2014

Ready for #Readathon

2014, Books in Bed, Daily Dose, Dewey's Readathon /

We have books.

We have snacks.

We have dog toys and treats.

I’ve set up my browser home page(s) to always open the Dewey’s Readathon blog, my blog, the #readathon twitter stream, and the Dewey’s Facebook page. (This makes it easier for me to interact with those who are reading along and participate in the mini-challenges.)

I have a plan for my day (though I may not stick to it):
– I’m starting with an art book because the first hour of #readathon is always rough for me. I’ll have to work. I’ll want to blog the opening intro challenge. I’ll want to check out the stream to see what everyone is doing and of course I’ll break out the first of the yummy food. So — an easy book is always best.
– Next, I’ll go for a novel, adult or YA, which should get me through til lunch.
– Then, I’ll go for a graphic novel.
– From there I’ll hit the children/middle grade books.
– I’ll end the evening with more art books.
– And of course, I’ve got a couple of fantasy novels on my kindle app and I’ll be reading those throughout the day and night.

I’m psyched!

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The Girls of August

2014, Books in Bed, Chick Lit, Fiction, Women /

When I want something light and quick to read, it’s hard to say no to Anne Rivers Siddons. A book that feels like home but doesn’t get me riled up because she’s flopped streets and landmarks down in the wrong damn place.

The Girls of August was a nice easy read but… if you’re a hardcore ARS fan you’re not going to like this one very much. It was… lacking in character development and the ending, sheesh, the ending. I enjoyed it but don’t particularly feel like I can actually recommend it to anyone. Darn it.

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City of Jasmine

2014, Books in Bed, Chick Lit, Fiction, Women /

Look! I read an adult novel and it didn’t take me a month! City of Jasmine was cute. I mostly liked Evie and Gabriel and I very much liked Aunt Dove. I was a little frustrated by Evie because it was OBVIOUS that her husband who she thought was dead wasn’t simply an asshole — he was something else entirely (along with being an asshole, sort of.)

The story got a little convoluted there in the desert — too many people all of whom were not who they appeared to be etc. etc. etc. but it was a fast read and I enjoyed it quite a bit.

I’m wondering if I should read the one that came before this… I don’t think it’s really a series but the characters are connected. Might be fun. Maybe. I’ll think about it.

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The Night Bookmobile

2014, Books in Bed, Comics & Graphic Novels, Fiction /

Nuthinfancy asked a bunch of us if we’d read The Night Bookmobile — we hadn’t so some of us reserved it at the library and read it.

I have such a love/hate thing with Niffenegger I was almost afraid to read it but I did because Nuthinfancy liked it so much and my mother also seemed to like it.

I liked it, too. Mostly. She does that thing that she does, (no I’m not gonna get specific — if you read her books, but particularly her graphic novels), at the end of this one, and … love/hate y’all, love/hate.

I really think I should just stop reading her graphic novels, even though I liked this one more than any of her others. The more of them I read, the more I want to not read her work and I’m hoping that some day she goes back to publishing something besides graphic novels…

PS. This is not a children’s book. It’s not even shelved YA. There are some folks who are angry about it because they think it is YA or a children’s book. It’s not. It’s not. It’s not. If you want to hate the ending do so because you hate the ending not because you’re worried about the childrennnnnnnn. (eyerolling here, lots of eyerolling.)

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Plain Simple Useful

2014, Books in Bed, Non-Fiction /

Yep, this is me still playing catch up. Plain Simple Useful is what happens when I wander aimlessly through the new non-fiction shelves waiting for TW.

A home decor book. Conran Style — which, if you know who Conran is, tells you everything you need to know.

Love/hate, love/hate.

And, with that — I think I’m caught up. I know you’re thrilled.

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All About Homesteading

2014, Books in Bed, Don't Read This, Favorites, Non-Fiction /

I’m playing catch up with the non-fictions now. Homesteading. A lot of books about homesteading. Some were good. Some weren’t. Let’s start with the one I didn’t finish.

Rural Renaissance — dry as I don’t even know. I won’t say burnt toast because I effing like burnt toast, (I know. I’m weird. Blame my mother.) I couldn’t finish it. There are not enough reading hours in one lifetime for me to have wanted to finish it. TW tried to warn me, she didn’t finish it either, but I didn’t listen. I should have listened. I wasted half an evening on that.

The Practical Homestead — Hoo boy. This book could scare you off the idea of homesteading, lol. So much to think about. And it’s all very serious. And they do warn you off of trying x,y & z quite a lot. At first glance, the layouts for various farm sizes seem cool but then you realize it’s really not what you personally are interested in. Unless you win the lottery or come into some inheritance because no, all we really want is a kitchen garden, some fruit trees, some chickens and a big ass yard for the damn dogs. Cool book. I might read it again in a couple of years. Seriously.

The Weekend Homesteader was interesting. I liked the way it was laid out — a few assignments each month. Cool way to start slow and keep encouraging people to make small changes and take on small projects.

Back to Basics: Traditional Kitchen Wisdom was a pretty cool book. I skimmed a lot because I don’t particularly need to digest all of that kitchen wisdom at once. It’s a good book to just have on the shelf.

I believe this is the last of the homesteading books. I hope. I kind of also hope I don’t read anymore of these for at least a year. I’m homesteaded out.

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The last of the August/September Children’s Books

2014, Books in Bed, Children's Literature, Cybil Challenge, Favorites, Fiction /

I’m going to get caught up today, even if it kills me. I’m going to schedule and stagger the posts so I don’t kill the people in my streams with these posts because I’m thoughtful like that.

I hope to goodness I never fall this far behind again. Someone remind me of this the next time JMP comes for an extended visit…

The Bear’s Song is cute and it’s on the Cybil shortlist. It has a Where’s Waldo sort of thing going on and I liked it but young children are going to have some trouble finding the little bear. Heck, I think there was a page where I never did find him.

Wild Animals is one of those touch and feel board books and not a Cybils book. JMP liked it. Because animals and touch and feel stuff. Obviously.

Thomas’ Milkshake Muddle was the very first Thomas book I’ve ever read and obviously not on the Cybils list. I KNOW, RIGHT? It was… fine. Don’t tell JMP but I don’t really understand the Thomas thing. I understand why a two year old loves trains but the books and TV shows creep me out a little. So anyway. This book. It was fine. JMP liked it.

Love Is In the Air was cute and a Cybil. A kite and a helium balloon. Yea, I liked it.

The Bag I’m Taking to Grandma’s House was not a Cybil — it was on a shelf at the library for Grandparents’ Day. JMP and I liked it. JMP doesn’t have to bring all the things in his bag because grandma will buy all the things, though.

If You Want to See a Whale is from the Cybils list and I apparently read it so long ago that I can barely remember it. I gave it four stars on goodreads and to be honest, I have no idea why. I assume this means JMP liked it since I can barely remember what I might have liked about it.

Journey was fabulous and obviously from the Cybils list. JMP loved it. I loved it. I will have to read it to him again next year to see if he still likes it.

Urgency Emergency is from the Cybils list and I liked it more than JMP did. Probably because JMP is not super familiar with the tale of the Red Riding Hood. Don’t worry, we’re going to change that this Christmas…

Punk Farm was a present for JMP from Aunt Michelle and I could have sworn I blogged this but either I didn’t or my search feature is worse than, well, worse than it should be. Anyway. The animals on the farm are punk musicians. They put on a show after the farmer goes to sleep. It’s a great punk show. I loved it. JMP was amused by my screaming of the lyrics. Next year I’m gonna get Michelle and RJ and Chris to PERFORM as I read. JMP’s gonna love that. Don’t worry, we’ll take video.

And that’s it for the kids’ books I feel behind on. I think. Maybe. Hah.

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Six Children’s Books From the Cybils Shortlist

2014, Books in Bed, Children's Literature, Cybil Challenge, Don't Read This, Favorites, Fiction, Poetry /

Let’s see…

JMP loved Joe and Sparky Go to School. The book was in the back seat of my car and he read it many times all by himself. I didn’t read it until last night and it’s very cute.

I read most of Sophie’s Squash to JMP and while he was not impressed, I was. It’s a very cute story. I’m going to read it to him again next year, I think he just wasn’t in the mood to read the night we tried it.

When Thunder Comes was excellent. Very well done with a wide range of civil rights leaders represented.

What the Heart Knows is a beautiful book. The illustrations. The charms, chants and blessings. The little red ribbon. I might have to buy this one.

Pug and Other Animal Poems was ok. The illustrations were better than the poetry. I was fascinated by the poem about the mouse. That’s not something you see very often in children’s poetry. What? Go read it for yourself.

The Meanest Birthday Girl was my least favorite. In fact, I hated it. Which is too bad because there’s a big white elephant in the book. There’s enough meanness in the world that we really don’t need it in a children’s book — not like this.

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