Books from 2015 and Reading Goals for 2016

My goal in 2015 was to read 30 books, and I read 28. I'm not going to say I "failed" because 12 of the 28 books were 800+ pages (I read both the Outlander series and the Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones series, which were monstrous). I do wish I would have made it to 30, but I'm still happy with the amount that I crossed off my list!

Here are the books I read in 2015:

All the Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr
The Giver - Lois Lowry
The Girl You Left Behind - Jojo Moyes
The Last Original Wife - Dorothea Benton Frank
Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand
Outlander - Diana Gabaldon
And Then There Were None - Agatha Christie
Dragonfly in Amber - Diana Gabaldon
Voyager - Diana Gabaldon
Peter Pan - J.M. Barrie
Drums of Autumn - Diana Gabaldon
Dark Places - Gillian Flynn
Sharp Objects - Gillian Flynn
The Fiery Cross - Diana Gabaldon
Madame Picasso - Anne Girard
The Good Girl - Mary Kubica
A Breath of Snow and Ashes - Diana Gabaldon
An Echo in the Bone - Diana Gabaldon
Written in My Own Heart's blood - Diana Gabaldon
Mad miss Mimic - Sarah Henstra
The Five Love Languages - Gary Chapman
Georgia Bottoms - Mark Childress
The Matchmaker - Elin Hilderbrand
The Last Letter From Your Lover - Jojo Moyes
A Game of Thrones - George R. R. Martin
A Clash of Kings - George R. R. Martin
A Storm of Swords - George R. R. Martin
A Feast for Crows - George R. R. Martin

Started (but didn't finish in 2015)
A Dance with Dragons - George R. R. Martin
May we be Forgiven - A. M. Homes

My goals for 2016 are much the same as last year, to continue reading at a steady pace and to introduce new authors into my life. I'm keeping the goal of 30-40 books this year (I still think 50 is too stout to attempt) and I want to try to find one more series to get into.

Here are some books I'm interested in reading  in 2016:

The Orenda by Joseph Boyden
"A historical fiction based during the 17th century in Canada after the arrival of French Jesuit missionaries. The book is written from three perspectives: (1) Snow Falls, a young Iroquois girl, (2) Pere Christoph, the missionary kidnapped along sider her, and (3) Bird, the Huron warrior who is holding both of them captive."

Safekeeping by Jessamyn Hope
"This novel follows Adam, an addict from NYC, traveling to an Israeli kibbutz in 1994 to fulfill his grandfather's dying wish. But the woman he's set out to find, and the legend behind a stored famiy keepsake he carries, soon set him on a course far more complex than he anticipated."


After You by Jojo Moyes (sequel to Me Before You)
I was a big fan of Me Before You, but was never expecting a sequel. Me Before You ended the way a good book should - it left me wanting more, but it also had a sense of finality and closure. I'm still a huge fan of Moyes and am interested to see what some of the characters are up to now.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hopkin
"Mara Dyer believes life can't get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. It can."
That quote alone left me wanting to get my hands on this book ASAP! I'm a big fan of mysteries and this one seems like it will satiate my craving for a little while.

The Mountain Story by Lori Lansens
The jacket teaser alone ("Five days. Four lost hikers. Three survivors.") has me on the edge of my seat already.

As I've mentioned before, I'm a big fan of my nook (if you're a nook user, let me know so we can share some books!) and I love having an e-reader, but I'm not at all opposed to hard-copy books. I was actually given a huge box of John Grisham novels by a sweet patient's family member and plan on diving in to some of those as well.

If you have any recommendations on books to read this year, I'd love to hear them!

Books, books, books!

It's time again to talk about my favorite subject: BOOKS! Which ones I've read, which ones I want to read, the one's I loved and the ones that weren't all that great. Currently I'm joining up with several bloggers who also love books and some fun little challenges/collaborations they have going on throughout the summer (#scsbc15, #collaboreads, and #thebookishsideoflife) (ALL THE BOOK HASHTAGS) that help me keep my reading goals in check. 
My main goal this month was to finish reading the Outlander book series, and I'm currently reading the seventh, An Echo in the Bone, which is set during the American Revolution and Scotland 1980's. You can read what I thought of the first four books here. Reading these books has been tough! I love the story, but with an average of 1000+ pages per book, it can get a little challenging. I've been trying to finish one book, then read a "light" book or two before I start the next one and that has really been helping to keep my mind from getting bogged down in all the words.
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For the month of July, the #collaboreads challenge was to read a book with someone's name in it, I chose Madame Picasso by Anne Girard. As I've said before, I'm a big fan of historical fiction, especially when it has some recognizable characters. This book was based on the love story between Eva Gouel and Pablo Picasso, a fictional story due to Gouel's preference for living a highly private life but it still follows real life events. 

Now for the R.E.A.D.S. review: 

RIVETING 

What part of the book could you not get enough of? 

I loved the romance of living in Paris in the early 1900's: the Moulin Rouge, going to Gertrude Stein's famous Salon, the poetry and artistry of the times - it made me wish I was living the Parisian/bohemian lifestyle. I love that Eva moved there with little more than a cent to her name and a dream to make something out of herself (without a husband, thank you) - such a wild notion for the times!

ELEMENTS

How did you relate to/care for the characters? What's your thought on the plot line and twists and turns? 

I really related to the main character, Eva, who also went by Marcelle Humbart, a name she chose that sounded more "Parisian" and sophisticated than Eva. She left home at 23, unmarried (gasp!), and without her parents blessing to start her life in Paris. She refused the offer of marriage from several men because she didn't love them - she was a true independent woman. The plot was pretty simple and followed a third person narrator style, which was nice, as many of the books I've read have been in the first-person, multi-narrator style. There were a few twists and turns that kept me on edge - Eva's friendship with Fernande, Picasso's long-term lover being the main one.

ASSOCIATE

What other books are like thisone? If none, did it remind you o a particular TV or movie with it's themes and characters? Does it serendipitous-ly line up with the things going on in your life or the news right now?

Of course, the only movie it reminds me of is one of my all time favorites, Moulin Rouge! (starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor) (if you haven't seen it, stop what you're doing and watch it now!) obviously because it focuses on the same bohemian lifestyle of many people living in Paris in the 1910-1920's.

DESIGN

What did you think of the cover? How did it relate to the contents of the novel? Admittedly, I was first drawn to the book because of the cover - I mean, how many books do you see with the silhouette of a naked woman's backside?

It definitely related to the themes/contents of the book - being that it was mainly surrounding Pablo Picasso and his lovers. 

STARS 

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. It was a good read, but not the best, and of course I detested a few of the characters and their actions, but it's hard to be perfect. I would definitely recommend this book!

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Books I've also recently read: 
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie: 3 out of 5 stars - not great but not awful. Of course, I'm spoiled by the Disney version of events, but the writing style in itself just wasn't for me. Peter was also kind of a brat.
The Good Girl by Mary Kubica: 2 out of 5 stars - I barely made it through this book. I really wanted to stop reading it, but I forced myself to finish because (1) it was only one of two books I had for vacation and needed to bide my time and (2) because I'm a weirdo and I hate not finishing books. Even the bad ones. The characters were annoying, the dialogue was even worse, and the big "gotcha" at the end was hardly even worth it.
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn: 4.5 out of 5 stars - great, just like the other two books by Flynn that I've read (Gone Girl and Sharp objects). Out of the three, I think I liked this one the best - I thought I had the whole mystery figured out but of course there was something in the end I wasn't expecting! 
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This also marks the end of the Semi-Charmed Summer Reading Challenge, and even though I didn't get ALL the categories - I did better than last year! I completed nine out of twelve categories (145/200 points) and I read 5953 pages, which doesn't include three of the Outlander books that wouldn't fit a category. All in all, I've read over 7,000 pages since May 1st - I'd say that's quite an accomplishment.
My goal was to read 30 books by the end of the year and I'm somewhere around 17 - over half way finished! What are your reading goals for this year?

Why I Love My Tablet more than Books

If you've never noticed (I don't know why you would) I love to read. I used to could read a book in a whole day. Not just "a  book" but something like Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Serously, I'd buy it in the morning and then stay up until the wee hours and finish it in a single day. Ah, to be twelve again.
My love for reading hasn't stopped, but I would say my available time and responsibilities have changed a little, therefore I can't finish a 700+ page book in a day anymore. As I've mentioned numerous times before on this blog, my goal this year is to read 30 books before 2016. I don't remember what number I'm at right now (somewhere around nine?) but I've got a few fun little challenges to help me stay on track (like this one, this one, and this one). You know what else helps me? Reading on my Samsung Nook tablet.
I know, I know, there's nothing that "beats the real thing" but is that really true? Yes sometimes having a real book with real pages in my hand is great, but here are a few reasons why my Nook (or any tablet/e-reader) is better:
Instant Gratification Say there's a book I want, and I want it really bad. With my Nook tablet, the only thing I need to do is log on to my Barnes & Noble account, find the book, click "buy" and bam - there it is, ready to read. 
Convenience One of my favorite parts about my Nook tablet is that it's small. I got the seven inch version and it fits into all my purses, bags, and even a few pockets. I can take it almost anywhere. I say "almost" because I can't take it underwater. I've taken it in the bath but it still makes me a little nervous to do that too.
Multiple Devices I would have to say that this is, hands down, the number one reason I prefer my Nook tablet over a "real" book. I have the nook app downloaded on my phone, Derek's phone, Derek's tablet, and there's also an online feature where you can log on from an internet browser. This is my favorite because if I find myself unexpectedly in a situation where I'd want to read (i.e. waiting in a doctor's office or a long car ride), but didn't bring my tablet with me, I can easily pull it up on my phone or a computer. 
Screen Backlight With a regular book, at night I've got to keep my bedside lamp on to read, which in turn keeps my husband up huffing and puffing which in turn disturbs my reading. With my Nook, I can put the screen on dim and it's still bright enough for me to read but not too bright to keep my sleeping beauty husband awake. 
Settings Want bigger text? Done. Want a black background with white words (supposedly better when looking at screens)? Done. Want bigger margins? Done. What I'm saying here is that you get to customize your reading experience to what YOU prefer, rather than being stuck with the "manufactures settings" like you are with a paperback.
Of course I can go on and list more things like how I never lose my page, or my hand doesn't get tired from holding open a thick book when there's only a few pages left (come on, you know that's aggravating) and the fact that I can read it one handed or look up words while I'm reading a book, but I'll just leave it at that.
So tell me, what do you prefer - a tablet/e-reader or the real thing?

Summer 2015 Bucket List

I love goals. I love setting them, I love crossing them off a list. I make a list every morning of things I want to do that day and crossing them off throughout the day. I love everything about it. From big, huge, life-changing goals, to the smallest thing on my to-do list.
This summer, there's a few things I want to accomplish:

Go to the beach at least three times. I've got plans to go this Saturday with a girlfriend of mine from high school. I literally cannot wait.

Get better at skiing. Though we don't have a ski boat we have a boat and we have skis and I was able to get up really well last summer (much improved from the summer before). I also want to try wakeboarding.

Make homemade ice cream. Derek's uncle has the best recipe, but my mom tells me the secret is just beating the egg whites. I used to love making homemade vanilla (or peach, with the peaches coming from trees in our yard) ice cream with my parents and I want it to be something Derek and I can continue doing throughout our marriage. 

Go camping. We went last year on Memorial Day weekend, and I hope we continue the tradition.

Have a picture for every day. I've already (kind of) gotten in the habit with #30photosinbetween and #20happydaysinmay so I hope to continue it throughout summer. Maybe I should make my own hashtag? Isn't that what all the cool kids are doing nowadays?

Make s'mores. Because duh.

Complete the #scsbc15. Last year I participated in the reading challenge, but unfortunately I didn't complete all the categories. I'm a little late to start this year (it officially began May 1) but I'm determined to finish! My preliminary list below:

• Freebie - any book! (5 points): Undecided
• Any book you've never heard of (10 points): Undecided
• A book that has been on your TBR list for at least two years. (10 points): Undecided
• A book that won a Goodreads “Best Book” award in 2014. (10 points): The Good Girl by Mary Kubica
• A book by an author who is completely new to you. (15 points): The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
• A book by an author you have read before. (15 points): The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes - I've read Me Before You (amazing) and The Girl You Left Behind (also good) by Moyes and I've debated on reading One plus One but have heard some bad reviews.
• A book with "light" or "dark" in the title. (15 points): Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
• Any book with the name of a city, state or country in the title. (20 points): Paris Red by Maureen Gibbon
• Read a book with an animal on the cover. (20 points): The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon - This would be a re-read for me but it's been several, several years since I've read it and for some reason it's been on my mind lately.
• Read a book that is part of a series with at least four books. (25 points): Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry (second book in "The Giver" series)
• Read a book that is longer than 500 pages long. (25 points): Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
• +Read a book with an alliterative title. (30 points): Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

As you can see, it's a pretty extensive list but I'm still missing a few. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. And it's not too late to join in the fun!
Read the Harry Potter series from start to finish (again). Yes I've done this one a time or two (or eight) but it just never gets old. Maybe I'll try to fit a couple of these books in to the missing categories above. 
Visit someplace new. Derek and I already did this when we went to Jekyll Island but of course I'm always up for a new adventure. Derek is going to Nashville (to which I've never been) for a bachelor party later this summer and I'm pretty jealous about it!
What's on your bucket list this summer?

Recently Read

I haven't done a book recap since January, so this will actually include all of the books I've read between January and March. 

The Giver by Lois Lowry I did something I don't usually do with this book: I didn't read it until after I had already seen the movie. Whoops. But it was still good. I kind of fell out of the whole dystopian genre for a while, pretty much ever since I finished The Hunger Games, but this book has got me back into it full force. I haven't read any of the other books in the quartet, but they're on my list. 
The Last Original Wife by Dorthea Benton Frank I still can't decide how I feel about this book. Set in modern day Atlanta, it follows Leslie a 50 something year old woman who is the last "original" wife out of her social circle - her husband's friends have all remarried younger, fitter, wilder versions of the women that used to be their wives. As the story evolves, she must choose between staying with her husband or following her own happiness. What I didn't like about the book was the writing style and the prose used during the dialogue. I'm from the south and I thought it was a tad overdone with all of the "honeys, sugars, babies, and bless your hearts" to seem legitimate. Like I said, it was an interesting story, I just don't know that I particularly enjoyed reading it. 
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand  (Joining Bonnie in her discussion of this book for her book club today. Spoiler alerts ahead!) This book. Man you guys, this story got me. It broke my heart in to a million little pieces then put it back together again. I'm not a big fan of biographical books (and I was a little slow to get in to this one) and even though I "knew the ending," this book had me hooked.
What I liked...I liked the story itself and how it was one of such resilience. I liked that there wasn't any detail that wasn't covered and I liked that the author took the time to write about Louie before and after the war, as it showed how he changed over time. The parts of the book that were easiest to read (though not necessarily fun to read) were those of the days on the raft and when Louie was in the camps. They were enthralling and kept me up much later than my usual bedtime because I just had to know what happened.
What I didn't like...At times, the book was a little too detailed. As I said, I'm usually not one to enjoy biographical types of books, and there were times where I didn't know if I would be able to finish this one. It was so much different from reading the fictional novels that I'm used to reading. Also, I still get nightmares about the duck. I definitely feel that part could have been left out.
What part of the story stood out the most...The ending, Louie's resilience and how, even though it took a long road to get there, it ended with Louie finding Jesus. 
How it affected my opinion on war...I wouldn't say it affected my opinion much. I've read previously about POW camps in WWII and even more so about death camps that the Jewish people had to suffer through. I guess I could say that it opened up my eyes a little more to the war in the Pacific specifically. I think people tend to forget a little bit about those people who didn't only fight the war in Europe.
Book vs. Movie...I haven't seen the movie yet, and I'll be honest, I didn't even know this was a book until the movie version was released. Because I'm such a weirdo, I refused to see the movie because I knew I would want to read the book first. I'm interested to see how much creative liberty they take with this story.  

What are some books you've read recently? Do you have any recommendations for me?

Between the Lines: All the Light We Cannot See

Today I'm joining Kristyn from Chits & Giggles for the Between the Lines book club review of All the Light We Cannot See. You can read my initial thoughts and review of the book here.

 

 

1. When Werner and Jutta first hear the Frenchman on the radio, he concludes his broadcast by saying “Open your eyes and see what you can with them before they close forever”. How do you think this phrase relates to the overall message of the story?

I think this message is basically saying to follow your instincts, think for yourself and form your own opinions about things before the "ways of the world" and propaganda lead you to believe things that just aren't true and your moral compass is ruined.

 

2. Why do you think Marie-Laure gave Werner the little iron key? Why might Werner have gone back for the wooden house but left the Sea of Flames?

I believe that Marie-Laure gave Werner the iron key because she trusted him. She could not see, so she only had her instincts to go on. She knew he was a German soldier, but she also knew that he came to find her when she needed help. I think Werner left the Sea of Flames for Marie-Laure to find. I think, in his mind, if she returned to find the sea of flames still waiting for her, that she would know how much he cared for her.

 

3. The author writes, “To shut your eyes is to guess nothing of blindness.” What did you learn or realize about blindness through Marie-Laure’s perspective? Do you think her being blind gave her any advantages?

I had a Great Grandfather who was blinded by glaucoma when I was just a baby. He had his vision for the majority of his life so I'm sure it affected him differently, just as it did Marie-Laure. I think blindness opened their minds to their other senses - they had to rely on their hearing, sense of smell, and touch, instead of sight, and in a way I think this could have given Marie-Laure certain advantages.

 

4. The narration moves back and forth both in time and between different characters. How do you think the experience would have been different if the story had been told entirely in chronological order?

I liked that the book was written from different times and perspectives. Actually, books with different protagonist perspectives are my favorite. With this particular book, I think the time changes added to the "mysteriousness" of the book and made it a little more interesting.

Did you read All the Light We Cannot See? Do you agree or disagree with my answers to these questions? Answer in the comments below!

 

Books I read in November

Ever since my Summer HP Re-read and the Summer Reading Challenge, I've kind of slacked in the reading department. It's not that I didn't have time, it's that I didn't make time. Oh yeah, and I was planning a wedding. So I wanted to ease back into the game and my goal for the month of November was to read two book, and I succeeded! I didn't want to have a goal of reading four or five because I didn't want to fail. Maybe next month my goal will be four.

So without any further adieu, here are two short reviews of the books I read in November.

Me Before You

Jojo Moyes

“The thing about being catapulted into a whole new life--or at least, shoved up so hard against someone else's life that you might as well have your face pressed against their window--is that it forces you to rethink your idea of who you are. Or how you might seem to other people.”

I read this book after reading Amber's review, and her insistence that I read it too. And read it, I did. I'm not even going to tell you the intricacies of the story. But it's a story about love. And loss. And happiness. And sadness. It's a story about a young woman, Lou, who is trying to figure out who she is and what her place is in the world. It's a story about a young man who has lost everything - not material possessions or money - he has plenty of that. He's lost something much more valuable (to him) that he can never get back.

After a certain series of events, Lou and Will's paths become entwined and take each of them on a roller coaster they (nor you) ever expected. They are able to teach each other things about themselves and the world that they never would have discovered without each other.

I read this book and it rocked my world in a way that I didn't know it could be rocked. Laughter was loud, tears were a plenty - happy ones and sad ones. To quote Amber, it was a happy ending, but not the happily-ever-after kind. If you're looking for a book to awaken your mind and soul, Me Before You is the one you need.

We Were Liars

E. Lockhart

"Be a little kinder than you have to."

"Always do the things you're afraid to do."

"Never accept an evil you can change."

"Never eat anything bigger than your ass."

Cadence is a Sinclair. Her grandfather, Harris Sinclair, is a wealthy New Englander with his own private island where he and his blonde, broad shouldered, beautiful daughters and their children spend their summers.

There are four Liars: Cadence (Cady), Mirren, Johnny, and Gat. They were called Liars because they were always getting into things on the island, ever since Summer Eight, when Gat came, they were the Liars. Before that, they were just cousins.

The story begins with Summer Fifteen: where there is love, mischief, questions, and the accident. Cady can't remember the accident itself or much of the events from Summer Fifteen. She can't understand why her mother doesn't want her to go back to the island or why the other Liars haven't replied to any of her emails.

 

Skip ahead to Summer Seventeen and Cady's first trip back to the island: everything is different. Even after two years, Cady can't remember The Accident or any of the events surrounding it. With the help of the other Liars, Cady is able to rediscover the horrible truth surrounding Summer Fifteen.

 

Throughout the whole book (which is relatively short, only two-hundred odd pages) I kept trying to guess how the book would end, and it most definitely kept me on my toes! The ending is not at all what I suspected or thought would happen, and it left my heart heavy. It was an interesting read and I definitely recommend it, but not if you are looking for a happy, uplifting ending.

 

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Have you read either of these? What were your thoughts?

 

 

 

Summer Book Challenge: June Update

As you may know, I am participating in the Semi-Charmed Kind of Life Summer Book Challenge, I started this book challenge excited, and to be honest, a little nervous. I hadn't read books for fun in quite a while and I didn't know if I could handle the task. I also started the challenge in the middle of reading the Harry Potter series, and I didn't want three 700+ page books to not count, so I made sure they would fit into some of the categories before I started. 
I have moved some things around since I posted my original preliminary reading list. 

Any book that is at least 200 pages long - 5 points: 

Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix, by J.K. Rowling. Started: May 2, Finished May 5.

A book written before I was born - 10 points: 

The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien (published 1937)
Currently reading

A book I couldn't finish reading the first time around - 10 points:

The Clover House, by Henriette Power. Started: May 19, finished May 26.

A book from the children's section - 10 points: 

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, by J.K. Rowling. Started May 5, finished May 9. 

A book on the New York Times Best Sellers List - 15 points: 

To be determined.

A historical fiction book that is not based in Europe - 15 points: 

The Lace Reader, by Brunonia Barry (Salem, Massechusets) 

A book another blogger has already read for the challenge - 15 points: 

To be determined. 

A book with "son(s)," "daughter(s)," or "child/children" in the title - 20 points: 

The Witch's Daughter, by Paula Brackston.

A book that will be adapted to film in 2014 - 20 points: 

Devil's Knot, by Mara Leveritt

A book written by another blogger - 25 points: 

Let's Pretend this Never Happened, by Jenny Lawson (AKA The Bloggess)

A biography, autobiography, or memior - 25 points: 

Bossypants, by Tina Fey. 

A pair of books with antonyms in the titles - 30 points: 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by J.K. Rowling Started May 9, finished May 12.

The Mystery of Breathing, by Perri Klass Started May 14, finished May 19.

(I am using DEATHly and BREATHING as antonyms)

Total as of May 27: 55 points

It's been a while since I've done a book review

This summer I am participating in my first ever reading challenge, I've read five books out of the 13 that I have picked out, and I feel like that's pretty good progress. Granted, three of the books were re-reads and I feel like that made it a little easier so the rest of the challenge may be a little... challenging.
One of the books I read was The Mystery of Breathing by Perri Klass. It was a book that I picked up for pocket change at a thrift store and then left in my closet (along with many other books) for over a year with every intention of reading it, but I just never got around to it.

It is a story about Dr. Maggie Claymore, a neonatologist (a doctor for very sick newborns and premature infants) who one day receives an anonymous letter, calling her a child-killer and challenging her credentials as a physician.
Now, when I bought the book, I had no idea what it was about, but the title intrigued me. Once I started reading, I was pretty hooked. I love reading mysteries and I love trying to figure out the culprit before they are revealed in the story (unfortunately I guessed wrong this time). Before long, the letters are being sent to the department heads and the sender also begins posting posters of the Dr. Claymore with threatening and disturbing messages (baby killer, etc) all around the hospital.
Half way through the book, the story switches from Maggie's perspective to that of the anonymous letter-sender (though we don't yet know who it is) and also has a few excerpts from Maggie's two year old god-daughter's point of view, which I thought was a little different. Once the letter-sender is revealed to the readers, the story pretty  much goes down hill and loses all of its momentum. I was a little disappointed in the ending, but overall it was an interesting and light read.

Summer Book Challenge

With no school responsibilities this summer, I've decided to participate in the Summer Book Challenge, hosted by Megan at Semi-Charmed Kind of Life. I have a HUGE stack of books that are mostly thrifted just laying around waiting to be read. The sad part is, most of them have been laying around for over a year, so this challenge is giving me the motivation to finally read them.   Here's my preliminary reading list for the next few months:   Any book that is at least 200 pages long - 5 points: Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix, by J.K. Rowling.   I chose this book, because (as I've already mentioned) I'm in the middle of re-reading the series and I started this one within the time frame of the challenge (yesterday) and I'm not letting a (nearly) 900-page book count for nothing.   A book written before I was born - 10 points: The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien (published 1937). 
A book I couldn't finish reading the first time around - 10 points: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling.
A book from the children's section - 10 points: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, by J.K. Rowling. 
A book on the New York Times Best Sellers List - 15 points: To be determined.
A historical fiction book that is not based in Europe - 15 points: The Lace Reader, by Brunonia Barry (Salem, Massechusets) 
A book another blogger has already read for the challenge - 15 points: To be determined. 
A book with "sons," "daughters," or "children" in the title - 20 points: The Witch's Daughter, by Paula Brackston. This is a book that I also started but never finished, so I'm not sure if it counts as one of my three re-reads or not, but I'm looking forward to finishing it.   A book that will be adapted to film in 2014 - 20 points: To be determined. I really wish I would have waited to read Gone Girl now that I know about the challenge. Oh well. I am thinking of The Fault in our Stars, by John Green, or Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Any suggestions?   A book written by another blogger - 25 points: Let's Pretend this Never Happened, by Jenny Lawson (AKA The Bloggess) If her book is anything like her blog then I'm sure this will be the easiest most enjoyable book on my list.   A biography, autobiography, or memior - 25 points: Bossypants, by Tina Fey.  She has always been someone that I considered a role model, and I've had her book for almost a year without reading it.  A pair of books with antonyms in the titles - 30 points: also, to be determined.   

Happy Reading!

How to get under my skin (part II) + ANNOUNCEMENT

I have written before about a few things that really bug me, that just get under my skin and cause me to have fits of rage inside my head because I'm not one to call people out. Although maybe I should start, it would probably make me feel better.

Kids running rampant in public
I don't understand what people are thinking when they think it is acceptable to let their brats children run around Target like a damn hooligan. It's not just running around, either. It's yelling. It's touching all the things. it's running in front of my shopping cart to where I have to slam on the breaks so their incompetant mother doesn't yell at me for trying to run over her kid. Seriously, if you can't control your child, put a leash on it. Or leave it at home. And don't give me crap about "you don't know what it's like because you don't have kids..." blah blah blah. My little brother was a holy terror growing up, but you better believe he minded in Wal-Mart or he would get his butt tore up when he got home, and he knew it.

Bad drivers
I don't mean bad drivers when I am driving my car (I think we covered that last time). I mean you being a bad driver when I am a passenger in your car. If you're going to text and drive, do it without me. Also, don't ride in the left hand lane going five below the speed limit while people are passing on the right side giving me the stink eye when I'm not even the one doing anything wrong.

Stubbing my toe
I seriously don't think there is anything worse than stubbing my toe. TWICE I've stubbed my toe so bad that I lost a toenail. On the same toe. Thankfully there were several (like 12) years of recovery between the two losses, but still, that ain't no fun.

Someone bashing something they've never tried
I don't know what it is, but when I hear someone saying they "don't like _____," but they have never actually TRIED _____, it really rubs me the wrong way. Commonly people do it with food. Or sports. You can't say you don't like baseball if don't know what a strike is and you've never watched an inning in your life. I also listened to a woman RANT about certain books that she would just NEVER let her children read because they were full of evil and witchcraft. She was talking about Harry Potter. I seriously could have flipped my lid but I just pointedly took out my copy of Goblet of Fire and read, knowing how unhappy of a person she must be.

Are there certain things that just get under your skin?

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Speaking of Harry Potter, I'm SUPER EXCITED to announce my first ever link-up!

HARRY POTTER LOVERS LINK UP!!   
Write about anything Harry Potter related... What character did you relate to most or who would you want to trade shoes with for a day, favorite quotes from the books, books vs. movies, favorite book in the series, etc.    
What: A Harry Potter link-up party   When: Next Wednesday, October 30    Who: Link up with Kalyn, Morgan, Sara, Ashten, or Melissa    How: Grab the code for the button in the box below and add it to your post   
   

<a href="http://www.geezlouiseblog.com " > <img src="http://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u521/kvaughan402/harrypotterlinkup2_zpsbbdc2b77.png " alt="Harry Potter link-up" width="250" height="250" /> </a>

I was really really nervous about hosting my first link up, but these ladies convinced me it would be so much fun. I'm super pumped about it so spread the word and get to work on your HP themed posts!

I'm a Numbers Person

Okay I'm admitting it, I stole this idea straight from Nadine, but I really couldn't help myself. I'm a numbers gal, numbers interest me. I like to know how many pages a book is before I buy it or how many words are in my paper before I turn it in. I need to know how many calories are in the ice cream sandwich I'm eating, not that it's going to keep me from eating it. So. My life. In numbers. Here it is. At this moment I am 740,195,510 seconds old. Or 23 years 5 months 13 days, 1 hour, and 53 minutes. There are 198 days, 22 hours, and 6 minutes until my next birthday.
I have read approximately 128 books in my life time. Seven of those being the Harry Potter books.  I have read the whole Harry Potter series beginning to end three times. I currently have 3 books open in front of me now, strictly for homework purposes. Average hours per week I spend studying/doing homework: ten

Wasn't kidding about the three books.

Five: the approximate number of days a week I braid my hair (there's on in it now).  This is the third time I've cut 5+ inches off my head, for no other reason than I was bored with it.

Oh hai short hair

I have been an LPN for 396 days and will be an RN in approximately 227 days. Number of medications I have given as a nurse: approximately 234789. Number of medications I still treat as if they can end a persons life if given incorrectly: 234789. I have seen three people leave this world. And three people enter it. All were beautiful and surreal experiences.
Derek told me he loved me for the first time 462 days ago. Since then he has farted on me approximately 784 times, given me two bouquets of flowers and infinite forehead kisses. I have had two chihuahuas, four labs, three bird dogs, and seven cats throughout my life.
Six: the number of New Girl episodes I watched in one sitting. 76: the number of times I wondered, "Self, why are you JUST NOW watching this." Three: the number of times I have asked Derek for the Netflix password. Three: the number of times he hasn't given it to me.
I have locked my keys in my own car at least twelve times, and successfully broke in on my own ten of those times. I have owned three vehicles: a 1997 Chevy Blazer, a 2005 Chevy Cobalt, and a 2006 Nissan Altima, and made zero car payments.
Approximate amount of money I owe in student loans: $5,200 Number of times I've listened to Wrecking Ball today: seven. And this week: 54 Miles I've ridden my bike in the last 7 days: 26 Number of pounds I can lift with my left (broken) arm since I broke it: five Dr. Peppers I drink per week: three Dr. Peppers I wish I could drink per week 20 Number of times I've painted my toes since may: three
Days a week I wait until I'm already at work to finish putting on makeup: five Average times a day I misplace my phone: five and my keys: seven Days since my Grandma passed away: 732 Days that I've wished I could see her again: 732 Songs that can make me cry instantly: four
It has been 385 days since I started blogging.  I have regretted it zero times, but thought about quitting twice.  Since then I have published 204 posts and gained over 300 followers and friends. Number of times Derek has told me he doesn't understand blogging: 34
What does your life look like in numbers?

Summerland: Book Review

Summerland by Elin Hilderbrand

"Summerland is as readable as any beach book, but with a much bigger heart." --Boston Globe

 

When I saw this new release in B&N I knew I just had to have it. My first Hilderbrand novel was Barefoot, which is the book that made me fall in love with E.H. and Nantucket (you can love a place you've never been, right?). Since then, I've picked up just about every E.H. novel that has been published, and loved them all.

 

Summerland begins on graduation night with Penny, who is a Junior at Nantucket High, singing the national anthem. Her twin brother Hobson (or Hobby), her mother Zoe, and her boyfriend Jake all watch from the stadium seats. Penny has the voice of an angel, no one else would sing the National Anthem but her. However, this time is her last time. Later that night there is a terrible accident that takes Penny's life and leaves Hobby in a coma. Jake and the other passenger, Demeter, walk away unharmed.

 

The book follows the lives of Zoe, Demeter, Jake, and their parents as they recover from this tragedy. The book is alternately narrated by each of them, along with "Nantucket" as a whole. As the summer months unfold, secrets are revealed about the survivors and their families; and piece by piece, we are able to solve the mystery surrounding the accident on Graduation night.

 

This book is one where you can let your mind "escape" and still enjoy the story along the way. E.H.'s style of writing is captivating as it is breath taking. I highly recommend this book for a good summer read on the beach.

 

 

Currently reading: Bossypants by Tina Fey

Weekend IG Recap #2

Well y'all, sorry to say that this week was a pretty mild one. Only two selfies, a few manis, and not much else.

 

I started off the week with a purple-y manicure.

 

The next day, decided to take it off but was too distracted by Justified to put a new color on. So I went all day Wednesday with this new look. Whoops.

 

Finally Thursday morning I couldn't decide on a color so I just put some sparkles on. Glitter is always the answer (even though I'll need a blow torch and butter knife to get it off).

 

Selfies while getting ready are always fun. Decided to go al natural for the day.

 

Ice cream for dinner is okay, right? Right, especially since it was a gift. It would have been rude to turn it down.

 

Stank face cause traffic be stanky. At 2 pm. Who knows why?

(Don't worry mom, I was at a red light)

 

I think this is the 7th E.H. novel I've read. Just as good as all the others.

 

That's all I've got folks, now I'm off to earn some money. Happy Weekend! TTFN 

The Silver Linings Playbook: Book Review

The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick

As you may have read here I finished reading Silver Linings Playbook this weekend. This book has been made into a major motion picture starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence (who I'm currently in love with) so naturally I wanted to see it. As I was browsing B&N the other day, I came across the book. Which I didn't even know existed. As I've mentioned before I like to read, and I'm a little obsessed with reading books before I see the movie. Naturally, I had to buy this book. There was no way around it.

 

This book, by far, is one of the best books I have read in a long time. Yes, I have read easy, fun books that are light on the mind and quick to make you laugh. But this book made me think. The emotions I experienced when reading this book were almost overwhelming. One minute I was crying, the next I was laughing; and the next minute I was in awe at the simple joy the characters and story gave me.

 

The story centers around Pat Peoples who was released from a mental institution at the beginning of the book who believes in silver linings and happy endings. He has banned himself from watching movies, because he is currently focused on the movie of his life, directed by God. He is also a die-hard Eagles fan and avid runner and weight lifter. He uses these things to end "apart time" with his estranged ex-wife, Nikki, to regain old friendships, and to make new ones with Tiffany, who has her own dark past. The book deals with love, loss, life Philadelphia Eagles, family, trust, and Kenny G. I read this book cover to cover in less than 48 hours, literally could not put it down. I can't wait to see the movie. I am so glad I stumbled across this book, it will definitely be one of those "re-readers" that I'm so fond of.

 

So if you're looking for an invigorating, soulful, hilarious read, definitely check this one out. 

Green Shenanigans

Happy Monday, everyone! I know most of you are going to work but not me! Sorry, I couldn't resist. Here's how my weekend went down:

Friday started off great with a nice 12 hour shift at work. And ended great with PJ's, zombie killings, and snuggles with Derek.

Saturday was an absolutely gorgeous day so we decided to take the boat out on the river and do a little fishing. And by fishing I mean reading while basking in the glorious 78 degree sunshine, while Derek fished. Not to say I didn't wet a few lines, but ever since I was little I never enjoyed fishing like the rest of my family unless it was shore fishing, but that's another story.

It was such a gorgeous day. At the end of the day, we didn't catch any fish but had a great time cruising the river, turtle watching, and sitting on the shoreline just enjoying the day with each other.

 

That night we went to our friend's house to help celebrate his birthday, then to our usual hole in the wall bar where I had my very first green beer. I was smart enough to drink it through a straw and lucky enough not to end up with green teeth at the end of the night. We ended the night pretty early, but it was still fun.

Sunday we spent the day unloading my whole apartment from Derek's enclosed trailer to the loft of his barn (where it will stay until we have a permanent home), cleaning out my car, and helping fix a lawn mower.

 

I finished Silver Linings Playbook, which was so good (look for a post this week) and now, I can finally watch the movie. We finished the weekend grilling hamburgers and sitting around a fire with some good friends.

via Gracie on Instagram

Definitely not the wildest St. Patrick's Day I've had, but still a darn good weekend if you ask me.

As usual, I'm linking up with the fantabulous Sami for Weekend Shenanigans and Sarah from Life of Love for "This weekend I..."

 

Also.... I am linking up with Northern Belle Diaries for a fun Bloglovin' link up. Can't wait to meet new blog friends!

Be sure to follow me on Bloglovin' if you aren't already! TTFN

Saturday Instagram Recap

 

I've never understood why people are jealous of curly hair?

 

 

Selfie!

Driving with the sunroof open is one of my favorite things.

I don't enjoy being up this early, but sunrises are amazing.

Two newest books, I just started The Silver Linings Playbook yesterday.

I'm in love with turquoise and gold.