"If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it." ~Toni Morrison

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

What I'm Reading Wednesday #27 (November 30, 2016)

I am about to begin The Girl with all the Gifts by M.R. Carey.  I have heard interesting things about this book, and it's on the Oregon Battle of the Books list this year, so I am very excited to read this book.  

I had a few books that were difficult to read this year and I am worried that I am not going to meet my goal...

Anyway, here is my progress so far... 
2016 Goal: 32 books
Books Read = 27/32
Books from TBR list: 8
Series completed: 1
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 (TBR)
3.  Wild by Cheryl Strayed (TBR)
4.  The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

October
1.  The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón (TBR)

November
1.  Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (TBR)



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

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Teaser Tuesday (November 29, 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 rand
om 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:
"Her name is Melanie.  It means "the black girl", from an ancient Greek word, but her skin is actually very fair so she thinks maybe it's not such a good name for her.  She likes the name Pandora a whole lot, but you don't get to choose.  Miss Justineau assigns names from a big list; new children get the top name on the boys' list or the top name on the girls' list, and that, Miss Justineau says, is that."
The Girl with all the Gifts by M.R.Carey, p.1

Have you read this book?  What did you think?

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Currently....(November 16, 2016)

Currently...


Writing... to-do lists
I feel like I have a million things to do and the only way to remember is to make lists, many, many lists.

Reading... Wuthering Heights
It is taking me forever to read, but I have not had much time to read.

Listening to... Roger Waters
I love Pink Floyd and am going to see Roger Waters in June.  I saw him perform The Wall a few years ago and I am so excited to see him perform again.

Eating... mandarin oranges
I love them!

Drinking... Cot in the Act cider by Two Towns
Our local craft ciderhouse is pretty amazing, and their apricot cider is yummy.

Wearing... fleece-lined leggings and boots
It is rainy and cold here recently.  I still want to wear skirts and need to stay warm.

Feeling... stressed
Between an upcoming surgery, work, the recent presidential election, etc.....stress

Weather... rain, rain, go away
It has been raining, cloudy, dreary, foggy, a typical Oregon winter.

Wanting... more time
I can never find enough.

Thinking... there is too much hate in the world.

Watching... American Horror Story
I'm still not sure what I think of this new season, but in general I love the show.

Enjoying... crocheting and knitting for kids
I have gotten to crochet and knit a bunch of kids' stuff recently, baby blankets, hats and scarves.  They are so easy to finish and so much fun!


What are you up to?

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

My Favorite Movies

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

This week, the topic is movie-related, so I decided to share my top ten favorite movies.  Every movie on this list is one that I own or have seen multiple times.  Enjoy!


The Princess Bride
I love this movie!!  Sword fights, giants, pirates, the pit of dispair, it is full of awesome!  I can watch this movie over and over and never get tired of it.  I even read the book.  And this movie made me fall in love with Carey Elwes.  Anybody want a peanut?

The Craft
Wow!  Another favorite.  Fairuza Balk is awesome in this movie.  A story of young girls dabbling with powers they don't understand.  What is not to love?

Practical Magic
Now the girls are grown up and they understand the powers they are dabbling with; the story just got better.  Such a great movie.  I especially love the ending, where a group of women come together to help each other, despite their beliefs.  Amazing.

Star Wars Trilogy
The original Star Wars movies are a part of my childhood that I will never forget.  I watch these movies every chance I get.

Grandma's Boy
This movie make me laugh so much.  "I can hear my hair growing."  "Did I imagine a party?"  LOL.

Beyond the Universe
Oh man, I love a movie that I can sing along to, and when all the songs are Beatles songs, well, that is extra magical.  Love this movie.

Moulin Rouge
Another one that I can sing along to.  Sad, but a great story.

The Guardians of the Galaxy
When I saw previews for this movie, I had my doubts.  I mean, a talking racoon, a talking tree?  This was going to be silly.  But when I saw the movie, I loved it.  Now I can't wait for the sequel.

Stargate
I loved this movie and I loved all the tv spin-offs.  Daniel Jackson and Tealc are my favorites.  Indeed.

Mean Girls
On Wednesdays, we wear pink.  I don't know what I love about this movie, but I do love it.

Have you seen any of these movies?
Have any recommendations? 

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Books I've Added to my TBR List Recently

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.


Amazon Prime recently started a new program where Prime members can get one new release book free each month.  Taking advantage of this new program has added some interesting books to my TBR list.

Pierced by the Sun by Laura Esquivel
"Lupita’s hard-knock life has gotten the better of her time and time again. A childhood robbed of innocence set off a chain of events that she still has not managed to control, no matter how hard she tries. Every time she thinks she has a handle on things, unexpected turns make her question everything, including herself.

When Lupita witnesses the murder of a local politician whom she greatly admires, the ghosts of her past resurface as she tries to cope with the present. She quickly falls back into her old self-destructive habits and becomes a target of Mexico’s corrupt political machine. As the powers that be kick into high gear to ensure the truth remains hidden, Lupita finds solace in the purity of indigenous traditions. While she learns how to live simply, like her ancestors, she comes to understand herself and rediscovers light within a dark life. And if there is hope for Lupita’s redemption, perhaps there is hope for Mexico."
(Amazon.com)

Midair by Kodi Scheer
"For four young women abroad in Paris, a game of Truth or Dare turns life-and-death.

“I had a secret: I wanted to leave the earth in a spectacular fashion. Specifically, by leaping from the Eiffel Tower.” So begins this provocative coming-of-age novel about a teenage girl bent on self-destruction and revenge, set in the City of Light.
It’s the summer of 1999, the end of a millennium. In the mind of Nessa Baxter, a girl from rural Illinois, Paris is the remedy for all of her woes. The death of her beloved brother and the betrayal by her classmate Kat has left Nessa bereft and doubtful about her future. She plans to exact revenge on Kat during their renegade French Club trip. Along with classmates Whitney and Kiran, the four girls embark on a series of misadventures in Paris. As part of her plan, Nessa starts a game of Truth or Dare that spirals out of control.
A suspenseful psychological drama, Midair is the story of a young girl’s descent into darkness and the secrets we keep, even from ourselves." (Amazon.com)

Interference by Amelie Antoine
"They were the perfect couple—but not all is as it seems.

Young married couple Gabriel and Chloé have a picture-perfect life. But when athletic Chloé suddenly drowns, Gabriel is left to grapple with the mysterious circumstances of her death. Brokenhearted, he pours out his grief in a bereavement group and is consoled by photographer Emma. While the two grow closer, Gabriel can’t help but feel Chloé’s presence everywhere he goes. And as revelations about Chloé slowly emerge, he begins to wonder, is Emma really that different?
From prize-winning and bestselling author Amélie Antoine comes a dark and evocative novel that will keep readers guessing until the final moments—will Gabriel be able to move on with Emma, or will the mystery of Chloé’s death consume him?" (Amazon.com)

Magonia by Maria Dahvana Headley
"Since she was a baby, Aza Ray Boyle has suffered from a mysterious lung disease that makes it ever harder for her to breathe, to speak—to live. So when Aza catches a glimpse of a ship in the sky, her family chalks it up to a cruel side effect of her medication. But Aza doesn’t think this is a hallucination. She can hear someone on the ship calling her name.

Only her best friend, Jason, listens. Jason, who’s always been there. Jason, for whom she might have more-than-friendly feelings. But before Aza can consider that thrilling idea, something goes terribly wrong. Aza is lost to our world—and found by another. Magonia.
Above the clouds, in a land of trading ships, Aza is not the weak and dying thing she was. In Magonia, she can breathe for the first time. Better, she has immense power—but as she navigates her new life, she discovers that war between Magonia and Earth is coming. In Aza’s hands lies the fate of the whole of humanity—including the boy who loves her. Where do her loyalties lie?"  (Amazon.com)

Evelyn, After by Victoria Helen Stone
"Evelyn Tester is sleepwalking through her suburban life—until a late-night phone call startles her awake. Her husband, a prestigious psychiatrist, has been in an accident. And he isn’t alone.

Suddenly Evelyn’s world isn’t as tidy as she thought. And in the midst of it all is Juliette, not only her husband’s secret lover but also his patient. If news of the affair were to get out, it would ruin more than just Evelyn’s marriage. Although it’s a bitter pill for Evelyn to swallow, protecting her family means staying silent—even if, as she begins to discover, the night of the accident has consequences far more dangerous than the unmasking of an affair.
But the more Evelyn learns about Juliette’s picture-perfect life—complete with a handsome, unsuspecting husband—the more she yearns for revenge…and satisfaction. Her growing obsession fuels her rage, burning away her complacency. What will be left of her after it flames out?"  (Amazon.com)

Ocean of Storms by Christopher Mari and Jeremy K. Brown
"In the near future, political tensions between the United States and China are at an all-time high. Then a catastrophic explosion on the moon cleaves a vast gash in the lunar surface, and the massive electromagnetic pulse it unleashes obliterates Earth’s electrical infrastructure. To plumb the depths of the newly created lunar fissure and excavate the source of the power surge, the feuding nations are forced to cooperate on a high-risk mission to return mankind to the moon.

Now, a diverse, highly skilled ensemble of astronauts—and a pair of maverick archaeologists plucked from the Peruvian jungle—will brave conspiracy on Earth and disaster in space to make a shocking discovery.
Ocean of Storms is an epic adventure that spans space and time as its heroes race to fulfill an ancient mission that may change the course of humanity’s future." (Amazon.com)

I have a lot of reading to do!
What's on your TBR list?