016 Goal: 32 books
Books Read = 22/32
Books from TBR list: 4
Series completed: 1
ROW80 Round 3 Goal:  1/9
2016 Pinterest Board

January
1.  Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
2.  Foreign Gods, Inc by Okey Ndibe
3.  Dear Mister Essay Writer Guy by Dinty W. Moore
4.  Thunder and Lightning by Natalie Goldberg

February
1.  The Double Life of Fidel Castro
2.  Peeps by Scott Westerfeld (Started a new series)
3.  Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult (TBR)
4.  The Last Days by Scott Westerfeld (Completed a series!) 

March
1.  The Magician by Michael Scott (Book 2 of a series)
2.  The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr
3.  Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld

April
1.  The Art of X-Ray Reading
1.  Doodle Art Handbook by Lana Karr
2.  Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

May
1.  Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (TBR)

June
1.  The Interior Circuit by Francisco Goldman
2.  The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison
3.  Frida's Bed by Slavenka Drakulic

July

1.  The Beach House by James Patterson and Peter De Jonge

2.  The Haters by Jesse Andrews

3.  Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis (TBR)

4.  Room by Emma Donoghue (TBR)
5.  The Sorceress by Michael Scott (Book 3 of a series)

August
1.  Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness (Book 2 of a series)

What are you reading this week?  How are your reading goals going?

July Book Reviews

Wow!  I read 5 books in July!!  Here are my reviews.

The Beach House by James Patterson and Peter De Jonge
Blurb from Amazon:  "Jack Mullen is a driven student of the law. His brother Peter is a servant of the rich, parking the cars of the Hamptons' elite-and perhaps satisfying their more intimate needs as well. Then Peter's body is found on the beach. Jack knows the drowning was no accident, but someone's unlimited power and money have bought the cops, the judges, the system. Now Jack is learning a lesson in justice he never got in law school ... and his astonishing plan to beat the billionaires will have you reeling-and cheering-to the very last page."

My thoughts:  This book was a quick and easy read.  I have read some James Patterson books in the past, and he has good pacing that keeps you turning the pages.  This book was no exception.  And the synopsis is right; what Jack does at the end of the book is surprising and satisfying. 4/5 stars



The Haters by Jesse Andrews
Blurb from Amazon:  "For Wes and his best friend, Corey, jazz camp turns out to be lame. It’s pretty much all dudes talking in Jazz Voice. But then they jam with Ash, a charismatic girl with an unusual sound, and the three just click. It’s three and a half hours of pure musical magic, and Ash makes a decision: They need to hit the road. Because the road, not summer camp, is where bands get good. Before Wes and Corey know it, they’re in Ash’s SUV heading south, and The Haters Summer of Hate Tour has begun."

My thoughts:   I enjoyed this book. At first, the author's voice really pulled me in. He sounded like a high schooler. Since the book is told from the perspective of one of the boys in the band, there is a lot of boy humor. It didn't bother me. I really like the use of an unreliable narrator, and this guy was definitely one of those. Quick and easy read. 3/5 stars.


Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis
Blurb from Amazon:  "Teenage Lynn has been taught to defend her pond against every threat: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and most important, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty—or doesn't leave at all. Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. But when strangers appear, the mysterious footprints by the pond, nighttime threats, and gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won't stop until they get it. . . ."

What I thought:  This book was a really interesting take on the near-future-apocalyptic-type-story.  I never really considered what would happen if we had a real water shortage.  This book was engaging; I had a hard time putting it down.  Overall an enjoyable read.  3/5 stars


Room by Emma Donoghue
Blurb from Amazon:  "Room is home to Jack, but to Ma it's the prison where she has been held for seven years. Through her fierce love for her son, she has created a life for him in this eleven-by-eleven-foot space. But with Jack's curiosity building alongside her own desperation, she knows that Room cannot contain either much longer."

My thoughts:  I enjoyed it, although I was expecting a lot more.  The unreliable narrator was a bonus, and I think the author did a good job of presenting the boy's different perspective of life.  The ending didn't feel very satisfying to me, but I'm not sure how it could have ended any better.  3/5 stars  



The Sorceress by Michael Scott
Blurb from Amazon:  " Nicholas Flamel's heart almost broke as he watched his beloved Paris crumble before him. The city was destroyed by Dee and Machiavelli, but Flamel played his own role in the destruction. Sophie and Josh Newman show every sign of being the twins of prophecy, and Flamel had to protect them and the pages from the Dark Elders.
   But Nicholas grows weaker with each passing day. Perenelle is still trapped in Alcatraz, and now that Scatty has gone missing, the group is without protection. Except for Clarent—the twin sword to Excalibur. But Clarent’s power is unthinkable, its evil making it nearly impossible to use without its darkness seeping into the soul of whoever wields it.
   If he hopes to defeat Dee, Nicholas must find an Elder who can teach Josh and Sophie the third elemental magic—Water Magic. The problem? The only one who can do that is Gilgamesh, and he is quite, quite insane."

My thoughts:  This is the third book in the Nicholas Flamel series.  I love this series.  The author has reimagined the story of some actual people from history and combined it with myth and legends from around the world.  There is magic and action, and I am never quite sure if I can trust Nicholas Flamel.  Exciting from cover to cover.  I cannot wait to see where these characters go next.  4/5 stars