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2013 Wrap-up

Favorite Books of the Year

  1. A Song of Fire and Ice series (Books #1-3)
  2. The Passage
  3. Let's Pretend This Never Happened
  4. Neverwhere
  5. The Mark of Athena
  6. The Book Thief
  7. The Angel's Game
  8. The Lace Reader
  9. Hyperbole and a Half
  10. Me Before You

Honorable Mentions: The HM category is reserved for rereads that I really loved.  

  1. Persuasion
  2. Mansfield Park
  3. Coraline
  4. The Secret Garden
  5. Emma
  6. The Host

Total Books Read – 160 books

Total Pages Read – 53,622 pages

I averaged 4468 pages per month.  My lowest month was June with only 2669 pages.  My highest month was January with 6823 pages.  I hope to read 50,000 pages next year.

Book Rating Stats –

  • 5 stars —63  books
  • 4 stars — 63 books
  • 3 stars — 33 books
  • 2 stars — 0 books
  • 1 star — 1 book
  • DNFs -- 3

Special Projects/Features

Readathons —I completed 10 readathons this year.  Amazed by my totals!

  • Bout of Books 6.0 (January) -- 2671 pages
  • A Winter's Respite (January) -- 1135 pages
  • Wicked Valentine's (February) -- 2113 pages
  • Take Control of Your TBR Pile (March) -- 787 pages
  • Bout of Books 7.0 (May) -- 1230 pages
  • High Summer (July) -- 924 pages
  • Bout of Books 8.0 (August) -- 1976 pages
  • Tackle Your TBR Pile (September) -- 2310 pages
  • FrightFall (October) -- 1304 pages
  • End of the Year (December) -- 2354 pages

Bloggiesta in September — Second time around!  I got so much done in one weekend.  Cleaned up a ton of back-end issues on the blog.  I am going to try to make this a yearly activity.  I may or not do both the March and September events, but I'm hoping to do at least one a year.  It helps me focus on cleaning up my blog periodically.

Day Zero Project  – I made some progress on my goals list, but not as much as I would like.  I have the first half of 2014 to finish as many as I can.  I'm going to attempt to knock off a few by scheduling them as monthly goals.  We'll see how it goes...

Quote Wednesday — I'm always on top of this one.  It's so easy.  I have so many great quotes laying around, I always find one to use.

Music Monday — This past year was mostly about highlighting my all time favorite songs.  2014 will be about going back to focusing on single songs I like.

Top Ten Tuesday — I'm really sporadic with these...  I just don't always feel inspired by the topic, but I always check because sometimes I love the topic.

Fashion Friday -- I love looking at pretty clothes and found myself playing on Polyvore a lot.  But no one ever saw my creations.  So, I created a new feature on Fridays to showcase my creativity.  This will be carried forward into 2014.

Pregnancy Updates and Baby Milestones -- I had to include these in 2013.  Obviously I won't be continuing the pregnancy updates.  The baby updates will continue weekly for a few months and then I'll probably only do them monthly.

Good Things -- Utter fail on continuing this past the first couple of months.  I was just completely uninspired.

Book of Lists -- See above...

Project Life -- I started using the Project Life method for scrapping in October.  I wanted to show off my weekly spreads, so I created a monthly feature.  With participating in a PL class this January, I hope to get some great ideas to use in the coming months.

Reading Challenges

I started out with a GoodReads challenge, but with their change in policies in September, I decided to part ways with the site.  I've shopped around and decided not to replace GR with anything for the moment.  Instead, I will just be tracking books read and books to read on my blog.  As to the other RCs, here's the final breakdown:

  • Fall into Reading 35/35 100%
  • The Four Month Challenge Part 11 19/20    95%
  • The Four Month Challenge Part 12 15/20   75%
  • Sub Genre   15/15  100%
  • Nerdy Nonfiction   15/15  100%
  • Genre   18/18  100%
  • Paranormal    10/12  83.3%
  • Dystopia    4/6  66.7%
  • Witches   5/5  100%
  • Telling Tales   3/5  60%
  • Historical Fiction  1/5   20%
  • Back for the Classics   10/10  100%
  • Romance  5/5  100%
  • Neil Gaiman  15/15  100%
  • Jane Austen  10/10  100%
  • YA/MG Fantasy  2/5  40%
  • Graphic Novel  20/20   100%
  • Steampunk  5/5  100%
  • Zombies  6/6 100%
  • New Author   25/25  100%
  • What’s in a Name   6/6  100%
  • Monthly Key Word   12/12  100%
  • Women Authors  25/25   100%
  • Ebooks  25/25  100%
  • Mount TBR  60/60  100%
  • TBR Pile  30/30  100%
  • Library  24/24  100%
  • Seriously Series  8/8   100%
  • Dusty Bookshelf  15/15  100%
  • Books to Movies  20/20  100%
  • Eclectic  12/12 100%
  • Blogger Recommendation  10/10   100%
  • 52 Books in 52 Weeks   52/52  100%
  • Book Bingo   63/73  100%  86.3%

Total: 26/34 challenges   76% done

Total: 600/624 slots    96.2% done

Overall Thoughts/Reflections/Musings/Ideas

2013 was a great year for reading.  Overall, I didn't read as many books or pages as 2012 (life happens), but I did encounter some great finds.  I'm really looking forward to reading from my own stacks this coming year.  I'll be carrying most of my features over to the new year.  I'm thinking about adding a few new ones, but they are still in the planning stages.

categories: Books
Sunday 01.05.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

2013 In Review

I saw this great survey on Erin’s It’s All Happening blog.  Check her out!

1. What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before?  Hmmm... This is actually a really hard question to start with.  I guess I'm going to have to say that I visited a few new places and I worked as a project manager for a tech company.  I'd say that my short contract job was definitely a learning experience.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Just like last year, I didn't make any New Year's resolutions.  I did make some blog and reading related goals and mostly completed those.  In 2014, I am introducing monthly goals/tasks instead of a big year one.  I think shorter easier action-oriented goals will work better with my life.

3. Did anyone close to you have a child? Yeppers!  That would be me actually!  I had a beautiful baby boy Arthur.  If you've read any of my blog posts since October, he appears often.  A friend's sister had a baby boy during summer and a friend had a baby girl in the fall.  I met both of them this winter break.

4. Did anyone close to you die? My grandfather died this year.  Actually he was never related to me, but as he dated my step-grandmother for ~20 years throughout my childhood, I considered him a grandpa.  I hadn't really seen him since my grandma's funeral a few years ago.  I know his health had declined dramatically.  It was his time.

5. Where did you travel? I went back to Indiana for the boys' Spring Break.  We celebrated their birthday a week late.  Then in the summer, we had one last big family road trip before the baby arrived.  We visited:

  • Legoland in Southern California -- Not as exciting as I hoped it would be, but the boys seemed to enjoy themselves.
  • Disneyland and California Adventure -- So much fun!  I was glad the boys got to enjoy it before Arthur came.  I will not be doing Disney with an infant or a toddler, so it will be a few years before we even think about going back.
  • Las Vegas -- Not a fan...  the entire town just felt so cheap and plastic, I couldn't really get behind it.  Plus, I was pregnant and it was 120 degrees during the day.  We just couldn't get out to see things.  We did see Penn and Teller's show at the Rio, ate dinner at the Tournament of Kings at Excalibur, and went to the Shark Reef at Mandalay.

6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?  More time with the twins...  I feel like I'm missing so much.  I would love to have them full time.

7. What dates from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory? One date: October 15th.  Can you guess who arrived on that day?

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? I made it all the way through a another pregnancy and c-section.  I really dislike being pregnant, but I really like the outcome.  I got a baby boy out of my discomfort.  It's worth it.  Just don't expect a happy pregnant me.

9. What was your biggest failure? Probably still not figuring out the job/career thing.  But, that's okay.  Right now I'm focused on being a great mom.  We'll revisit the career question towards the end of 2014.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nope, unless you count pregnancy.  Some days it sure felt like I had an illness and injury all rolled into one.  

11. What was the best thing you bought? Anything baby related.  This time, I have really gone the minimalist route in terms of baby crap, but I'm really digging the baby carrier and the stroller/carseat combo.  They make it much easier to get out and about with baby (something I just couldn't do as easily with the twins).

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?I'm going to say the twins again this year.  They dealt with a working and pregnant mom through the entire summer.  We still got out and did things, but some days I just couldn't do much.  They handled the situation like champs.  And vacation went much smoother than 2012's road trip east.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?  There's a few people I can think of...

14. Where did most of your money go? Summer activities with the boys, summer road trip, and prepping for baby.  My paycheck went towards paying down some loan debt and financing our vacation and nursery.  Because of me working, we got to go on the vacation that I envisioned for the family.  

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Arthur, of course.

16. What song will always remind you of 2013? I can never pick one, so here's a small list: Imagine Dragon's "Radioactive," Lorde's "Royals," The Lumineers' "Ho Hey," The Neighbourhood's "Sweater Weather," Bastille's "Pompeii" 

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer? A) Happier. Who can't feel happy when playing with a giggly baby? B) Fatter. Pregnancy weight is still sticking around.  I've got a plan for January and the rest of the year.  I will lose weight!  C) Poorer.  Babies are expensive.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Cherished those few days with Arthur.  I find that the sleep deprivation effectively wipes your memory...

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Eating?  Haha!  I didn't mean to gain 30 pounds during this pregnancy, but somehow it happened.

20. How will you be spending Christmas? Another Christmas spent in Indiana with the family.  It's been a lot of fun.  Arthur and I will be flying back home to California next Tuesday.

21. Did you fall in love in 2013? Of course I did.  And his name is Arthur Dent. 

22. What was your favorite TV program? Lots of choices but really Sherlock (rewatch in anticipation for S3 in January), Doctor Who (so sad to see Matt Smith leave), Elementary (finally started CBS's Sherlock show and was shocked to find that I really like it), Alpha House (Amazon show), Sleepy Hollow (new campy favorite), Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, The League, Psych.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I really don't think so...

24. What was the best book you read? I can never narrower it down to one book.  I'll have my top ten books of 2013 posted tomorrow.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Lorde and The Neighbourhood

26. What did you want and get? Books, books, and more books.  I have an addiction. (Exact same answer as last year, but it was fitting)

27. What did you want and not get? I think I got everything I wanted this year.

28. What was your favorite film of this year? Initially I couldn't think of a single great movie from this past year.  Turns out we didn't see a ton of movies that released in 2013.  I had to take to Google to look at others' lists.  After perusing, I would answer: The World's End, 42, This is the End.  Two comedies and a historical biography... weird collection, but really good movies.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 31 this year and did absolutely nothing for my birthday.  I'm actually okay with that.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? More energy. Pregnancy and new parenthood are exhausting.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013? Attempting non-hippoish maternity wear on a budget.  I ended up buying a ton of dresses and some non-maternity tunics.  At the height of summer, I was wearing the same few maternity tanks every day.  Now I have to figure out what to wear even though I'm still carrying the extra weight.

32. What kept you sane? Reading.  Always my answer to this question.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? No one...

34. What political issue stirred you the most? I was very excited to see the ruling against DOMA and Prop 8 and then to see a ton of states legalize same sex marriage.  Woohoo!  Legal equality!

35. Who did you miss? The twins

36. Who was the best new person you met? More new crafting friends and a few new mommy friends.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.  I really like being a mom.  I'm very excited to experience the early years all over again with Arthur while experiencing the coming teen years with the twins.

categories: Life
Saturday 01.04.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Creative Writing -- Saturday Mornings

What’s your ideal Saturday morning? Are you doing those things this morning? Why not? My ideal Saturday morning is full of relaxation.  Ideally I would like to sleep into until 9, but with a newborn I just know that won't happen.  Then I would get up, take a shower (a must!), and get dressed.  Then I would make myself a cup of coffee in my new Keurig machine (merry christmas to us!) and eat some type of pastry.  After eating, I would curl up with a good book and read for a few hours.  That's it.  I'm pretty easy.  Just a few creature comforts to get my Saturday started right.

I'm still in Indiana trying to enjoy Christmas vacation (with a nasty cold), so my Saturday doesn't look this at all.  I'm up with the baby trying not to cough all over him.  I'll get my cup of coffee as I bought my mom a Keurig for Christmas, but no pastry.  I'll have to settle for an English muffin with some jelly or peanut butter.  No time for reading for a few hours.  I have a baby to take care of and a baby shower to prep for.  Hopefully we all make it through today...

tags: 30 Day Challenge, creative writing exercises, January goals
categories: Writings
Saturday 01.04.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

2013 Reading Challenge Round-Up -- Completed Edition

fall-into-reading (1920).jpg

Look at all these finished challenges!  I did good this year...

Goal: 35/35 books   DONE!!!!!

  1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (9/28/13)
  2. The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/20/13)
  3. The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman (10/9/13)
  4. The Road by Cormac McCarthy (12/6/13)
  5. Witches 101 by Melissa de la Cruz (10/1/13)
  6. The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry (11/16/13)
  7. Gulliver’s Travel’s by Jonathan Swift (10/3/13)
  8. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (11/22/13)
  9. The Billionaire Wins the Game by Melody Anne (11/3/13)
  10. Her Ladyships Companion by Evangeline Collins (10/9/13)
  11. The Sandman Vol. 11 (9/27/13)
  12. The Sandman Vol. 12 (9/27/13)
  13. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (10/7/13)
  14. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (9/29/13)
  15. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest (12/14/13)
  16. Tanglefoot by Cherie Priest (12/15/13)
  17. Cape Storm by Rachel Caine (10/1/13)
  18. Total Eclipse by Rachel Caine (10/5/13)
  19. Iron’s Prophecy by Julie Kagawa (10/10/13)
  20. Rose of Fire by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/21/13)
  21. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (10/27/13)
  22. Saving Wishes by G.J. Walker-Smith (11/7/13)
  23. Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh (11/26/13)
  24. San Diego 2014 by Mira Grant (10/1/13)
  25. 100 Days in Deadland by Rachel Aukes (11/11/13)
  26. Lady Susan by Jane Austen (10/10/13)
  27. Love and Friendship by Jane Austen (11/11/13)
  28. The Watsons by Jane Austen (11/13/13)
  29. Jane Austen and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron(11/20/13)
  30. Vanity Fair by Thackeray (12/18/13)
  31. Inside the Creative Studio by Cate Coulacos Prato (12/11/13)
  32. B is for Baby by Suzonne Stirling (12/11/13)
  33. Universal Rights Down to Earth by Richard Thompson Ford (12/13/13)
  34. Final Jeopardy by Stephen Baker (12/13/13)
  35. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (12/3/13)

Goal: 10/10 books  DONE!!!!!!

The Required Categories:

  1. 19th Century Classic — Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray (12/18/13)
  2. 20th Century Classic — The Reader by Bernhard Schlink (1/24/13)
  3. Pre-18th or 18th Century Classic — Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift (10/3/13)
  4. Classic that relates to the African-American Experience – The Color Purple by Alice Walker (6/24/13)
  5. Classic Adventure — The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (11/22/13)
  6. Classic that prominently features an Animal - Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne(9/10/13)

Optional Categories:

  1. Re-read a Classic — Emma by Jane Austen (5/22/13)
  2. Classic Non-Fiction title –The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (9/8/13)
  3. Classic Children’s/Young Adult title — The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (4/30/13)
  4. Classic Short Stories – The Selected Stories of O. Henry (8/18/13)

Goal: 10/10 books DONE!!!!!

  1. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (2/3/13)
  2. Persuasion by Jane Austen (1/21/13)
  3. Pride and Prescience by Carrie Bebris (6/6/13)
  4. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (8/28/13)
  5. Cotillion by Georgette Heyer (9/14/13)
  6. Lady Susan by Jane Austen (10/10/13)
  7. Love and Friendship by Jane Austen (11/11/13)
  8. The Watsons by Jane Austen (11/13/13)
  9. Jane Austen and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron(11/20/13)
  10. Sandition by Jane Austen (12/18/13)

 

 

Goal: 5/5 books  DONE!!!!!!

  1. The Doomsday Vault by Steven Harper (3/20/13)
  2. The Impossible Cube by Steven Harper (5/4/13)
  3. The Dragon Men by Steven Harper (9/2/13)
  4. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest (12/14/13)
  5. Tanglefoot by Cherie Priest (12/15/13)

Goal: 60/60 Books   DONE!!!!!!!!

  1. Wanted by Mark Millar (1/2/13)
  2. Chicken with Plums by Marjane Satrapi (1/2/13)
  3. Ill Wind by Rachel Caine (1/12/13)
  4. Heat Stroke by Rachel Caine (1/12/13)
  5. Valley of Silence by Nora Roberts (3/17/13)
  6. Morrigan’s Cross by Nora Roberts (3/3/13)
  7. Dance of the Gods by Nora Roberts (3/9/13)
  8. Chill Factor by Rachel Caine (1/13/13)
  9. Firestorm by Rachel Caine (2/16/13)
  10. The Hostage by Susan Wiggs (5/22/13)
  11. The Mistress by Susan Wiggs (6/4/13)
  12. Thin Air by Rachel Caine (2/22/13)
  13. Windfall by Rachel Caine (2/11/13)
  14. Change of Fortune by Jen Turano (1/3/13)
  15. One Day by David Nicholls (1/29/13)
  16. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (1/9/13)
  17. The Reader by Bernhard Schlink (1/24/13)
  18. Almost America by Steve Tally (1/14/13)
  19. Locke and Key Vol 1: Welcome to Lovecraft (1/4/13)
  20. Locke and Key Vol 2: Head Games (1/4/13)
  21. Locke and Key Vol 3: Crown of Shadows (1/5/13)
  22. Locke and Key Vol 4: Keys to the Kingdom (1/6/13)
  23. MWF Seeking BFF by Rachel Bertsche (5/31/13)
  24. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain (6/23/13)
  25. The Firebrand by Susan Wiggs (6/13/13)
  26. The Color Purple by Alice Walker (6/24/13)
  27. A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin (7/26/13)
  28. The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen (8/17/13)
  29. The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason (7/13/13)
  30. Rises the Night by Colleen Gleason (7/15/13)
  31. When Twilight Burns by Colleen Gleason (8/5/13)
  32. The Bleeding Dusk by Colleen Gleason (8/1/13)
  33. As Shadows Fade by Colleen Gleason (9/5/13)
  34. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (9/8/13)
  35. Gale Force by Rachel Caine (9/9/13)
  36. Bachelor Girl by Betsy Israel (9/10/13)
  37. Cotillion by Georgette Heyer (9/14/13)
  38. Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder (9/17/13)
  39. Cape Storm by Rachel Caine (10/1/13)
  40. Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift (10/3/13)
  41. Total Eclipse by Rachel Caine (10/5/13)
  42. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (10/7/13)
  43. Her Ladyship’s Companion by Evangeline Collins (10/9/13)
  44. The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman (10/9/13)
  45. Iron’s Prophecy by Julie Kagawa (10/10/13)
  46. The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/20/13)
  47. Rose of Fire by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/21/13)
  48. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (10/27/13)
  49. The Billionaire Wins the Game by Melody Anne (11/3/13)
  50. Saving Wishes by G.J. Walker-Smith (11/7/13)
  51. 100 Days in Deadland by Rachel Aukes (11/11/13)
  52. Love and Friendship by Jane Austen (11/11/13)
  53. The Watsons by Jane Austen (11/13/13)
  54. The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry (11/16/13)
  55. Jane Austen and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron(11/20/13)
  56. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (11/22/13)
  57. Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh (11/26/13)
  58. Boneshaler by Cherie Priest (12/14/13)
  59. Tanglefoot by Cherie Priest (12/15/13)
  60. Vanity Fair by Thackeray (12/18/13)

Goal: 52/52 books DONE!!!!!

  1. Wanted by Mark Millar (1/2/13)
  2. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (1/10/13)
  3. Almost America by Steve Tally (1/14/13)
  4. A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah (1/21/13)
  5. Thomas Paine by Craig Nelson (1/28/13)
  6. Chicks Dig Time Lords by Lynne Thomas and Tara O’Shea (2/3/13)
  7. Windfall by Rachel Caine (2/11/13)
  8. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen (2/18/13)
  9. The Complete Hans Christian Anderson Fairy Tales (2/26/13)
  10. Death: At Death’s Door by Jill Thompson (3/4/13)
  11. Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake (3/11/13)
  12. The Doomsday Vault by Steven Harper (3/20/13)
  13. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (3/30/13)
  14. Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain (4/5/13)
  15. P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern (4/13/13)
  16. Zom-B by Darren Shan (4/13/14)
  17. Birth by Tina Cassidy (4/20/13)
  18. A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin (4/28/13)
  19. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (5/11/13)
  20. Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson (5/12/13)
  21. The Hostage by Susan Wiggs (5/22/13)
  22. The Postman by David Brin (5/27/13)
  23. The Mistress by Susan Wiggs (6/4/13)
  24. Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion (6/13/13)
  25. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain (6/22/13)
  26. Fables 18: Cubs in Toyland (6/23/13)
  27. The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins (7/7/13)
  28. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain (7/7/13)
  29. Rises the Night by Colleen Gleason (7/15/13)
  30. The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan (7/24/13)
  31. The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor by Robert Kirkman (7/27/13)
  32. When Twilight Burns by Colleen Gleason (8/5/13)
  33. Wedding of the Century (8/14/13)
  34. Selected Stories of O. Henry (8/18/13)
  35. The Sandman Vol. 8 (8/29/13)
  36. M is for Magic by Neil Gaiman (9/1/13)
  37. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (9/8/13)
  38. Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder (9/17/13)
  39. The Sandman Vol. 11: The Dream Hunters (9/27/13)
  40. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (9/28/13)
  41. Her Ladyship’s Companion by Evangeline Collins (10/9/13)
  42. The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/20/13)
  43. Rose of Fire by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/21/13)
  44. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (10/27/13)
  45. The Billionaire Wins the Game by Melody Anne (11/3/13)
  46. 100 Days in Deadland by Rachel Aukes (11/11/13)
  47. Jane Austen and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron(11/20/13)
  48. Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh (11/26/13)
  49. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (12/3/13)
  50. Inside the Creative Studio by Cate Coulacos Prato (12/11/13)
  51. Tanglefoot by Cherie Priest (12/15/13)
  52. Sandition by Jane Austen  (12/18/13)
550

Goal: 15/15 books  DONE!!!!!!

  1. History- US, World, European – Almost America by Steve Tally (1/14/13)
  2. Autobiography, Biography, Memoir – A Long Way Gone by Ishamel Beah (1/21/13)
  3. Food – Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain (4/5/13)
  4. Family, Relationships, Parenting, Dating, Love – MWF Seeking BFF by Rachel Bertsche (5/31/13)
  5. Music, Film, TV – Chicks Dig Time Lords by Lynne Thomas and Tara O’Shea (2/3/13)
  6. Health, Medicine – Birth by Tina Cassidy (4/20/13)
  7. Religion, Spirituality, Philosophy – The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins (7/7/13)
  8. Anthropology, Archaeology – Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond (8/12/13)
  9. How To – A Beautiful Mess Photo Idea Book by Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman (9/10/13)
  10. Cultural Studies – Bachelor Girl by Betsy Israel (9/10/13)
  11. Business, Finance, Management – The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman (10/9/13)
  12. Home – Inside the Creative Studio by Cate Coulacos Prato (12/11/13)
  13. Crafts – B is for Baby by Suzonne Stirling (12/11/13)
  14. Technology – Final Jeopardy by Stephen Baker (12/13/13)
  15. Government – Universal Rights Down to Earth by Richard Thompson Ford (12/13/13)
monthly key word challenge

Goal: 12/12 Books  DONE!!!!!

  • January (cold) – Chill Factor by Rachel Caine (1/13/13)
  • February (family) – The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein (2/7/13)
  • March (valley) – Valley of Silence by Nora Roberts (3/17/13)
  • April (garden) – The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (4/30/13)
  • May (name) – Emma by Jane Austen (5/22/13)
  • June (never) – Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (6/20/13)
  • July  – Rises the Night by Colleen Gleason (7/15/13)
  • August – The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen (8/17/13)
  • September (shadow) – As Shadows Fade by Colleen Gleason (9/5/13)
  • October (witch) – Witches 101 by Melissa de la Cruz (10/1/13)
  • November (number) – The Billionaire Wins the Game by Melody Anne (11/3/13)
  • December – The Road by Cormac McCarthy (12/6/13)

Goal: 20/20 movies/books  DONE!!!!

  1. The Reader (1/24/13)
  2. Mansfield Park (2/3/13)
  3. A Game of Thrones (1/9/13)
  4. One Day (1/29/13)
  5. The Secret Garden (4/30/13)
  6. Emma (5/22/13)
  7. Never Let Me Go (6/20/13)
  8. Coraline (3/21/13)
  9. Stardust (4/11/13)
  10. Cowboys vs. Aliens (2/9/13)
  11. 300 (2/12/13)
  12. Warm Bodies (6/13/13)
  13. The Color Purple (6/24/13)
  14. The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (6/26/13)
  15. Guns, Germs, and Steel (8/12/13)
  16. The Host (8/24/13)
  17. Pride and Prejudice (8/28/13)
  18. The Count of Monte Cristo (11/22/13)
  19. Gulliver’s Travels (10/3/13)
  20. The Road (12/6/13)

Goal: 10/10 books  DONE!!!!!

  1. Morrigan’s Cross by Nora Roberts (3/3/13)
  2. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (10/7/13)
  3. MWF Seeking BFF by Rachel Bertsche (5/31/13)
  4. Stardust by Neil Gaiman (4/11/13)
  5. Matched by Ally Condie (2/21/13)
  6. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (11/22/13)
  7. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (2/9/13)
  8. Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain (4/5/13)
  9. Storm Glass by Maria Snyder (9/17/13)
  10. Every Day by David Levithan (8/15/13)
graphicnovelchallenge (1920).jpg

Goal: 20/20 books   DONE!!!!

  1. 300 (2/12/13)
  2. Cowboys and Aliens (2/9/13)
  3. The Walking Dead Book 5 (5/14/13)
  4. Fables Vol 17 Inherit the Wind (2/4/13)
  5. Wanted (1/2/13)
  6. Chicken with Plums (1/2/13)
  7. Locke and Key Vol. 1 (1/4/13)
  8. Locke and Key Vol. 2 (1/4/13)
  9. Locke and Key Vol. 3 (1/5/13)
  10. Locke and Key Vol. 4 (1/6/13)
  11. Locke and Key Vol. 5 (3/1/13)
  12. A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel (3/1/13)
  13. Death: At Death’s Door by Jill Thompson (3/4/13)
  14. The Walking Dead Book Six (5/14/13)
  15. The Walking Dead Book Seven (5/17/13)
  16. The Walking Dead Volume 17 (5/17/13)
  17. Fables 18: Cubs in Toyland (6/23/13)
  18. Fun Home by Alison Bechdel (8/19/13)
  19. American Vampire Vol. 1 (8/21/13)
  20. Hyperbole and Half by Allie Brosh (11/26/13)

Goal: 5/5 books  DONE!!!!

  1. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen (2/18/13)
  2. Dance of the Gods by Nora Roberts (3/9/13)
  3. Storm Glass by Maria Snyder (9/17/13)
  4. Witches 101 by Melissa de la Cruz (10/1/13)
  5. The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry (11/16/13)
zombiechallenge (1920).jpg

Goal: 6/6 books  DONE!!!!!

  1. Zom-B by Darren Shan (4/14/13)
  2. The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor by Robert Kirkman (7/27/13)
  3. The New Deadwardians (8/19/13)
  4. Apocalypse Z by Manel Loureiro (9/1/13)
  5. San Diego 2014 by Mira Grant (10/1/13)
  6. 100 Days in Deadland by Rachel Aukes (11/11/13)

Goal: 12/12 books  DONE!!!!!

  1. Translated fiction – The Reader by Bernhard Schlink (1/24/13)
  2. Historical mystery – The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie King (2/26/13)
  3. Romantic suspense – As Shadows Fade by Colleen Gleason (9/5/13)
  4. Made into a movie – P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern (4/13/13)
  5. New Adult – Saving Wishes by G.J. Walker Smith (11/7/13)
  6. Urban Fantasy –London Eye by Tim Lebbon (3/15/13)
  7. Dystopian – Crossed by Ally Condie (3/1/13)
  8. Memoir – Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson (3/15/13)
  9. LGBT – Every Day by David Levithan (8/15/13)
  10. Action Adventure –The Doomsday Vault by Steven Harper (3/20/13)
  11. Humour– Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (1/10/13)
  12. Published in 2013 – And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini (8/8/13)

Goal: 5/5 books  DONE!!!!

  1. The Wedding Gift by Lucy Kevin (1/24/13)
  2. The Firebrand by Susan Wiggs (6/13/13)
  3. The Billionaire Wins the Game by Melody Anne (11/3/13)
  4. Her Ladyship’s Companion by Evangeline Collins (10/9/13)
  5. Wedding of the Century (8/14/13)

Goal: 15/15 books DONE!!!!!

  1. Almost America by Steve Tally (1/14/13)
  2. Thomas Paine by Craig Nelson (1/28/13)
  3. Heat Stroke by Rachel Caine (1/12/13)
  4. The Passage by Justin Cronin (1/20/13)
  5. Thin Air by Rachel Caine (2/22/13)
  6. The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins (7/7/13)
  7. When Twilight Burns by Colleen Gleason (8/5/13)
  8. Selected Stories of O. Henry (8/18/13)
  9. The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen (8/20/13)
  10. The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/20/13)
  11. Gulliver’s Travel by Jonathan Swift (10/3/13)
  12. Bachelor Girl by Betsy Israel (9/10/13)
  13. Gale Force by Rachel Caine (9/9/13)
  14. Cotillion by Georgette Heyer (9/14/13)
  15. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (9/8/13)

Goal: 15/15 books  DONE!!!!!!!

ROMANCE

  1. Contemporary – P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern (4/13/13)
  2. Historical – Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson (5/12/13)
  3. Paranormal – Vampire for Christmas by Felicity Heaton (7/12/13)

HORROR

  1. Science Fiction – London Eye by Tim Lebbon (3/15/13)
  2. Psychological – Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (2/9/13)
  3. Young Adult – Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake (3/11/13)

THRILLER/SUSPENSE

  1. Historical – A Foreign Affair by Caro Peacock (1/22/13)
  2. Action – Heat Stroke by Rachel Caine (1/12/13)
  3. Supernatural – Chill Factor by Rachel Caine (1/13/13)

SCIENCE/FANTASY

  1. Vampire – Morrigan’s Cross by Nora Roberts (3/3/13)
  2. Dystopian – Crossed by Ally Condie (3/1/13)
  3. Epic Fantasy – A Game of Thrones by George Martin (1/9/13)

MYSTERY/CRIME

  1. Historical – The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/20/13)
  2. Romantic – Change of Fortune by Jen Turano (1/3/13)
  3. Classic Whodunit – The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie R. King (2/26/13)

Goal: 25/25 Ebooks  DONE!!!!!

  1. The Wedding Gift by Lucy Kevin (1/24/13)
  2. The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Anderson (2/26/13)
  3. Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein (2/7/13)
  4. Beauty or the Bitch by Jasmine Haynes (1/9/13)
  5. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (2/3/13)
  6. Coraline by Neil Gaiman (3/21/13)
  7. 300 (2/12/13)
  8. Persuasion by Jane Austen (1/21/13)
  9. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (1/10/13)
  10. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (3/30/13)
  11. Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain (4/5/13)
  12. Stardust by Neil Gaiman (4/11/13)
  13. The Postman by David Brin (5/27/13)
  14. The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins (7/7/13)
  15. Vampire for Christmas by Felicity Heaton (7/12/13)
  16. Lost by Gregory Maguire (7/12/13)
  17. And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini (8/8/13)
  18. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (8/28/13)
  19. Max Stops the Presses by Colleen Gleason (9/5/13)
  20. Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne (9/10/13)
  21. Witches 101 by Melissa de la Cruz (10/1/13)
  22. Lady Susan by Jane Austen (10/10/13)
  23. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (9/20/13)
  24. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (9/28/13)
  25. San Diego 2014 by Mira Grant (10/1/13)

Goal: 8/8 series DONE!!!!

Started in 2012

  1. Neil Gaiman’s Sandman series (6,7,8,9,10,11,12) (9/27/13)
  2. Rick Riordan’s Heroes of Olympus series (3) (7/24/13)
  3. Kendare Blake’s Anna Dressed in Blood series (2) (3/11/13)

Started in 2013

  1. Rachel Caine’s Weather Warden series (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9) (10/5/13)
  2. Jennifer Armintrout’s Lightworld/Darkworld series (1,2,3) – DNF’d
  3. Nora Robert’s Morrigan’s Cross series (1,2,3) (3/17/13)
  4. Ally Condie’s Matched series (1,2,3) (7/12/13)
  5. Susan Wiggs’ Chicago Fire series (1,2,3) (6/13/13)
  6. Colleen Gleason’s Gardella Vampire Chronicles (1,2,3,4,5) (9/5/13)
Neil-Gaiman (1920).jpg

Goal: 15/15 books  DONE!!!!!

  1. Neverwhere (3/30/13)
  2. Good Omens (1/10/13)
  3. Coraline (3/21/13)
  4. Stardust (4/11/13)
  5. M is for Magic (9/1/13)
  6. Sandman Vol 6 (8/19/13)
  7. Sandman Vol 7 (8/19/13)
  8. Sandman Vol 8 (8/29/13)
  9. Sandman Vol 9 (8/29/13)
  10. Sandman Vol 10 (8/29/13)
  11. Sandman Vol 11 (9/27/13)
  12. Sandman Vol 12 (9/27/13)
  13. Anansi Boys (10/7/13)
  14. The Graveyard Book (9/20/13)
  15. The Ocean at the End of the Lane (9/29/13)

Goal: 30/30 books  DONE!!!!!

  1. Matched by Ally Condie (2/21/13)
  2. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen (2/18/13)
  3. The Passage by Justin Cronin (1/20/13)
  4. Crossed by Ally Condie (3/1/13)
  5. A Foreign Affair by Caro Peacock (1/22/13)
  6. Thomas Paine by Craig Nelson (1/28/13)
  7. Terror by Night by Ambrose Bierce (2/14/13)
  8. Chicks Dig Time Lords by Lynne Thomas and Tara O’Shea (2/3/13)
  9. Fables Vol 17 Inherit the Wind (2/4/13)
  10. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (2/9/13)
  11. Cowboys vs. Aliens (2/9/13)
  12. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (2/14/13)
  13. Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson (3/15/13)
  14. A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin (4/28/13)
  15. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (6/20/13)
  16. Pride and Prescience by Carrie Bebris (6/6/13)
  17. Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond (8/12/13)
  18. Wedding of the Century (8/14/13)
  19. The Sandman Vol 6 (8/19/13)
  20. The Sandman Vol 7 (8/19/13)
  21. Selected Stories of O. Henry (8/18/13)
  22. The New Deadwardians (8/19/13)
  23. The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen (8/20/13)
  24. The Host by Stephenie Meyer (8/24/13)
  25. The Sandman Vol. 8 (8/29/13)
  26. The Sandman Vol. 9 (8/29/13)
  27. The Sandman Vol. 10 (8/29/13)
  28. M is for Magic by Neil Gaiman (9/1/13)
  29. Apocalypse Z by Manel Loureiro (9/1/13)
  30. The Dragon Men by Steven Harper (9/2/13)

Goal: 6/6 Books  DONE!!!!!!

  1. Up or Down: Windfall by Rachel Caine (2/11/13)
  2. Kitchen Find: The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen (8/20/13)
  3. Party or Celebration: The Wedding Gift by Lucy Kevin (1/24/13)
  4. Fire: Firestorm by Rachel Caine (2/16/13)
  5. Emotion: Terror by Night by Ambrose Bierce (2/14/13)
  6. Lost or Found: Lost by Gregory Maguire (7/12/13)
Genre Variety

Goal: 18/18 Books  DONE!!!!!!

  1. Contemporary – One Day by David Nicholls (1/29/13)
  2. Historical – The Paris Wife by Paula McLain (7/7/13)
  3. Paranormal – Windfall by Rachel Caine (2/11/13)
  4. Fantasy – A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin (7/26/13)
  5. Romance – The Mistress by Susan Wiggs (6/4/13)
  6. Thriller – The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason (7/13/12)
  7. Nonfiction – The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill by Mark Bittner (6/26/13)
  8. Women’s Fiction – The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (2/14/13)
  9. Chick Lit – The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen (8/1713)
  10. Dystopian – Matched by Ally Condie (2/21/13)
  11. Horror – Terror by Night by Ambrose Bierce (2/14/13)
  12. Biography – Thomas Paine by Craig Nelson (1/28/13)
  13. Fairy Tales – The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen (8/20/13)
  14. Classics – A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain (6/23/13)
  15. SciFi – The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein (2/7/13)
  16. Short Stories – The Complete Hans Christian Anderson Fairy Tales (2/26/13)
  17. Erotica – Beauty or the Bitch by Jasmine Haynes (1/9/13)
  18. Epic Fantasy – A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin (4/28/13)

Goal: 25/25 authors  DONE!!!!!

  1. Jane Austen (1/21/13)
  2. Carrie Bebris (6/6/13)
  3. Alison Bechdel (8/19/13)
  4. Rachel Bertsche (5/31/13)
  5. Kendare Blake (3/11/13)
  6. Rachel Caine (1/12/13)
  7. Tina Cassidy (4/20/13)
  8. Ally Condie (3/1/13)
  9. Gillian Flynn (2/9/13)
  10. Jessica Day George (3/2/13)
  11. Colleen Gleason (8/1/13)
  12. Jasmine Haynes (1/9/13)
  13. Felicity Heaton (7/12/13)
  14. Laura Hillenbrand (5/11/13)
  15. Stacey Kade (3/8/13)
  16. Jenny Lawson (3/15/13)
  17. Paula McLain (7/7/13)
  18. Kate Morton (2/14/13)
  19. Nora Roberts (3/9/13)
  20. Marjane Satrapi (1/2/13)
  21. Lynne Thomas (2/3/13)
  22. Jill Thompson (3/4/13)
  23. Alice Walker (6/24/13)
  24. Stephanie Grace Whitson (5/12/13)
  25. Susan Wiggs (5/22/13)

Goal: 25/25 authors   DONE!!!!!!

  1. Cecelia Ahern (4/13/13)
  2. Sarah Addison Allen (2/18/13)
  3. Ishmael Beah (1/21/13)
  4. Mark Bittner (6/26/13)
  5. David Brin (5/27/13)
  6. Ally Condie (2/21/13)
  7. Justin Cronin (1/20/13)
  8. Jared Diamond (8/12/13)
  9. Jessica Day George (3/2/13)
  10. Colleen Gleason (7/13/13)
  11. Steven Harper (5/4/13)
  12. Joe Hill (1/4/13)
  13. Stacey Kade (3/6/13)
  14. Laurie King (2/26/13)
  15. Tim Lebbon (3/15/13)
  16. David Levithan (8/15/13)
  17. George R.R. Martin (1/9/13)
  18. Craig Nelson (1/28/13)
  19. David Nicholls (1/29/13)
  20. Caro Peacock (1/22/13)
  21. Nora Roberts (3/3/13)
  22. Bernhard Schlink (1/24/13)
  23. Darren Shan (4/14/13)
  24. Steve Tally (1/14/13)
  25. Jen Turano (1/3/13)

Goal: 24/24 books  DONE!!!!!

  1. Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake (3/11/13)
  2. Locke and Key Vol. 5 (3/1/13)
  3. A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah (1/21/13)
  4. The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie King (2/26/13)
  5. A Game of Thrones: Graphic Novel Vol. 1 (3/1/13)
  6. Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George (3/2/13)
  7. Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George (3/2/13)
  8. Death: At Death’s Door by Jill Thompson (3/4/13)
  9. The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade (3/6/13)
  10. Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade (3/8/13)
  11. London Eye by Time Lebbon (3/15/13)
  12. The Doomsday Vault by Steven Harper (3/20/13)
  13. Zom-B by Darren Shan (4/14/13)
  14. Birth by Tina Cassidy (4/20/13)
  15. The Impossible Cube by Steven Harper (5/4/13)
  16. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (5/11/13)
  17. Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson (5/12/13)
  18. The Walking Dead Book Five (5/14/13)
  19. The Walking Dead Book Six (5/14/13)
  20. The Walking Dead Book Seven (5/17/13)
  21. The Walking Dead Volume 17 (5/17/13)
  22. Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion (6/113/13)
  23. Fables 18: Cubs in Toyland (6/23/13)
  24. Reached by Ally Condie (7/12/13)
tags: 52 books in 52 weeks, blogger recommendation, Books to Movies, classics, dusty bookshelf, ebook, eclectic books, fall into reading, genres, graphic novel, Jane Austen, library, monthly key word, mount tbr, Neil Gaiman, Nerdy Nonfiction, New Author, RC Check-up, romance, Seriously Series, steampunk, Sub Genre, TBR Pile, What's in a Name, witches, women authors, zombies
categories: Reading Challenges
Friday 01.03.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Creative Writing -- My First Post

Now that you’ve got some blogging experience under your belt, re-write your very first post. I’ve started another blog.  This one is for me…  a place for me to collect my thoughts, share some ideas, be a record of me.  The two other blogs that I write for are very specific.  And while I enjoy writing for them… they are just so darn specific.  If I want to wonder about the weather or share my thoughts on a non-education or tech book I just read, I can’t.  So, this one will be my personal outlet.  If anyone gets around to reading this… enjoy!  Just remember, most days I am fairly scatter brained and random.  Prepare to get ridiculous!

Instead of rewriting the post, I thought I would do a bit of reflection on my first post.  It did the job, but overall is a bit boring.  Of course, I've seen others' first posts that are one sentence.  This one does establish the fact that I've started a new blog for my personal thoughts.  Very quickly the blog morphed into a books and reading centric blog, but that's okay.  I really wanted to document my reading.  Book reviews are still a huge part of the blog.  This past year, I have started branching back out into other areas of my life.  I started Fashion Fridays to play with style (not that I actually own any of those clothes, wishful thinking...).  I did weekly pregnancy updates.  I've highlighted more about my new little one (need to get more about the twins on here).  I've also made an attempt to document my attempt to document our lives using Project Life.  My blog is slowly turning into an all encompassing life blog and I love the direction it's going.  I'm not going to give up reading related posts any time soon, but I don't just want this to be a book blog (not that there's anything wrong with book blogs).  I don't want to limit myself so much that I don't feel free to post where the moment takes me.  My new mantra for the blog: "This will be my personal outlet."

tags: 30 Day Challenge, creative writing exercises, January goals
categories: Writings
Friday 01.03.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

In the Company of Secrets by Judith Miller

First book of 2014... Let's get this party started!

company (1920).jpeg

Title: In the Company of Secrets (Postcards from Pullman #1)

Author: Judith Miller

Publisher: Bethany House 2007

Genre: Christian fiction

Pages: 386

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Monthly Key Word - Secrets; ebook; Women Authors; 52 Books -- W1; Read Your Freebies

The truth could cost her everything....

Olivia Mott didn't intend to lie. Somehow, it just happened. And wasn't it all Lady Charlotte's fault anyway?

Now Olivia's position as assistant chef at Pullman's elegant Hotel Florence is dependent upon her keeping her secrets. And sometimes lies have a way of leading to other lies. Should Olivia admit her real past and accept the consequences or keep quiet in order to preserve her comfortable new circumstances?

Deception seems to be part of everyday life in the company town of Pullman, Illinois, where the grand Pullman Palace Car is manufactured. Samuel Howard, Olivia's friend and the town manager, seems to think everything is fine, but Olivia observes something quite different. Could it be that Olivia is not the only one harboring secrets?

Hmmm... This is one of those free books that I happened to pick up on Kindle.  So glad I did not actually pay for this book. I was thoroughly bored the entire time I was reading.   The characters are not very entertaining.  The plotline is very predictable.  The sermons are seemingly out of place and awkward.  The ending is a complete "cliffhanger" but we all know how the story will end.  I can't believe I actually finished this one, but I did.  So, first book of the year completed.  Not starting on a high note.  Hope things get better...

Postcards from Pullman (DNFed series)

  1. In the Company of Secrets
  2. Whisper Along the Rails
  3. An Uncertain Dream
tags: 3 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, Christian, ebook, Judith Miller, monthly key word, Read Your Freebies, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Friday 01.03.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Creative Writing -- Dream Residence

If you were asked to spend a year living in a different location, where would you choose and why? This one is so easy... I would definitely choose Italy.  I've always wanted to experience the sights and sounds and tastes of Italy.  I want to travel throughout the country spending time in the big cities and countryside.  I want to attempt to learn the language.  I want to see all the famous art and architecture.  And I especially want to eat all the food!

tags: 30 Day Challenge, creative writing exercises, January goals
categories: Writings
Thursday 01.02.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Creative Writing -- Loneliness

In January, I am embarking on 30 days of creative writing exercises.  I'm behind by one day, but want to catch up tonight or tomorrow.

When was the last time you felt really, truly lonely?

I randomly pulled this question up today, but almost immediately regretted it.  How do I answer this question?  How personal do I get here on the blog?  I took a minute to think mull over these issues...

The last time I felt lonely was right after my miscarriage in August 2012.  Even though I knew that others had experienced the same feelings and emotions, I felt like I was completely alone.  I retreated into myself and spiraled into a depressive episode.  It took almost two months for me to bring myself back out.  Those two months, I felt a deep loneliness.  It was irrational and yet I felt it.  The thing that helped me reconnect with the world was reading.  It was socializing with other people.  It was becoming engrossed in a fictional world.  Somehow, slowly, I started to wake back up and realized that I had people who cared for me.  I started socializing more and eventually got back into my regular routine.

tags: 30 Day Challenge, creative writing exercises, January goals
categories: Writings
Thursday 01.02.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

2013 Reading Challenge Round-Up -- Failed Edition

Not too bad this year.  I didn't have a ton of failed challenges...  but here they are.

Goal: 10/12 books

  1. Vampires — The Passage by Justin Cronin (1/20/13)
  2. Werewolves/Shifters –
  3. Fey — Iron’s Prophecy by Julie Kagawa (10/10/13)
  4. Angels/Nephilim — As Shadows Fade by Colleen Gleason (9/5/13)
  5. Mermaids –
  6. Dragons — Rose of Fire by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/21/13)
  7. Zombies — Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion (6/13/13)
  8. Demons — The Bleeding Dusk by Colleen Gleason (8/1/13)
  9. Witches/Wizards — Valley of Silence by Nora Roberts (3/17/13)
  10. Ghosts — The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade (3/6/13)
  11. Aliens — The Host by Stephenie Meyer (8/24/13)
  12. Other (Djinn) — Ill Wind by Rachel Caine (1/12/13)

 Goal: 4/6 books

  1. The Postman by David Brin (5/27/13)
  2. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (6/20/13)
  3. The Road by Cormac McCarthy (12/6/13)
  4. 1984 by George Orwell
  5. Reahed by Ally Condie (7/12/13)
  6. Children of Men by P.D. James

Goal: 3/5 books

  1. Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George (3/2/13)
  2. Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George (3/2/13)
  3. Lost by Gregory Maguire (7/12/13)
  4. TBD
  5. TBD

Goal: 1/5 books

  1. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (10/27/13)
  2. All for Love
  3. The Devlin Diary by Christi Philips
  4. The Rossetti Letter by Christi Philips
  5. Pope Joan
  6. Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir

Goal: 2/5 books

  1. Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade (3/8/13)
  2. The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan (7/24/13)
  3. TBD
  4. TBD
  5. TBD

1 from TBR — Change of Fortune by Jen Turano (1/3/13)

2 from TBR — Chicken with Plums by Marjane Satrapi (1/2/13); Wanted by Mark Millar(1/2/13)

3 from TBR — Locke and Key Vol. 1 (1/4/13), Locke and Key Vol 2 (1/4/13), Beauty and the Bitch by Jasmine Haynes (1/9/13)

4 from TBR — The Wedding Gift by Lucy Kevin (1/24/13), The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein (2/7/13), Cowboys vs. Aliens (2/9/13), Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman(3/30/13)

5 from TBR — One Day by David Nicholls (1/29/13), A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain (6/22/13), The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor by Robert Kirkman (7/27/13), The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen (8/17/13), Fun Home by Alison Bechdel (8/19/13)

1 from series — Fables Vol 17 Inherit the Wind (2/4/13)

2 from series — Locke and Key Vol. 3 (1/5/13), Locke and Key Vol. 4 by Joe Hill (1/6/13)

3 from series — Pride and Prescience by Carrie Bebris (6/6/13), The Firebrand by Susan Wiggs (6/13/13), Reached by Ally Condie (7/12/13)

4 from series — Heat Stroke (1/12/13), Chill Factor (1/13/13), Firestorm (2/16/13), Thin Air by Rachel Caine (2/22/13)

5 from series — Princess of the Midnight Ball (3/2/13),Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George (3/2/13), The Ghost and the Goth (3/6/13), Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade(3/8/13), The Impossible Cube by Steven Harper (5/4/13)

1 from 2013 releases — Fables 18: Cubs in Toyland (6/23/13)

2 from 2013 releases — And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini (8/8/13), Max Stops the Presses by Colleen Gleason (9/5/13)

4 from 2013 releases — A Beautiful Mess Photo Idea Book (9/10/13); The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (9/29/13); Saving Wishes by G.J. Walker-Smith(11/7/13); 100 Days in Deadland by Rachel Aukes (11/11/13)

5 from 2013 releases — Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh (11/26/13)

1 from everyone but me — The Passage by Justin Cronin (1/20/13)

2 from everyone but me — The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan (7/24/13), A Storm of Swords by George Martin (7/26/13)

3 from everyone but me — Every Day by David Levithan (8/15/13), The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (9/20/13); The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (9/28/13)

4 from everyone but me — Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (10/7/13); Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (10/27/13); The Road by Cormac McCarthy (12/6/13)

5 from everyone but me — A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin (4/28/13), The Walking Dead Book Five (5/14/13), The Walking Dead Book Six (5/14/13), The Walking Dead Book Seven (5/17/13), The Walking Dead Volume 17 (5/17/13)

1 reread — Lost by Gregory Maguire (7/12/13)

2 rereads – Coraline by Neil Gaiman (3/21/13), The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (4/30/13)

3 rereads — The Host by Stephenie Meyer (8/24/13); Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne(9/10/13); The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman (10/9/13)

4 rereads — Persuasion (1/21/13), Mansfield Park (2/3/13), Emma (5/22/13), Pride and Prejudice (8/28/13)

5 rereads –

Free space — Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (12/3/13)

Point Total: 190/250

  1. Read the second book in a series – The Impossible Cube by Steven Harper (5/4/13)
  2. Read a book with water on the cover –
  3. Read a book with a colour in the title –
  4. Read  a book set in the 1900′s – And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini   (8/8/13)
  5. Read a book whose author name begins with M (First or last) – Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion (6/13/13)
  6. Read a book published during your birth year – The Color Purple by Alice Walker (6/24/13)
  7. Read a book with a door, lock or key on the cover –
  8. Read a book with a flower/flowers on the cover – Wedding of the Century (8/14/15)
  9. Read a book with something ‘hot’ in the title (sun, fire, heat, etc) – The Firebrand by Susan Wiggs (6/13/13)
  10. Read a book whose author name begins with J (first name only) – The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor by Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga (7/27/13)
  11. Read a book currently on a bestseller list – The Paris Wife by Paula McLain (7/7/13)
  12. Read a book that shows a woman from behind – The Hostage by Susan Wiggs (5/22/13)
  13. Read a book with a moon or stars on the cover –
  14. Read a book with an adjective in the title – The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill by Mark Bittner (6/26/13)
  15. Read a book whose author name begins with J (last name only) –
  16. Read any book in one weekend (Friday to Sunday) – Fables Vol 18: Cubs in Toyland (6/23/13)
  17. Read a book with a child on the cover – Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (6/20/13)
  18. Read a book with over 400 pages – Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (5/11/13)
  19. Read a book with an animal on the cover – A Storm of Swords by George Martin (7/26/13)
  20. Read a book whose author name begins with A (first or last) – Emma by Jane Austen (5/22/13)

Point total: 245/250

  1. Read a book with a famous painting on the cover –
  2. Read a book with a man and woman on the cover – Beauty or the Bitch by Jasmine Haynes (1/9/13)
  3. Read a book by a new to you author – Locke and Key Vol 2 by Joe Hill (1/4/13)
  4. Read a book that you’ve read before – Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (2/3/13)
  5. Read a book whose author name begins with J (First or last) – Change of Fortune by Jen Turano (1/3/13)
  6. Read a book that’s a collection of short stories – Stories of Hans Christian Anderson (2/26/13)
  7. Read a book about family – The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (2/14/13)
  8. Read a book currently on the NYT Bestsellers list – Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson (3/15/13)
  9. Read the first book in a series – Ill Wind by Rachel Caine (1/12/13)
  10. Read a book whose author name starts with F (first or last) – Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (2/9/13)
  11. Read a bio/auto bio/memoir – A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah (1/21/13)
  12. Read a book with a first and last name in the title – Good Omens (Agnes Nutter) by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (1/3/13)
  13. Read a historical mystery – A Foreign Affair by Caro Peacock (1/22/13)
  14. Read a book by a female author – Chicken with Plums by Marjane Satrapi (1/2/13)
  15. Read a book whose author name begins with M (first or last) – Wanted by Mark Millar (1/2/13)
  16. Read a cult classic – Locke and Key Vol 4 Keys to the Kingdom (1/6/13)
  17. Read a book no longer under copyright – Persuasion by Jane Austen (1/21/13)
  18. Read a fantasy/scifi/steampunk – A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (1/9/13)
  19. Read a book you got for Christmas – Locke and Key Vol 3 Crown of Shadows by Joe Hill (1/5/13)
  20. Read a book whose author begins with A (first or last) – Terror by Night by Ambrose Bierce (2/14/13)
tags: book bingo, dystopian, fairy tales, historical fiction, paranormal, RC Check-up, t4mc
categories: Reading Challenges
Thursday 01.02.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Bout of Books 9.0 is coming!

bout-of-books (1920).jpg
 

Join us... you know you want to!

Super excited for my 9th round!  I'm thinking about my goals and what I want to read.  I'll post a starting line post with goals and book choices on Sunday.  Spread the word and join us for some fun!

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 6th and runs through Sunday, January 12th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 9.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

tags: Bout of Books Readathon
categories: Readathon
Thursday 01.02.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

December 2013 Wrap-up and Monthly TBR

Hop on over to Booksessed to participate.

December's TBR Pile Recap: 

Books Read and Reviewed (10/15 books)

  1. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
  2. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
  3. Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
  4. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
  5. Tanglefoot by Cherie Priest
  6. Universal Rights Down to Earth by Richard Thompson Ford
  7. Flip! for Decorating by Elizabeth Mayhew
  8. Final Jeopardy by Stephen Baker
  9. Creative Pilgrimage by Jenny Doh
  10. Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir
  11. 1984 by George Orwell
  12. The Children of Men by PD James
  13. Inside the Creative Studio by Candace Prato
  14. B is for Baby by Suzonne Stirling
  15. Sanditon by Jane Austen

1,000,000 Page Goal

Monthly Total: 2995 pages
Pages Remaining: 835,333 pages

Current Read - A Feast for Crows; In the Company of Secrets; The Fault in Our Stars (starting off 2014 with a bang!)

Books Won (0)

Books I Gave Up On (0)

Challenges Completed - 8 to wrap up my 2013 reading!

  • Monthly Key Word
  • Nerdy Nonfiction
  • Steampunk
  • Classics
  • Mount TBR
  • Fall into Reading
  • Jane Austen
  • 52 Books in 52 Weeks

Comments - December went better than I thought it would.  It wasn't my lowest monthly page count, but it wasn't that great. The baby calmed down enough that I could actually get some reading in here and there.  And even though I didn't get to read during my big travel day, I did finish my few leftover 2013 reads.  Looking forward to my reading in 2014!

 January's TBR Pile:

  1. J's pick: High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
  2. J's other pick: Time Enough for Love by Robert Heinlein
  3. Nonfiction: Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton
  4. Fluffy romance: Lessons in French by Laura Kinsale
  5. Freebie: In the Company of Secrets by Judith Miller
  6. Series pick: A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
  7. Nonfiction: Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain
  8. Book to movie: The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
  9. Classic: A Room with a View by E.M. Forster
  10. Book club selection: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
tags: Month wrap
categories: Monthly Wrap-Up
Wednesday 01.01.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 
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