Top Ten Tuesday -- Meant to Read in 2017

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

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of our bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join.  If you can’t come up with ten, don’t worry about it—post as many as you can!

At the end of every year, there are books that I just didn't get to. Seems like that list gets longer each year. Possibly I will get to some of these in 2018. Here are 2017's leftover reads:

1. Discworld series by Terry Pratchett -- This could just be my Top 10, but instead I'll only put it on here once. I started the ~41 book Discworld series way back at the beginning of 2017 and then just never picked the series back up. Hoping to add this back onto my 2018 TBR list.
2. The Kingdom of Ohio by Matthew Flaming -- Part of my Read Your Book Shelf challenge that I just dropped the ball on. I'm still wanting to read this one soon...
3. The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl -- Ditto #2
4. An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin -- Ditto #2
5. Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey -- J and I have been meaning to read this series so we can watch The Expanse. Just never got around to it.
6. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin -- Another great scifi book I really wanted to get to.
7. Foundation by Isaac Asimov -- Another scifi one...
8. A Summer to Remember by Mary Balogh -- I was hoping to continue the Bedwyn Saga after the first prequel, but I just didn't pick this one up yet.
9. Tales from the 1001 Nights by Richard Burton -- Classic that I haven't read. Putting this one for January's TBR list to hoping knock this one out.
10. The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon -- Been meaning to reread this one to then read the third book in the series. Putting this on my Finishing the Series challenge for 2018.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Governess of Highland Hall by Carrie Turanksy

Title: The Governess of Highland Hall (Edwardian Brides #1)

Author: Carrie Turansky

Publisher: Multnomah 2013

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 338

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: A to Z - G; Library Love; Finishing the Series

Missionary Julia Foster loves working alongside her parents, ministering and caring for young girls in India. But when the family must return to England due to illness, she readily accepts the burden for her parents’ financial support. Taking on a job at Highland Hall as governess, she quickly finds that teaching her four privileged, ill-mannered charges at a grand estate is more challenging than expected, and she isn’t sure what to make of the estate’s preoccupied master, Sir William Ramsey. 
 
Widowed and left to care for his two young children and his deceased cousin Randolph’s two teenage girls, William is consumed with saving the estate from the financial ruin. The last thing he needs is any distraction coming from the kindhearted-yet-determined governess who seems to be quietly transforming his household with her persuasive personality, vibrant prayer life, and strong faith. 
 
While both are tending past wounds and guarding fragile secrets, Julia and William are determined to do what it takes to save their families—common ground that proves fertile for unexpected feelings. But will William choose Julia’s steadfast heart and faith over the wealth and power he needs to secure Highland Hall’s future?

I am a sucker for historical romance and I grabbed this trilogy while at the library last week. I'm not a huge fan of the Christian romance angle, but I did enjoy the characters and the storyline. Plus, it was refreshing to read a romance without sex scenes. (Don't get me wrong, I enjoy those most days, but it was nice to not have one for once) If you remove the sermon-y passages, the book would be probably 50 pages shorter, but oh well. I skipped through some of those to get to the storyline. I'm still going to read the other two books in the trilogy.

Edwardian Brides:

• #1 The Governess of Highland Hall
• #2 The Daughter of Highland Hall
• #3 A Refuge at Highland Hall

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Walking Dead Vol. 27

Title: The Walking Dead Vol. 27

Author: Robert Kirkman; Charlie Adlard; Stefano Guadiano; Cliff Rathburn

Publisher: Image 2017

Genre: Comics

Pages: 130

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

The time has come. The forces are aligning. The war has begun! Has Rick brought about the demise of everything he’s built? Or will he triumph once again? Know this...there will be a cost. Collects THE WALKING DEAD #157-162

Another volume in this never-ending saga. I really do love this series and this volume was an exciting addition. I love how it lulls you into a feeling of safety, but of course that's not going to help. 

Next up on the TBR pile:

January 2018 Life Goals

Let’s check in on Decembers's goals and my progress.

• Finish sending Christmas cards -- Success! I love sending out Christmas cards every December.
• Plan and buy Christmas presents -- Success! I'm excited that I completed these ahead of the crunch week before Christmas.
• Knock out at least 10 Reading Challenges slots -- Success! I ended my year with a decent bit of reading. 
• Plan my 2018 Reading Challenges -- Success! I changed up a few challenges this year for a bit of variety. Excited to get started!
• January blog drafts -- Success! I got a few posts done and all the drafts ready.

January's Goals: This month's goals are all about getting year start correctly. No flashy goals, but some necessary ones.

• Make a Dermatologist Appointment -- I think it's finally time to remove a few moles...
• Make Eye Appointments -- Arthur and I both need to go.
• Make Dentist Appointments -- Ditto
• Make My Doctor Appointment -- I'm due for a physical and a check in about some other issues. Related goal - I'm applying for my medical marijuana card to deal with my migraines. I know California is allowing personal consumption without a card, but I think a card is still a good idea.
• Check in about TK for 2018-2019 -- Arthur will be eligible. Last time I checked, registration was in February, but I know I need to gather some documents.
• Discuss Spring Break Plans -- Trying to decide if I will be going to Indiana or not.
• Finalize Retreat Numbers for February -- I resurrected the Mom group retreat for late February. Deadline for deposits is January 15th. From there I need to book the house and start proper planning, but I need the numbers first.
• Restart Meal Planning/Budgeting -- It's always hard to jump back in after being away for a few weeks. Once I return home, I need to do a pantry inventory and restart proper meal planning.
• Check In with Reoccurring Boxes -- Currently we either subscribe or sometimes subscribe to Munchery, Book of the Month, Kiwi Crate, Lola, Amazon Subscribe and Saves. I know I will be keeping the BOTM box and the Amazon boxes, but the others are up in the air. I think I will be canceling Lola. We do Munchery about once every 6 weeks so I just need to skip. Kiwi Crate is the only one I don't know about.
• Supervise the Q1 Care Exchange -- Sign-ups open on January 1st and close on January 15th with a delivery deadline fo February 5th. I know of at least one minor issue to fix and I'm sure there will be others. 
• Send Out All January Cards -- There's only a few, but you know.
• Update Birthday List -- I definitely need to make sure I have all my dates listed so I know who to send cards to.
• Read 3000 pages and 10 books -- Hoping to start 2018's reading off right.
• Schedule winter (Jan-March) activities -- Again, hoping to get the jump on the year. I've got a few activities posted, just need to get the rest on there.

Next up on the TBR list:

Bout of Books 21 is Here!

Goals:

• Read 3 Books 
• Read 1000 Pages
• Review all book read

TBR:

• The Governess of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky
• The Daughter of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky
• A Refuge at Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky
• No Time Like the Past by Jodi Taylor
• Arabian Nights

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 8th and runs through Sunday, January 14th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 21 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Next up on the TBR pile:

Wonder Woman: Vol 1-2

Title: Wonder Woman: Volume 1 The Lies

Author: Greg Rucka, Liam Sharp, Laura Martin

Publisher: DC 2017

Genre: Comics

Pages: 176

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

Heroic. Iconic. Unstoppable. Armed with her Lasso of Truth and imbued with the power of the gods themselves, Princess Diana of Themyscira-known to the world as Wonder Woman-is one of the greatest superheroes in history.
 
But who is she…really? Not even Wonder Woman herself knows for sure. Diana’s links to both the Amazons and the Gods of Olympus have been severed. Her memories are a tangle of contradictions that even her lie-detecting lasso cannot untangle. 
 
To solve the riddle of her origin, she must embark on her greatest quest of all: finding a way back to her vanished home. To get there, she must team up with her greatest enemy, the feral beast-woman, Cheetah. Will this unlikely alliance shine the light of truth on Diana’s darkest secrets, or bury them-and her-forever?

Definitely intrigued by the storyline and updated characters in this one. Unfortunately I was a little confused as to some of the finer points of the story due to my limited Wonder Woman knowledge. Still really enjoyed it...

Title: Wonder Woman: Volume 2 Year One

Author: Greg Rucka, Nicola Scott, Romulo Fajardo Jr.

Publisher: DC 2017

Genre: Comics

Pages: 168

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

 New York Times best-selling writer Greg Rucka continues his return to WONDER WOMAN! The team of Rucka and artist Nicola Scott weave the definitive and shocking tale of Diana's first year as Earth's protector. Paradise has been breached, Ares stirs, and the Amazons must answer with a champion of their own...one who is willing to sacrifice her home amongst her sisters to save a world she has never seen. Wonder Woman's journey begins in this epic origin story!

Much better! For those of us with a not much background in the character, this volume really allowed me to explore the history of Wonder Woman. It brought the character into the 21st century and reintroduced the major players. I really enjoyed the artwork in this one and love the storyline. 

Next up on the TBR pile:

2018 Goals and Resolutions

I usually have about 10 resolutions for the New Year, but I must admit that life is a bit much right now. I don't want to over-burden myself with too many goals to think about. I'm going to focus on my smaller monthly goals this coming year. However, I do have a few resolutions to highlight.

Blog and Reading Resolutions:

1. Read 35,00 pages -- I've been hovering around this number for a few years now. I think 35,000 is my spot-on number. 
2. Read 100 books -- A realistic goal.
3. Clear off another shelf of unread books -- Still working on clearing off our bookshelves from all this unread books. I'm doing well not adding too many more books to the stacks. 

Life Resolutions:

1. Rejoin the SSINK Design Team -- I'm excited to rejoin the team this January. Looking forward to all the challenges and creations.
2. Restart MommaStrong -- Seriously need to get back on this in January. I am feeling the lack of exercise...

Revisiting 2017’s goals and resolutions:

1. Read 35,000 pages -- Check! I ended up just a bit over my goal.
2. Read 100 books -- Check! 
3. Reevaluate my person blog -- Success. I did a little reevaluation and changed a few things around. We also moved the entire thing to SquareSpace and I think I've finally gotten used to how things work here. I'm temporarily happy with my blog. 
4. Keep posting on my craft blog MWFS -- Success! I missed a few days here and there, but I ended up with a good schedule. 
5. Clear off at least one shelf of unread books -- Success. I didn't keep a very detailed record of this one, but considering I've taken three bags of books to sell at Half Price Books over the year, I've cleared off few spots on the shelves. 
6. Cut our grocery budget dramatically and stick to it -- Fail I guess. I did reevaluate our grocery budget and buying habits. We haven't really cut it, but we have held steady for most of the year. 
7. Continue with MommaStrong -- Big huge fail! I fell off the bandwagon so hard. Need to get back to this one soon.
8. Participate in SSINK Design Team -- I participated the first half of the year and took the second half off. Things were getting super crazy in the summer and I made the decision to step away for a round. I'm glad I did. I love the team, but I also loved the freedom of making whatever I wanted for a few months. I'm excited to get back into it in January.
9. Participate in the Awesome Ladies Project Design Team -- Fail. I started strong in January, but this proved to be one thing too many on my plate. 

Next up on the TBR pile:

Diana Prince Wonder Woman Vol. 1-4

Title: Diana Prince Wonder Woman Volume 1 

Author: Denny O'Neil,‎ Mike Sekowsky, Dick Giordano

Publisher: DC 2008

Genre: Comics

Pages: 176

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

The late 1960s saw a new direction for Wonder Woman. Forced to choose between returning to her Amazon sisters or continuing her mission in "Man's World," Wonder Woman surrenders her super- powers and gives up her star-spangled costume. Dressed in the mod fashions of the day, the new Wonder Woman took on a Chinese mentor known as I Ching, who trained her in martial arts as her adventures took her to exotic locals to fight undercover agents and mythological villains. 

In this volume, featuring stories that have never been collected before, Wonder Woman faces Mars, god of war, the murderous Dr. Cyber, and an all-female biker gang known only as Them, as well as a modern-day witch called Morgana.

Title: Diana Prince Wonder Woman Volume 2

Author: Mike Sekowsky, Dick Giordano

Publisher: DC 2008

Genre: Comics

Pages: 176

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

Title: Diana Prince Wonder Woman Volume 3 

Author: Mike Sekowsky, Dick Giordano

Publisher: DC 2008

Genre: Comics

Pages: 176

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

Title: Diana Prince Wonder Woman Volume 4

Author: Denny O'Neil,‎ Mike Sekowsky, Dick Giordano

Publisher: DC 2009

Genre: Comics

Pages: 176

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

In these classic adventures from the early 1970s, Wonder Woman gives up her super-powers and costume to carry on the battle for justice using only martial arts, dressed in the mod fashions of the day.

In this final DIANA PRINCE volume, detective Jonny Double is kidnapped - and Wonder Woman must rush to his rescue before she battles Catwoman. Then, Diana and her mentor, I-Ching, are transported to a mysterious dimension where barbarians rule.

I was excited to pick up this series of Wonder Woman comics from the 1960s and 1970s, but I was very distracted by the rampant sexism within the pages. I just couldn't really get past a lot of the sexist storylines and dialogue. The stories are intriguing, but not enough to overcome my issues.

Next up on the TBR pile:

2017 Wrap-up

Favorite Books of the Year

1. Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor
2. The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
3. You're Doing a Great Job by Biz Ellis and Theresa Thorn
4. The Wicked + The Divine series
5. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
6. Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine
7. The Mummy by Anne Rice
8. Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
9. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
10. A Bridge Across the Ocean by Susan Meissner

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

• And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
• The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

Total Books Read – 123 books

Total Pages Read – 36,664 pages!!!!!

I averaged 3055 pages per month.  My lowest month was January with only 1793 pages.  My highest month was March with 3966 pages.  I hope to read 35,000 pages next year.

Book Rating Stats

• 5 stars — 59 books
• 4 stars — 44 books
• 3 stars — 16 books
• 2 stars — 4 books
• 1 star — 0 books
• DNFs — 2  books

Reading Challenges

Here’s the final breakdown:

• Perpetual 20/20  100%
• Mount TBR 56/60 93.3%
• Read Your Book Shelf 7/10 70%
• Popsugar 39/70 97.5%
• Retellings 12/12 100%
• What's in a Name 3/6 50%
• Discworld 1/12 8.3%
• Back to the Classics 4/6  66.7%
• New to Me 20/20 100%
• Wired into Scifi 0/10 0%
• Graphic Novels 24/24 100%
• Library Love 24/24 100%
• Picture Books 92/92 100%

Total: 6/13 challenges  46.2% done

Total: 302/336 slots  89.9% done

Overall Thoughts/Reflections/Musings/Ideas

I think 2017 was a good reading year. I surpassed my page and book number targets. I also knocked off a ton of books that either sat on my unread shelves or had been on my TBR for what seemed like forever. I didn't do much rereading. However, I think the fact that over half of my reads ended up being 4 or 5 star reads, I'm okay not rereading. I've got my January stack of books all ready to dive in and get 2018 started. 

Next up on the TBR pile:

2017 Reading Challenge Round-up -- Failed Edition

Goal: 56/60   93.3%

1. The Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling (1/11/17)
2. Buffering by Hannah Hart (1/20/17)
3. The Bargain by Jane Ashford (1/21/17)
4. A Flaw in the Blood by Stephanie Barron (1/22/17)
5. The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett (2/6/17)
6. The Very First Damned Thing by Jodi Taylor (2/18/17)
7. Burning Bright by Tracy Chevalier (2/19/17)
8. The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell (3/24/17)
9. The Golden Prince by Rebecca Dean (3/24/17)
10. When a Child is Born by Jodi Taylor (3/27/17)
11. So Wild a Heart by Candace Camp (4/3/17)
12. Tuscany for Beginners by Imogen Edwards-Jones (4/7/17)
13. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (4/12/17)
14. The Bust Guide to the New Girl Order (4/12/17)
15. A Second Chance by Jodi Taylor (4/13/17)
16. You're Doing a Great Job by Biz Ellis and Theresa Thorn (4/28/17)
17. Anno Dracula by Kim Newman (5/14/17)
18. The Hidden Heart by Candace Camp (5/15/17)
19. The Island at the Center of the World by Russell Shorto (5/26/17)
20. Roman Holiday by Jodi Taylor (6/3/17)
21. Secrets of the Heart by Candace Camp (6/3/17)
22. Dorothy Must Die Stories Vol.2 by Danielle Paige (6/9/17)
23. A Trail Through Time by Jodi Taylor (6/24/17)
24. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (7/8/17)
25. Christmas Present by Jodi Taylor (7/12/17)
26. Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel (7/29/17)
27. Simply Unforgettable by Mary Balogh (8/4/17)
28. The Turn of the Screw by Henry James (8/9/17)
29. Simply Love by Mary Balogh (8/22/17)
30. Simply Magic by Mary Balogh (8/25/17)
31. Simply Perfect by Mary Balogh (8/27/17)
32. One Night for Love by Mary Balogh (9/4/17)
33. Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff (9/15/17)
34. Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine (9/16/17)
35. Ash and Quill by Rachel Caine (9/29/17)
36. 8.4 by Peter Hernon (10/6/17)
37. Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell (10/8/17)
38. Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly (10/20/17)
39. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson (10/20/17)
40. Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff (10/24/17)
41. Reading People by Anne Bogel (10/25/17)
42. The Gates by John Connolly (10/27/17)
43. A Cast Off Coven by Juliet Blackwell (10/30/17)
44. Hexes and Hemlines by Juliet Blackwell (11/2/17)
45. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (11/7/17)
46. In a Witch's Wardrobe by Juliet Blackwell (11/14/17)
47. The Devil in the Shape of a Woman by Carol Karlsen (11/22/17)
48. The Demon Lover by Juliet Dark (11/28/17)
49. A Vision in Velvet by Juliet Blackwell (12/1/17)
50. Star of the Sea by Joseph O'Connor (12/6/17)
51. Bonk by Mary Roach (12/12/17)
52. The Water Witch by Juliet Dark (12/13/17)
53. Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (12/16/17)
54. Christmas Magic by Ginny Baird (12/19/17)
55. The Sometime Bride by Ginny Baird (12/20/17)
56. A Christmas to Remember by Lisa Kleypas, et al (12/22/17)

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Goal: 7/10   70%

1. A Flaw in the Blood by Stephanie Barron (1/22/17)
2. Burning Bright by Tracey Chevalier (2/19/17)
3. The Golden Prince by Rebecca Dean (3/24/17)
4. Tuscany for Beginners by Imogen Edwards-Jones (4/7/17)
5. The Kingdom of Ohio by Matthew Flaming
6. Dearly Departed by Lia Habel (7/29/17)
7. The Turn of the Screw by Henry James (8/9/17)
8. The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa (DNF)
9. An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin
10. Star of the Sea by Joseph O’Connor (12/6/17)
11. The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl
12. Moonlight and Oranges by Elise Stephens (DNF)

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Goal: 39/40  97.5%

1. Recommended by a librarian — Buffering by Hannah Hart (1/20/17)
2. On my TBR for too long — A Flaw in the Blood by Stephanie Barron (1/22/17)
3. Book of Letters —
4. Audiobook — Tarnished and Torn by Juliet Blackwell (11/27/17)
5. Book by a person of color — Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (6/23/17)
6. One of the four seasons in title —
7. Story within a story — Haunted Castles by Ray Russell (10/25/17)
8. Multiple Authors — The Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, John Tiffany (1/11/17)
9. Espionage thriller —
10. Cat on the cover — We are Never Meeting in Real Life by Samantha Irby (8/11/17)
11. Author who uses a pseudonym — The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey (3/9/17)
12. Bestseller from a genre i don’t normally read — And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (4/12/17)
13. By or about a person who has a disability —
14. Involving travel — A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor (2/28/17)
15. With a subtitle — Unmentionable by Therese Oneill (3/29/17)
16. Published in 2017 — Zombies: A Brief History of Decay (6/20/17)
17. Involving a mythical creature — Atlanrtia by Ally Condie (4/13/17)
18. Makes me smile — A Second Chance by Jodi Taylor (4/13/17)
19. About food — Voracious by Cara Nicoletti (10/4/17)
20. Career advice — Reading People by Anne Bogel (10/25/17)
21. Nonhuman perspective — Anno Dracula by Kim Newman (5/14/17)
22. Steampunk novel — Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine (8/21/17)
23. Red spine — Ash and Quill by Rachel Caine (9/29/17)
24. Set in the wilderness —The Lost City of Z by David Grann (9/23/17)
25. Loved as a child —
26. Author from a country I’ve never visited — Simply Unforgettable by Mary Balogh (8/4/17)
27. Title with a character’s name -- Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige (5/27/17)
28. Set during wartime — Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine (9/16/17)
29. Unreliable narrator — Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff (9/15/17)
30. With pictures — Tales of the Peculiar by Ransom Riggs (2/19/17)
31. Main character with an ethnicity different than me —
32. About an interesting woman — Dead Feminists by Chandler O'Leary and Jessica Spring (7/27/17)
33. Set in two different time periods — Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor (1/30/17)
34. Month or day in title —
35. Set in a hotel — A Bridge Across the Ocean by Susan Meissner (11/18/17)
36. Written by someone I admire — The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (11/7/17)
37. Becoming a movie in 2017 — Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty (7/19/17)
38. Set around a holiday (not Christmas) —
39. First in a series — A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas (2/10/17)
40. Book bought on a trip — The Island at the Center of the World by Russell Shorto (5/26/17)

Advanced

1. Recommended by an author I love —
2. Bestseller from 2016 — Hamilton The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter (3/21/17)
3. Family member term in title —
4. Takes place over a characters life span — The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton (11/25/17)
5. About an immigrant or refugee — Star of the Sea by Joseph O'Connor (12/6/17)
6. Genre/Subgenre I’ve never heard of —
7. Eccentric character — The Mummy by Anne Rice (10/18/17)
8. More than 800 pages — Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (12/16/17)
9. Got from a used book sale — Burning Bright by Tracy Chevalier (2/19/17)
10. Mentioned in another book —
11. About a difficult topic —
12. Based on mythology — The Demon Lover by Juliet Dark (11/28/17)

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Goal: 3/6   50%

1. A number in numbers – 50 Great American Places by Brent D Glass (7/19/17)
2. A building  –
3. A title which has an ‘X’ somewhere in it – Hexes and Hemlines by Juliet Blackwell (11/2/17)
4. A compass direction –
5. An item/items of cutlery –
6. A title in which at least two words share the same first letter – alliteration! – Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell (10/8/17)

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Goal: 1/12  8.3%

1. The Colour of Magic (Rincewind) (2/6/17)
2. The Light Fantastic (Rincewind)
3. Equal Rites (The Witches, The Wizards)
4. Mort (Death)
5. Sourcery (Rincewind, The Wizards)
6. Wyrd Sisters (The Witches)
7. Pyramids (Discworld Cultures – Dielibeybi)
8. Guards! Guards! (The City Watch)
9. Eric (Rincewind)
10. Moving Pictures (Misc. – Holy Wood; The Wizards)
11. Reaper Man (Death, The Wizards)
12. Witches Abroad (The Witches)

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Goal: 4/6 books. 66.7%

1. A 19th Century Classic –
2. A 20th Century Classic – The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson (10/20/17)
3. A classic by a woman author – And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (4/12/17)
4. A classic in translation –
5. A classic published before 1800 –
6. An romance classic – The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton (11/25/17)
7. A Gothic or horror classic – The Turn of the Screw by Henry James (8/9/17)
8. A classic with a number in the title –
9. A classic about an animal or which includes the name of an animal in the title –
10. A classic set in a place you’d like to visit –
11. An award-winning classic –
12. A Russian Classic – 

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Wired into Scifi

Goal: 0/10   0%

1. Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
2. Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke
3. The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
4. Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
5. Solaris by Stanislaw Lem
6. Tau Zero by Poul Anderson
7. 1984 by George Orwell
8. Earth Abides by George R. Stewart
9. Mission of Gravity by Hal Clement
10. Ring Around the Sun by Cliffard D. Simak
11. The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester
12. The Long Tomorrow by Leigh Brackett
13. When Worlds Collide by Philip Wylie
14. The Death of Grass by John Christopher
15. The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut
16. The Drowned World by J.G. Ballard
17. Make Room! Make Room! by Henry Harrison
18. Logan’s Run by William F. Nolan
19. The Female Man by Joanna Russ
20. Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks
21. A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr.
22. Foundation by Isaac Asimov
23. Life by Gwyneth Jones

2017 Reading Challenge Round-up -- Completed

Goal: 20/20   100%

1. Jane Ashford (1/21/17)
2. Ginny Baird (12/19/17)
3. Juliet Blackwell (10/8/17)
4. John Campbell (11/10/17)
5. John Connolly (10/27/17)
6. Juliet Dark (11/28/17)
7. Imogen Edwards-Jones (4/7/17)
8. Lia Habel (7/29/17)
9. Peter Hernon (10/6/17)
10. Antony Johnston (11/21/17)
11. Lisa Kleypas (12/22/17)
12. Marjorie Liu (3/17/17)
13. Susan Meissner (11/18/17)
14. Liane Moriarty (7/19/17)
15. Kim Newman (5/14/17)
16. Danielle Paige (5/29/17)
17. Ray Russell (10/25/17)
18. Jodi Taylor (1/30/17)
19. Sherry Thomas (2/10/17)
20. Brenna Yovanoff (10/24/17)

---

Goal: 24/24   100%

1. The Runaways Complete Collection Vol. 1 (1/3/17)
2. A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas (2/10/17)
3. The Daily Show by Chris Smith (2/10/27)
4. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (2/17/17)
5. Tales of the Peculiar by Ransom Riggs (2/19/17)
6. Cress by Marissa Meyer (2/22/17)
7. A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor (2/28/17)
8. The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey (3/9/17)
9. Fairest by Marissa Meyer (3/9/17)
10. Winter by Marissa Meyer (3/15/17)
11. Monstress Vol. 1 (3/17/17)
12. Hamilton The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter (3/21/17)
13. Unmentionable by Therese Oneill (3/29/17)
14. Everyday Sexism by Laura Bates (4/2/17)
15. Atlantia by Ally Condie (4/13/17)
16. Mostly Void, Partially Stars by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor (4/28/17)
17. Dorothy Must Dies Stories Vol. 3 by Danielle Paige (6/14/17)
18. Wonder Woman: The True Amazon by Jill Thompson (6/19/17)
19. Zombies: A Brief History of Decay (6/20/17)
20. The Wicked Will Rise by Danielle Paige (7/1/17)
21. Locke and Key Small World (7/15/17)
22. Yellow Brick War by Danielle Paige (7/17/17)
23. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty (7/19/17)
24. The End of Oz by Danielle Paige (7/22/17)

---

Goal: 12/12  100%

1. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (2/17/17)
2. Cress by Marissa Meyer (2/22/17)
3. Fairest by Marissa Meyer (3/9/17)
4. Stars Above by Marissa Meyer (3/15/17)
5. Winter by Marissa Meyer (3/15/17)
6. Atlantia by Ally Condie (4/13/17)
7. Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige (5/27/17)
8. Dorothy Must Die Stories Vol. 1 by Danielle Paige (5/29/17)
9. Dorothy Must Die Stories Vol. 2 by Danielle Paige (6/9/17)
10. Dorothy Must Die Stories Vol. 3 by Danielle Paige (6/14/17)
11. The Wicked Will Rise by Danielle Paige (7/11/7)
12. Yellow Brick War by Danielle Paige (7/17/17)

---

Goal: 24/24  100%

1. Revival Vol. 3 (1/2/17)
2. Runaways Complete Collection Vol. 1 (1/3/17)
3. Hark! A Vagrant by Kate Beaton (3/10/17)
4. Monstress Vol. 1 (3/17/17)
5. The Complete Love Hurts by Kim Andersson (3/18/17)
6. Pretty Deadly Vol. 1 (3/20/17)
7. Pretty Deadly Vol. 2 (3/21/17)
8. Saga Vol. 6 (4/21/17)
9. East of West Vol. 5 (4/21/17)
10. East of West Vol. 6 (4/21/17)
11. The Walking dead Vol. 25 (4/22/17)
12. The Walking Dead Vol. 26 (4/22/17)
13. Lady Killer by Joelle Jones (4/28/17)
14. Step Aside, Pops by Kate Beaton (5/5/17)
15. Wonder Woman: The True Amazon by Jill Thompson (6/19/17)
16. Zombies: A Brief History of Decay (6/20/17)
17. Locke and Key Small World (7/15/17)
18. The Wicked + The Divine Vol. 1 (8/16/17)
19. The Wicked + The Divine Vol. 2 (8/18/17)
20. The Wicked + The Divine Vol. 3 (8/18/17)
21. The Wicked + The Divine Vol. 4 (8/18/17)
22. The Wicked + The Divine Vol. 5 (9/3/17)
23. The Coldest City by Antony Johnston (11/21/17)
24. How to Talk to Girls at Parties by Neil Gaiman (11/24/17)

---

Perpetual Reading Lists Challenge
Goal: 20/20  100%

1. The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett (2/6/17)
2. The Daily Show by Chris Smith (2/10/17)
3. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (2/17/17)
4. Cress by Marissa Meyer (2/22/17)
5. The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell (3/24/17)
6. Everyday Sexism by Laura Bates (4/2/17)
7. The Bust Guide to the New Girl Order (4/12/17)
8. The Island at the Center of the World by Russell Shorto (5/26/17)
9. Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige (5/27/17)
10. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (6/23/17)
11. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (7/8/17)
12. 50 Great American Places by Brent D. Glass (7/19/17)
13. Dead Feminists by Chandler O'Leary and Jessica Spring (7/27/17)
14. The Great Quake by Henry Fountain (9/2/17)
15. The Lost City of Z by David Grann (9/23/17)
16. The Mummy by Anne Rice (10/18/17)
17. Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly (10/20/17)
18. A Tea Reader by Katrina Avila Munichiello (10/20/17)
19. Bad Girls Throughout History by Ann Shen (11/19/17)
20. The Devil in the Shape of a Woman by Carol Karlsen (11/22/17)

---

Goal: 92/92  100%

1. An alphabet book — Take Away the A by Michael Escoffier (February)
2. A counting book — One, Two, Three, Mother Goose by Iona Opie (April)
3. Concept book: shapes or numbers or opposites or colors — Happy-pea All Year by Keith Baker (April)
4. A book set on a farm or in the country -- Click, Clack, Quackity-Quack! by Doreen Cronin (July)
5. A book set in the city or in an urban area -- Little Elliott Big City by Mike Curato (Nov)
6. A book set at the beach, in the ocean, or by a lake -- Uh-Oh Octopus by Elle van Lieshout and Erik van Os (June)
7. A book with human characters — Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel (March)
8. A book with animal characters — Miss Fox’s Class Shapes Up by Eileen Spinelli (January)
9. A bedtime book -- Touch the Brightest Star by Christie Matheson (Nov)
10. A rhyming book — Too Many Moose by Lisa M. Bakos (February)
11. A book celebrating art -- Matisse's Garden by Samantha Friedman (Nov)
12. A book celebrating dance -- Dancing Feet by Lindsey Craig (Nov)
13. A book celebrating music -- The Carnival of the Animals by Jack Prelutsky (Nov)
14. A book celebrating family (parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, etc.) -- Froggy Goes to Grandma's by Jonathan London (Oct)
15. A book about feelings, expressing feelings -- How to Mend a Heart by Sara Gillingham (Sept)
16. A book with a twist (unexpected) ending -- Bluebird by Bob Staake (Sept)
17. A book about pets (cats, dogs, fish) -- Henry Hodges Needs a Friend by Andy Andrew (Sept)
18. A book celebrating libraries or reading — My Pet Book by Bob Staake (January)
19. A book translated into English (originally published in another language/country) -- Blanche hates the night by Sibyl Delacroix (Nov)
20. A book about trains or planes — Yellow Copter by Kersten Hamilton (February)
21. A book about cars or trucks -- Demolition by Sally Sutton (Oct)
22. A book about starting school -- Harry and the DInosaurs Go to School by Ian Whybrow (Nov)
23. A book about friendship (sharing, caring, forgiving) — The 329th Friend by Marjorie Weinman Starmat (January)
24. A book about being ME, about being unique, special, loved, etc. — Half of an Elephant by gusti (January)
25. A fairy tale -- Cinderella by Marcia Brown (Dec)
26. A twisted (adapted) fairy tale -- There was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight by Penny Parker Klostermann (Nov)
27. A book about a holiday -- Countdown to Halloween by Patricia Reeder Eubank (Sept)
28. A new-to-you author — It Came in the Mail by Ben Clanton (April)
29. A new-to-you illustrator — Zoo Zoom illustrated by Macky Pamintuan (February)
30. A book about new experiences (dentist, doctor, sleepovers, movies, playing sports, learning to swim, etc.) — Bike On, Bear by Cynthea Liu (February)
31. A series book — Absolutely One Thing by Lauren Child (April)
32. A book celebrating food (cooking, eating, trying new foods, eating healthy) -- Gobble, Gobble, Tucker by Leslie McGuirk (Oct)
33. A book published before 1950 --  Many Moons by James Thurber (Nov)
34. A book published in the 1950s -- Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss (Dec)
35. A book published in the 1960s -- Once a Mouse by Marcia Brown (Nov)
36. A book published in the 1970s -- The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord (Dec)
37. A book published in the 1980s -- The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle (Nov)
38. A book published in the 1990s -- The Day Jimmy’s Boa ate the Wash by Trinka Hakes Noble (Nov)
39. A book published in the 2000s -- Word Builder by Ann Whitford Paul (Sept)
40. A book published 2010-2016 — Poo in the Zoo by Steve Smallman (April)
41. A book published in 2017 - Monster's New Undies by Samantha Berger (August)
42. A book by Dr. Seuss -- Hop on Pop (Oct)
43. A book by Mo Willems — Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late (January)
44. A book by Jan Thomas -- What Will Fat Cat Sit On? (December)
45. A book by Eric Carle -- Friends (Nov)
46. A book by Laura Numeroff -- If You Take a Mouse to School (Oct)
47. A book by Patricia Polacco -- An A from Miss Keller by Patricia Polacco (Nov)
48. A book by Jon Klassen -- I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen (Sept)
49. A book by Beatrix Potter -- The Unfortunate Tale of a Borrowed Guinea Pig (Nov)
50. A book by Kevin Henkes -- The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes (Nov)
51. A book written or illustrated by LeUyen Pham -- Real Friends by Shannon Hale (Nov)
52. A Caldecott winner -- Flotsam by David Weisner (Nov)
53. A Caldecott honor -- Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds (Nov)
54. A picture book biography -- The Girl wWho Though in Pictures by Julia Finley Mosca (Nov)
55. A nonfiction picture book -- The Autumn Equinox by Ellen Jackson (Sept)
56. A book from your childhood -- The True Story of the Three Littles Pigs by John Scieszka (Nov)
57. A book you discovered as an adult -- Cinnamon by Neil Gaiman (Sept)
58. A book celebrating writing, being an author or illustrator — A Poem in Your Pocket by Margaret McNamara (March)
59. A library book — Frankie Stein by Lola M. Schaefer (February)
60. An audio book -- How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss (Dec)
61. A book about dinosaurs OR dragons -- Dinosaurs in Disguises by Stephen Krensky (july)
62. Nonfiction book about animals (or animal) — Animals by the Numbers by Steve Jenkins (March)
63. A challenged book OR a controversial book -- In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak (Dec)
64. A book that makes you laugh -- Open Very Carefully by Nicola O'Bryne (july)
65. A book that makes you cry --  Book by David Miles (Sept)
66. Hate the text, love the art -- Toy Boat by Randall de Seve (Oct)
67. Love the text, hate the art — I Wanna Go Home by Karen Kaufman Orloff (February)
68. A book with a great cover — Monster Park by Annie Bach (April)
69. A book with an ugly cover -- Molly and Her Dad by Jan Overrod (Oct)
70. A book about toys — Toys Meet Snow by Emily Jenkins (February)
71. A book about weather -- Freddy the Frogcaster and the Huge Hurricane by Janice Dean (Nov)
72. A picture book for older readers -- Enzo and the Fourth of July Races by Garth Stein (Oct)
73. A book of jokes, riddles, tongue-twisters -- Kitty Riddles by Katy Hall (Oct)
74. A book about seasons -- Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak (Sept)
75. A song -- Ten Little Sleepyheads by Elizabeth Provost (Oct)
76. A poetry book -- WonderFall by Michael Hall (Sept)
77. A book by a celebrity — Never Play Music Next to the Zoo by John Lithgow (February)
78. A book published in Australia -- Animalia by Graeme Base (Dec)
79. A book published in the UK -- Agnes and Clarabelle by Adele Griffin and Courtney Sheinmel (Nov)
80. A book about science or math -- The Earth Book by Todd Parr (Sept)
81. A book about history or historical event -- Patience Wright by Pegi Deitz Shea (july)
82. A book about sports -- Big Kicks by Bob Kolar (August)
83. A book about celebrating birthdays -- Scaredy Squirrel has a Birthday Party by Melanie Watt (Nov)
84. A book about a President or world leader -- Hillary Rodham Clinton by Michelle Markel
85. A book about another country -- All Aboard for the Bobo Road by Stephen Davies (Sept)
86. A book celebrating faith -- By the Hanukkah Light by Sheldon Oberman (Oct)
87. A pop-up book, or, a book with cut-outs or flaps or fold-outs -- Little People Zoo (Oct)
88. A bilingual book -- Buenas Noches Luna by Margaret Wise (Dec)
89. A television series that has been adapted to a book — Meet Tracker by Geof Smith (March)
90. A book that has been adapted to a television series -- Vampirina Ballerina by Anne Marie Pace (Nov)
91. An adaptation of a myth or legend — The Sandman by William Joyce (February)
92. A book about babies — Funny Face, Sunny Face by Sally Symes (March)

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

Title: The Light Between Oceans

Author: M.L. Stedman

Publisher: Scribner 2012

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 343

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Share-a-Tea; Modern Mrs. Darcy -- Recommended by a librarian; Library Love

After four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne returns to Australia and takes a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day’s journey from the coast. To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes once a season, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel. Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby’s cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby.

Tom, who keeps meticulous records and whose moral principles have withstood a horrific war, wants to report the man and infant immediately. But Isabel insists the baby is a “gift from God,” and against Tom’s judgment, they claim her as their own and name her Lucy. When she is two, Tom and Isabel return to the mainland and are reminded that there are other people in the world. Their choice has devastated one of them.

This was our book club selection for January and it did not disappoint. I resist reading it for so long because many had said it was tearjerker. I held it together until the last two pages and then the tears came hard and heavy. This book is beautifully written story of a marriage and hard decisions. I instantly fell in with Tom and Isabel and sped through every page to find out what happens to them. I felt their anguish when Lucy arrives on the island and their anguish when the truth comes out (not really a spoiler as you knew it was going to happen; the spoilers are what happens after the truth comes out). Every sentence is expertly crafted to give the reader a voice from a character, a description of action, or to bring Janus to life. I was fascinated by life at the lighthouse and the routines the inhabitants established. Such a great book. I'm so glad this was my first read of 2018. Amazing way to start my year of reading.

Next up on the TBR pile:

December 2017 Wrap-up

December's TBR Pile (8/12):

1. MVPA Book Club Selection: The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman (January meeting)
2. Series Pick: The Water Witch by Juliet Dark ✓
3. Nonfiction Pick: Goldilocks and the Water Bears by Louisa Preston
4. Read Your Book Shelf Pick: Star of the Sea by Joseph O'Connor ✓
5. Carryover: Bonk by Mary Roach ✓
6. Currently Reading: A Vision in Velvet by Juliet Blackwell ✓
7. Carryover/Must Finish Read: Voyager by Diana Gabaldon ✓
8. Cozy Mystery: Spellcasting in Silk by Juliet Blackwell
9. Paranormal Fiction: The Stone Angel by Juliet Dark
10. Added: A Christmas to Remember by Lis Kleypas, Lorraine Heath, Megan Frampton, Vivienne Lorret ✓
11. Added: Christmas Magic by Ginny Baird ✓
12. Added: The Sometime Bride by Ginny Baird ✓

1,000,000 Page Goal:

Monthly Total: 3334 pages
Pages Remaining: 699.309 pages

Current Read - The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman; No Time Like the Past by Jodi Taylor; Wonder Woman Comics

Books I Gave Up On (0)

Books bought/received (2) -- Both came from my Broke and the Bookish Secret Santa.

• I, Jane by Diane Haeger
• Hand Lettering by Megan Wells

January's TBR Pile (no picture as I'm still in Indiana):

1. MVPA Book Club Selection: The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
2. TBR Pile: Nefertiti by Michelle Moran
3. Reading Assignment: Arabian Nights
4. Book of the Month Club December (my first one shipped late): The English Wife by Lauren Willig
5. Book of the Month Club (January): As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner
6. Series Pick: Spellcasting in Silk by Juliet Blackwell
7. Series Pick: No Time Like the Past by Jodi Taylor
8. Nonfiction Pick: The Origin of Satan by Elaine Pagels
9. Classics Pick: The Bostonians by Henry James
10. Comics: The Walking Dead Vol. 27
11. Comics: Diana Prince Wonder Woman Vol. 1
12. Comics: Diana Prince Wonder Woman Vol. 2
13. Comics: Diana Prince Wonder Woman Vol. 3
14. Comics: Diana Prince Wonder Woman Vol. 4
15. Comics: Wonder Woman Rebirth Vol. 1
16. Comics: Wonder Woman Rebirth Vol. 2
17. Romance Pick: The Governess of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky
18. Romance Pick: The Daughter of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky
19. Romance Pick: A Refuge at Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky

Movies watched

• Christmas in the Smokies -- Love a good cheesy Christmas movie. Although this one suffered from an unneeded religious bent.
• A Christmas Prince -- My silly Netflix movie. Mildly entertaining while I addressed Christmas cards. 
• A Dogwalker’s Christmas Tale -- Silly stupid romantic comedy, but I do love my cheesy Christmas movies.
• Christmas Crush/Holiday High School Reunion -- Super silly movie, but I enjoyed it. Totally Mean Girls 10 years later and set at Christmas.
• My Santa --  Not my favorite. There was no chemistry between the leads.
• Christmas in the City -- Weird carryover from Christmas Crush, but this one was decent.
• Merry Kissmas -- Loved the Nutcracker theme of this one. 
• The Italian Job -- J was surprised that I had never watched this one. Very enjoyable 1960s action film.
• Naughty & Nice -- Except for the male lead's name (seriously Pepper?), I actually enjoyed this one.
• How Sarah Got Her Wings -- Tone was off on this one. Not a huge fan.
• La La Land -- I finally watched this one and completely fell into the movie. Love the entire look and feel of this one.
• A Princess for Christmas -- Definitely cheesy in places, but I liked this one.
• Christmas Inheritance -- This one was better than I thought it would be.
• Me Before You -- How did I miss seeing this movie? I loved the book when I read it a few years back. Definitely a tear-jerker.
• Bridget Jones's Baby -- I enjoyed the first two movies, I enjoyed this one. Love Colin Firth, not a huge fan of Renee but that's okay.
• Rough Night -- I was under the impression that this was a crazy comedy, but it was a lot darker than I was anticipating. Still pretty decent. 
• Maleficent -- I actually really liked this one. Maybe because Maleficent was always my favorite the Disney villains.
• Shin Godzilla -- Our New Year's Eve movie pick. The twins were a bit bored, but I really enjoyed it.

TV Shows watched

• People of Earth S1 -- We finished the first season before I left. Holy cow! That was good! Can't wait to start S2.
• Dirk Gently S2 -- J gets to watch the finale without me. Boo! Hope I can stream it here...
• Lizzie Borden Chronicles -- So campy! But I'm loving it!

Comments - For the crazy traveling and random childcare crap this month, my reading totals are very respectable. My last book of 2017 was finished on Dec. 22nd. From there I'm counting any reading for 2018 as I'm not likely to finish another book before the New Year. I'm also looking forward to all the new reading challenges. On the watched front, I knocked off a huge list of movies for the holidays. Byproduct of the kiddos not sleeping while here in Indiana. Oh well, at least I was fairly entertained.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Christmas Bucket List Wrap-up

We finished out our Christmas season strong with lots of fun activities and lots of lazy days playing. 

Completed 20/28  71.4%

1. Go see Santa! -- We got to meet with Santa on the Christmas train last weekend.
2. Got to Fantasy of Lights at Franke Park -- Arthur, Q, and I went. Q fell asleep before we even got to the lights. At least Arthur enjoyed it. And it's way bigger this year.
3. Watch Christmas Movies -- We didn't see all of them, but a good chunk.
   1. Elf
   2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas ✓
   3. A Charlie Brown Christmas ✓
   4. The Polar Express ✓
   5. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer ✓
   6. Christmas Vacation
   7. Love Actually
   8. A Christmas Story
   9. Holiday Inn ✓
   10. White Christmas
   11. Christmas in the Smokies ✓
   12. Christmas Crush/Holiday High School Reunion ✓
   13. A Dogwalker's Christmas Tale ✓
   14. A Christmas Crush ✓
   15. My Santa ✓
   16. Christmas in the City ✓
   17. Merry Kissmas ✓
   18. Naughty & Nice ✓
   19. How Sarah Got Her Wings ✓
   20. A Princess for Christmas ✓
   21. Christmas Inheritance ✓
   22. Home Alone ✓
   23. Frosty the Snowman ✓
4. Make Christmas Cookies -- We iced and decorated mom's sugar cookies.
5. Ride the Christmas train (New Haven)
6. Visit Oakland Zoo lights
7. Go ice skating
8. Make Christmas cocktails
9. Send Christmas cards
10. Make peppermint bark
11. Load computer/phone with Christmas music
12. Make a Christmas craft -- Arthur and I have been making the various crafts we bought at Michael's last month.
13. Check out and read 25 Christmas books  -- We surpassed 25 books, I just returned some to the library before listing them here. Silly me.
    1. Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson
    2. Jingle-Jingle by Nicola Smee
    3. What Santa Can't Do by Douglas Wood
    4. A New Improved Santa by Patricia Rae Wolff
    5. How Many Sleeps 'til Christmas? by Mark Sperring
    6. Albert's Christmas by Leslie Tryon
    7. A Small Christmas by Wong Herbert Yee
    8. Holiday Helper by Jill Abramson
    9. Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney
    10. Monster Needs a Christmas Tree by Paul Czajak
    11. Christmas Coal Man by Joe Kulka
    12. Dear Santasaurus by Stacy McAnulty
    13. Pig the Elf by Aaron Blabey
    14. Best Christmas Book Ever by Richard Scarry
    15. Merry Christmas Pocoyo by Kristen Depken
    16. The Night Before Christmas by Jan Brett
    17. I've Seen Santa! by David Bedford
    18. Click, Clack, Ho, Ho, Ho by Doreen Cronin
    19. The Chicken Who Saved Christmas by Daniel Howath
    20. Santa Rex by Molly Idle
    21. It's Christmas by Tracey Corderoy
14. Make Christmas ornaments
15. Make paper snowflakes
16. Write a letter to Santa
17. Decorate a gingerbread house 
18. Host/attend Christmas cookie exchange 
19. Read a Christmas-themed book (or two)
20. Participate in Secret Santa 
21. Find a new Christmas album 
22. Make Hot Chocolate
23. Drive around to see the Christmas lights
24. Make Christmas albums -- All three albums are done!
25. Make a snowglobe
26. Have a Christmas dance party
27. Call Santa
28. Have a candy cane hunt

Next up on the TBR pile:

2018 Winter's Respite Readthon

From Seasons of Reading:

This is the official sign up for the Winter's Respite Readathon! All our regular seasonal readathons are now a month long so Winter's Respite runs for the entire month of January. Woot! So, we start at 12:00 am on January 1 and end at 11:59 pm on January 31. Times are set for the central time zone so adjust your times accordingly (you can use the link to the time zone converter in the sidebar menu). Of course, like most readathons, the books read must be novels or novellas, adult or young adult are fine, and you can read children's books (as long as you do read some novels too). Note: Non-Fiction is also okay! You DO NOT have to participate the entire month. Join in when you can, start in the middle, end early...whatever works best for your schedule. As with all of my readathons, it will be an event of relaxed reading during which we can personally challenge ourselves and whittle away those ever looming TBR piles/shelves/libraries.

Guidelines for the readathon can be found HERE or you can access in the sidebar menu. Any information you need about the readathon can be found there. Please do be sure to check the guidelines to make sure you're following along correctly. There are specific rules regarding signing up and wrapping up, especially in regards to the giveaway. Also, regarding the giveaway, I'll be again adding a Google form to capture names and email addresses so if you're interested in winning a prize (and you've met the sign up and wrap up criteria), I will ask you to fill in that form which will be located on the prize page. The form will now have a required field for you to enter the link to your wrap-up post.

As is typical, I will not be hosting any mini-challenges. However, if anyone else would like to host a mini-challenge or giveaway, you are more than welcome. I am also looking for prize donations so if anyone would like to contribute, let me know. Authors, this is a great way to promote your book! (Contact me using the contact form link in the sidebar menu).

Our hashtag is #WintersRespite Also, don't forget about our Facebook group. You can access via the link in the sidebar menu.

I love a good readathon and I'm hoping this one will get my 2018 reading off on the right foot! As the readathon is starting very soon, here are my goals and my TBR pile:

Goals: 

• Read 10 books
• Read 3000 pages
• Review all books read
• Read at least one book for every reading challenge
  • Perpetual:
  • Mount:
  • TBR Pile:
  • Reading Assignment:
  • Popsugar:
  • Share-a-Tea:
  • What's in a Name?:
  • Modern Mrs. Darcy:
  • A to Z:
  • Graphic Novel:
  • Finishing the Series:
  • Library Love:
  • Picture Books:

TBR Pile:

• The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
• Nefertiti by Michelle Moran
• Arabian Nights
• The English Wife by Lauren Willig
• Spellcasting in Silk by Juliet Blackwell
• No Time Like the Past by Jodi Taylor
• The Origin of Satan by Elaine Pagels
• The Bostonians by Henry James
• The Walking Dead Vol. 27
• Diana Prince Wonder Woman Vol. 1
• Diana Prince Wonder Woman Vol. 2
• Diana Prince Wonder Woman Vol. 3
• Diana Prince Wonder Woman Vol. 4
• Wonder Woman Rebirth Vol. 1
• Wonder Woman Rebirth Vol. 2
• The Governess of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky
• The Daughter of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky
• A Refuge at Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky

Next up on the TBR pile: