Daughters of the Lake

Our October book club pick was Daughters of the Lake by Wendy Webb.  It wasn't one that I'd normally pick for myself, but it was set on the shores of Lake Superior and it is based upon stories and legends of the area.  It was a good October read.  There was some spooky/mystical stuff to it, but it wasn't overly done.  I liked the the way that the chapters went back and forth from past to present and hinted at how things happened.  I would like to say that I guessed who the killer was and am proud of myself for that because usually it slips right by me because I'm just chugging along.

Kate Granger is getting a cup of coffee when she sees her dad and the local police chief looking at a body that has washed to shore at her parents house.  She runs down to the waterfront and causes a huuuuge scense.  Needless to say this scene makes the police chief wonder, if she or her estranged husband have anything to do with this discovery.

Kate goes to another nearby waterfront town to visit her cousin Simon who owns a bed and breakfast.  This massive house used to belong to their great-grandparents and while Kate relays to Simon the weirdness of what is going on, dead body, suspect in a murder, and oh by the way, SHE KNOWS this person from her dreams, she decides to figure out who this person is and how they died.

If you are looking for something supernatural, with a Midwest setting, I'd recommend! It wasn't too bizarre and really had me turning the page to find out how everything meshed together.

Do you ever read spooky/thrillers/mysteries in October?

My least favorite October book club pick was Stephen King's, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. Blah. 

TGIF!

The weather has made for an unusual fall.  I like it, but it's still so weird to be in the 70s in October.  Of course today it's actually cooler and will be over this weekend, but it's made it hard to embrace the fact that it's fall.  It kinda feels like summer but I'm sending my kid to school and we could have been camping more.  I am anxiously awaiting the approval of vaccines for my 10 year old.  I need this so much. I also would really like the two year old to have that availability but the 10 year old is out in the public way more so than us and I know she is itching to get back to indoor activities that we've been avoiding.

Pictures from the week:

The high of my week was visiting our local public garden with my mom and youngest.  It was a perfect temperature to wander through and look at flowers, leaves, squirrels, water, and the canopy walk.

The low of my week was  dumb people.

Meal plan for the week was  

Monday -  Steak Sandwiches, roasted broccoli, chips and cottage cheese

Tuesday -  Baked Potato Soup and salad

Wednesday -  Homemade Crunchy Taco Hamburger Helper this is a family favorite.  I actually added a package of riced cauliflower with it and NO ONE NOTICED.  Ive been wanting to make a little extra because it's always eaten up an the package of riced cauliflower let us have leftovers.  I am betting you could even sub the rice entirely and just change some cooking directions and liquid amounts.  I also served corn, guacamole, and cut up tomatoes.  Then everyone adds what they want.  And some add sour cream.  I also usually have out olives.

Thursday -  Cashew Chicken Stir fry this is also a family favorite.  we switch out the veggies frequently and sometimes do fried rice with it

Friday -  Little Caesers make your own pizza kit (nephews fundraiser) with a southwest salad

The best money I spent was on groceries?

What I’m listening to  This weeks favorite podcasts have been The Piketon Murders, Counter Clock, and Sharon Says So.

What I’m watching I just recently finished the entire series of Murder She Wrote.  I am almost finished with Blackish.  And I have one episode left of Chesapeake Shores. Oh I am also liking NCIS and NCIS Hawaii. I am about to start Diagnosis Murder and he last season of The Good Witch. 

What I’m reading:  The Personal Librarian.  Really liking it so far.

My plans for the weekend we are celebrating our friends marriage tomorrow and hopefully cutting some trees that have fallen and burning some of them.

What are you watching/reading/listening to?

Tired

 I am so tired.  I am tired of people calling research shit videos they find on the internet.  I'm tired of people believing crap and then dying from the consequences of that crap.  I'm so sick and tired of the worry I have every single day I send my kid to school.  I'm sick and tired of worrying over what could happen to my children because someone else is doing something stupid.  I'm sick and tired of having to think through 34234324 steps in attempting groceries or any errand because I have a young child that I do not want to take inside any establishment.  I'm sick and tired of people calling the steps my child is taking to protect herself and her sister as child abuse.  I'm sick and tired of people thinking that they can do anything they want because of "rights."  I'm sick and tired of people refusing every single protection they could be doing to help others out.  I'm sick and tired of telling my child that no she can't do swim right now because "people."  I'm so tired. 

It didn't have to be like this.

Writing

 I’ve read two books recently that inspired me to write.  I’m not sure if what I want to write is just yada yada blog posts or something more.  But I do know, if that I never actually sit down and write anything, the urge will eventually pass but the tingle of what should I have done won’t.  So here I am.  Maybe this turns out more of a free write and maybe it becomes focused.  But for now, definitely free write and we will see where it goes.

I read Learning to Speak Southern and the main character kept focusing on word meanings and how they transform and what we say now and what do we really mean.  She taught people in other countries English as a Second Language.  During the course of the book she finds out her mother, who never nurtured her or really mothered her, had once been in love with someone not her father and had been a great writer.  Never did she know her mother’s dream of being a writer.  Because her mother gave it up after the disastrous encounter with the man.  She never wrote again.  She never was herself again either.  When you hide parts of yourself, you are not okay.   You can shove it down, you can fake it, but you are never ever okay.

I also read Fire Keeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley, and man I lived in that world for awhile.  2004 Ste. Sault Marie.  It’s beautiful.  It’s marketed as YA, but beyond the main character being nineteen and making nineteen year old decisions, it’s a book I’d recommend to adults and not even bother telling them it’s YA.  She is a beautiful writer.  I love when you just live in the book and you go to bed thinking about it, dream it during the night, and wake up wanting more, and never really wanting it to be done.

This is why I love series.  Even series that end up not so good.  You always have those characters to revisit.

Do you ever finish a book and are inspired to write but you have no idea what you would even write?

What I Read in June

 I finished 10 books in June and I was quite impressed because I read a few very long books and at least one book drug out for a week because it was so disturbing.  It did help that I finished two of them on the 30th! 

I think my favorite book this month is It's been a Pleasure Noni Blake by Claire Christian.  Noni, is recovering from a break up with her partner of nine years, Joan.  While talking with her best-friend she makes a should-have list and decides to track down these men and women to see what might have been.  After a few HILARIOUS encounters and some more tragedy she decides to take a leave from work for 6 months and seek out a person on this list.  From here, she learns a lot about her self, body positivity and how to live in the moment. GREAT vacation / beach read.  

Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner is the start of a new series with the main character a recovering alcoholic who travels around the country working as an independent investigator trying to find missing people.  She is in Boston trying to find a missing Haitian girl in a gritty neighborhood and meets a bunch of interesting people.  

The Tattooist of Auschwitz is based on the true story of Lale Solokov who enters Auschwitz and vows to make it out alive.  I find it so disturbing how humans treated each other.  And in the midst of all this inhumanity the simple kind gestures those inside Auschwitz still bestowed upon others.  It is so very hard to read and I feel like I owe people who have shared their stories my time to listen.  We need to do better, still.  

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah was a disappointment.  It went on too long and I think that coming right after she wrote The Great Alone, which I liked soooo much better, was just too much.  

In a dark, dark wood was also a bit of a downer.  I read her book, One by One, and loved it so I thought I'd go back and read some others of hers.  It just seemed too far fetched of a premise to get people to show up in the same place and then too much deceit and how in the world would none of these people communicate so that they'd figure stuff out and I just couldn't get on board.

The Thirteenth Tale was hard to get into and it did get better but I did do a lot of skimming.  I am not a reader who reads for the love of words.  Or gothic reads.  Or ghost or eeries tales.  So parts of this were really good and parts I was like ooookay.  

Sounder was a read aloud with my oldest and its just so depressing and sad.  We are actually watching the movie together today to compare them.

What were your favorite June reads?

May Reads!

 I read nine books in May and probably would have read more but I spent a week getting ready for our first camping trip/putting our camper together where I didn't read a single thing!

Nobody will tell you this But Me is soo soo good.  Bess Kalb writes about her grandmother and it's perfection. Laugh out loud funny and grab a tissue and sob. Especially if you miss your amazing relationship with your grandma! Her grandma is Jewish and her mother immigrated as a young child by herself. Just the stories. Her grandma's voice really comes through. I follow Bess on twitter and she is a riot.

Searching for Slyvie Lee was a page turner of family dysfunction.  Did someone in the family kill her? Did she wander away? Who did what? I will say the only thing that irked me in the end was a situation that is detailed with her husband and how that is wrapped up.

Royal Holiday was another delightful book in the Wedding Date series. Such great characters!

From the desk of Zoe Washington is a middle grade novel about a girl who gets a letter from her bio dad on her 12th birthday. He's in prison and she's never talked to him before.  

The War I Finally Won is also a middle grade book and a sequel.  I really liked this one better than the first.  It's historical fiction and set in 1940s England during WWII. The 10 year old really liked both books.

Criminal really brings in the backstory of so many characters in this series by Karin Slaughter. It had been awhile since I read any of them and I kinda wanted to re-read now that I have this back story!

Blood Grove was eh, and Virgin Wander started out slow but got good half-way through!

I am already almost done with Missing, Presumed and am loving it.

What should I read this summer?

Currently: April

 We have been spending a lot of time outside and I am hopeful we continue this trend for the next 7 months!

Reading:     The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Loving: that my parents are home from Florida, I'm weeks away from my second vaccine and summer/camping trips are almost here.

Feeling: optimistic and pessimistic. our covid numbers are out of control again and we are just sooo close to being fully vaccinated and school has been going so well.

Anticipating: we are having my husbands siblings over for camping in our yard/ Kentucky Derby party in a few weeks.  It should be a blast.

Struggling: with re-entering society.  trying to decide what is do able and what we shouldn't do.  and trying to keep the 9 year old covid free until she can get vaccinated.  

Grateful: that my parents are home and can be my people again.

Working: on trying to decide what we need in the camper and meal plans and easy to maintain systems for the camper.

Listening: to podcasts but not as many recently since the oldest has been home for spring break.

Watching: lots of murder shows ha.

Wishing: that our dams will be repaired and the lakes will return and our community will continue rebuilding and it won't turn to a complete disaster and my parents wont be charged 3423423434 in taxes to fix others mistakes. 

What are you reading/listening/watching?

 

What I read in March

 I've gone slightly silent again here and that is partly do to changing nap patterns and utilizing my time differently.  We are now in a good routine of a 3 hour nap if we don't have to do a school pick up and at least 2 / 2/1/2 hour if we do.  So in that time frame I have to do all the things I can't do when she's awake so most days that looks like clothes folding, meal prep, working out, and some cleaning.  And usually a tv show and some phone scrolling.  Sometimes reading and most times I don't make time to grab my lap top and I am tireeeeeed at night time.  I mainly can manage phone scrolling and sometimes not even reading cuz it puts me to sleep!

In 2021, I've read nine books each month.  That's pretty consist! I have noticed it seems to either take me 24 hours to read a book or an entire week.  There doesn't seem to be an in between.  Whoops.

I LOOOOVED The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall.  It was just a beautiful book and I recommended it to practically everyone while I was reading it and as I finished it.

I was kind of disappointed by The Stonewall Reader.  Some essays were really good, and some just dragged.  The real personal essays connected better than some that were more focused on gay history in general.

The Same Sweet Girls by Cassandra King was suggested by goodreads as a book others had enjoyed that loved Saving CeeCee Honeycutt.  I LOVED that book, so I've been slowly reading the books that goodreads have suggested.  This was a good book about a group of friends who et in college and get together at least twice a year.  They have a ton of inside jokes and rituals and a boat load of secrets from each other.  It was a nice read.

The Bride Test is the follow up to The Kiss Quotient and it was just as engaging.  Khai's mom finds a woman from Vietnam to come to America to be his wife.  Khai has autism and most decidedly does NOT want a wife.  He definitely doesn't want one messing up his house and routines and can't be bothered.  He doesn't think he can love or feel for people and just wants his routine.  This is just a funny book with great characters and I love the series so far.

Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner had a ton of potential and then just didn't hit it like I thought it could.  I think the characters acting like amateur detectives was the part I didn't like.  It just wasn't written well.  And I hadn't read her books in years until Mrs. Everything and that was SOOOOO good that I was excited about Big Summer ( plus sized instagram influencer in her ex best friends wedding ) but that part of the story line just didn't do it for me.  Good book, but I felt it could have been better.  But heck, I can't write like!

Florence Adler Swims Forever was a really good book.  But it was so gosh darn sad.  I liked it but I can't really do super sad right now.

Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen was another goodreads suggestion and it didn't disappoint either! I really liked it too.  It's set in 1970s Georgia and the main character spends her childhood eating dilly bars at the Dairy Queen dreaming of her life in the big city of Atlanta.  If you enjoyed Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, I'd recommend this one.

The Wedding Party is the third book of Jasmine Guillory's Wedding Date series.  LOVE the series, cracks me up and I'm always flying through the pages.  Highly recommend.  I'm trying to give myself a book a month from this series to stretch it out a bit for myself!

Have Yourself a Fudgy Christmas is anothe
r Candy Coated series book set on Mackinac Island.  I love the series and will probably read it as long as it continues!

Did anything you read in March stand out?

                                                         a bday present from a friend ha!

February Intentions

 Well the thirteenth month of 2020 just ended, ha ha.  My husband and I decided that for once January did not last 34234234234 years, so I guess there is that! Some positives, my father has received both shots of the Pfizer covid-19 vaccine and my mom has had one shot of the Moderna vaccine.  My dad hit two weeks post second shot yesterday, and this coming Monday my mom gets her second.  A little breath is being released there!

For January I had a few intentions..

"The biggest that is taking the most effort is healthier choices time.  My intention for January is to drink 100 ounces of water a day and hit 10,000 steps a day.  So far I've checked that off every day.  I am keeping accountable to myself by recording in Fitbit and posting my completed steps on insta. "

I made it about half way through the month and fell off the water bandwagon.  I just have such a hard time drinking ANYTHING.  It takes me all morning and sometimes afternoon to finish my tumbler of coffee and I just don't feel thirsty and chugging water is so gross to me.  So bad bad bad me.  I also fell off the bandwagon of posting my steps to insta halfway through the month but I finished January with at least 10,000 steps a day so go me!

"Reading wise I went through the year and put down some books that I want to complete during certain months, but with the caveat that if I get to them sooner, that's great, I just needed to work on clearing off some already purchased books and already chosen book club books.

For January, I need to complete Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlin, White Fragility, Nobody Will You This But Me (library dependent) and My life as Villainous by Laura Lippman.  "

I finished all the books except Nobody Will Tell you Thinks BUt Me, but I am on the waiting list! I read nine books overall.

"I also have a list that I'm tackling throughout the year and my first big project on there was locating a spot for my file cabinet that was homeless for a year and going through boxes in our storage area to throwing stuff away.  This I have started. "

I am almost done working on this.  I just hate it.  And I hate being in the basement.  But I have thoroughly cleaned two cabinets and re organized the kitchen set up.  Soooo some stuff got done!

Some basement finds!

February Intentions

Follow a couch to 5k plan I found.  Do that M, W, F.  Hit 10,000 steps on Thursday and Friday.  Don't keep track on Saturday and Sunday.

Finish the filing cabinet.

Read - Brown Girl Dreaming, Homegoing, The Stonewall Reader, and The Dearly Beloved (library dependent).  

Share information about Black History Month and learn more myself.

What are your February Intentions? How did you do on your January Intentions?

What I read in January

I started 2021 off with nine books read.  My favorite were The Wedding Date, Yes, We (Still) Can, White Fragility, and My Life as a Villainess.

The Wedding Date is a hysterical romance.  Alexa meets a guy in the elevator and within an hour she’s going to be his wedding date and it snowballs from there.  Great dialogue, quick movie plot and a very enjoyable read.

I honestly had to wait until the election was over to read Yes, We (Still) Can by Dan Pfeiffer.  It is an engaging read about his time working in politics, mostly for President Obama.  If you listen to Pod Save America or read Alyssa Mastromonaco’s memoir, I would recommend it, even though we are FINALLY passed that presidency, it’s a great read that you can breathe a tad easier reading.

White Fragility is a look at how racism is imbedded into all of society and how white people can get butthurt.  May I recommend it to all the people who just can’t dare to be any more politically correct? Cuz, people this is for you.  Think through history, real history, and take a look at how we are living in a society designed for white people and how that can affect people deemed as other.

My life as a Villainess is an essay collection by Laura Lippman who is one of my favorite authors.  If you have no background on her, I’m not sure it will be your cup of tea, however, check her books out and then head to this one.  Especially, if your inner thoughts turn a bit towards mean.

Keep this To Yourself is YA and it had potential but it never hit it for me. I kept trying to think if it was a YA vs adult read thing, but I think it just didn't hit it for me. I did like that they lived in Camera Cove and was of course thinking Cabot Cove ala Murder She Wrote.

The Distant Dead was decent but it was just sad. Great writing. Nothing wrong there.

The Silent Sister was our book club pick and while I typically love Diane Chamberlin, I felt this one had too much going on for it, too many plot lines and too many ways to try to say 'gotcha!' to the reader. Necessary Lies is still probably my very favorite by her.

Did you read anything amazing in January? How are your reading goals shaping up? For my goals, White Fragility checked a box and My Life as a Villainess checked a box I had for myself.

TGIF

While at one point on Tuesday I thought it was Friday, this week did fly by.  I had a few zoom meetings to attend this week, so it was nice talking with other adults and kids! I have been flying through Chesapeake Shores on Hallmark and plugging along on White Fragility.  I should be finished with it tonight.  I am also working on finalizing my February intentions.  Lots to do today!

My favorite pictures from the week:

The high of my week was the delicious steak sandwich I treated myself to on Wednesday.

The low of my week was nothing was too bad.

Meal plan for the week was 

Monday -  chicken alfredo, roasted broccoli, cottage cheese, veggies and dip

Tuesday -  Cheesy Taco Soup, Chipotle Salad, grapes, baked potato

Wednesday -  Chili dogs, mac and cheese, veggies and dip, cottage cheese

Thursday -  Chicken sandwiches, guacamole/chips, grapes, sweet potatoe fries

Friday - take out.  I think we are getting pizza from a local bar and grill if they are doing a special on it.  Otherwise we may just order off the menu at another local place.

Intention Check In

Saturday - 10,141 steps  / did not hit water goal

Sunday - 10,058 steps / did not hit water goal

Tuesday - 10,102 steps / did not hit water goal

Wednesday - 10,151 steps / did not hit water goal

Thursday - 10,057 steps / did not hit water goal

Yeah, I hate water.  I suck at it. Whoops.

The best money I spent was on nothing really.

What I’m listening to lots of podcasts!

What I’m watching  Chesapeake Shores

What I’m reading: White Fragility

My plans for the weekend include may take the oldest to Barnes and Noble for a quick trip

What are you watching/reading/listening to?

What I'm Reading

 Right now, I am currently on the third chapter of White Fragility by Robin Diangelo.  Much like, Caste by Isabel Wilkerson, I find this is a must read.  If you are truly interested in wondering why people say everyone has racist thoughts/ideas/beliefs when you feel you are 'the least racist' person you know, please try these books with an open mind.  If you also do not understand when people say there is systematic racism in our country, please read these books with an open mind.  It may hurt, you may be angry, but listen.  

If you think "I don't see color," is a good thing to say.  Please re-think that.  Do you want people to look at you and not see what you are??? Do you get mad when people don't use your correct name? When you say you don't see someone as black, that is a HUGE part of themselves.  That is how the world sees them, to ignore that, is to assume they float through life as easily as you do.  THEY DO NOT.

One thing I read so far that stuck out to me, is that to spot racism may have been easier during Jim Crow because at least people were honest about their biases and dislike for black people.  Now, people have entire conversations and do not use the word race, but people can know what they mean.  But, they can turn around and say, 'oh, no that's not what we were talking about.'  Just because you don't say the word!

There are a lot of well meaning people out there and I know people want to do the right thing.  So to do the right thing, you need to get uncomfortable.  When you know better, you do better.

Have you read this book? What are other books on race or class that you've read and recommend?

TGIF

What a week.  So so glad that inauguration is behind us and we can get back to the business of running a competent government.  Also, I've gone 24 plus hours without hearing a certain someones name and it is GLORIOUS.  So nice.  So nice not to worry about what twitter shitstorm he will create while we sleep.  So in book nerd news, I am coaching Battle of the Books for my oldest.  And I have only heard back from two parents about potential times their child can meet over zoom.  Whomp whomp.  It stinks because I cannot go into the school so we have to do all of our meeting on zooms.  And, since some kids are in a different class, THEY cannot get together in the school either.  So many logistics to get around.  But oh hey, parents respond to my email so we can get this show on the road!

My favorite pictures from the week:

My oldest didn't have school on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so we read some books together, watched a civil rights documentary and then did a word search I had leftover from my teaching days, and a coloring sheet I found.

The high of my week was watching Kamala Harris become the first woman vice president!!!!!

The low of my week was my dad having some cancer spots removed.

Meal plan for the week was 

Monday -  Skillet Chili Mac and Cheese, roasted broccoli

Tuesday -  Brisket Tacos, roasted sweet potatoes and corn

Wednesday -  leftovers

Thursday -  Cashew Chicken and cottage cheese (this was delicious!!!) I think I got this idea from Lisa ?

Friday - take out .  I think we are doing Burgers/fries/milkshakes from a local specialty burger food truck turned store front.  and because we are cheap, going through the drive thru for the oldests burger/fries because it's cheaper and she would never be able to finish the burger from the other place.  plus, Burger King to her is a HUUUUUUUUGE treat.

Intention Check In

Saturday - 10,050 steps  / did not hit water goal

Sunday - 10,096 steps / did not hit water goal

Tuesday - 10,195 steps / did not hit water goal

Wednesday - 10,229 steps / did not hit water goal

Thursday - 10,148 steps / did not hit water goal

I really hit a wall in the water department.  I will say that every day I did drink over 50 ounces, but just couldn't quite get to the 100 ounces.

The best money I spent was on nothing really.

What I’m listening to Undistracted by Britney Packnett-Cunningham --- I am trying to catch up on old episodes.  Really liking it! Also catching up on Already Gone.

What I’m watching  Matlock, NCIS...

What I’m reading: about to re-read The Tale of Desperaux for a Battle Book

My plans for the weekend include we need to drop off my nieces birthday present.  Besides that nada.

What are you watching/reading/listening to?

Things I Want To Remember

The way that Adeline grins with her entire face and claps her hands and says “yaaaaay.”  The way Adeline will point to the kitchen and I will say, do you need to nurse? And She will smile and go, “uh uh uh uh,” and then we will settle into my chair and nurse.  The way she slides down off my lap when she’s done nursing and looks at me and waves and says, “bye bye.”  Then I say, “do you need to take a rest,” and she will agree and I will carry her into her room to her sleep sack.  She will wave to the room and say, “byeeee.” All the way to lay down.  Then as I’m putting her window shade down she will snuggle in and make happy noises.

How she beats me up every time we nurse.  Feet kicking my face, hands pulling my hair, and will yell if I'm trying to stop her.

The way she tips her head down when you are carrying her so her face is in your face and then will smile and say your name.

The way she will grab books and say , “boo boo.’ And how I can say, do you want me to read to you? Bring me a book and she will go across the room and bring me some books.

The way she plays in her kitchen and says , “mmmmm” as she cooks.

How excited she gets when she looks out the window and sees trees.  She will point and say, “treeeeee.’

Also, her love of cheese.

The way she yells at our Roomba, “stteeeeeeeve,” whenever he is running or when she seems him in the corner.

The way she yells, “weeeeeeeeee” as she flies down the hill in her sled.

The way she lays down and is a completely dead weight model as you are trying to get her ready to go outside.  Equally parts funny, helpful, and not helpful.  She also removes her socks in about 2 seconds after they are on her feet.

The way she yells for her sister, “EYE YA, EYE YA, EE YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA”.

How excited she gets when she seems my mom and nestles into her.

The way she waves at people on the TV because she thinks it’s a zoom call and they can talk back.

Her love of music.

The way she listens intently.

The way she grabs your face and then hugs you with her arms around you tight.

The way she calls me, “mum, mum.”

2020 Reading Stats

 Time for my 2020 Reading Recap. This may be slightly inaccurate as it is based upon my faulty sleep deprived memory! 

 How many books read in 2020? – 81! Which was 7 less than 2019.  My goal for 2020 was 60, so I succeeded that goal!

How many fiction and non-fiction? 8 non-fiction, which was 3 more than last year.  My favorite non-fiction I read was Caste: The Origins of our Discontent by Isabel Wilkerson.  I’ve been recommending this book to EVERYONE.  73 fiction books and out of those I have recommended Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner to many people!

Male/Female author ratio? 62 women (a few repeats), 12 men, and 1 that uses they/them pronouns.  Some authors I really enjoyed this year are Jason Reynolds, Dan Gemeinhart, Ruth Ware, and Jenny Han.

Which author was new to you in 2019 that you now want to read the entire works of? Ruth Ware or Helen Hoang.

Favorite book read in 2019?  Besides the two I mentioned before I also really enjoyed The Parker Inheritance, The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, Felix Ever After, The Kiss Quotient, Anxious People, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, The Giver of Stars, Burn Baby Burn, The Bookish Life of Nina Hill and The Hate U Give.

 

 

Least favorite? Probably Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie or November Road by Lou Berney

Any that you simply couldn’t finish and why? I think the only one I didn’t finish was Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library.  The 9 year old and I started it together and then she finished it by herself and I meant to finish it and I never got back to it.  We own it, but I do plan on getting to it!

How many pages did you read? 26,152

 

How many books from the library? 64! Which is 11 more than last year. I’ve really utilized our library, especially since they finally eliminated late fees and no fees to reserve books!

How many books read did I purchase? I think 6 of these, not all last year.  I bought a TON of books, but mostly for the girls and gifts.

How many were gifts?  3 I think.

How many borrowed from others? I borrowed one from my mom.

How many were given to me for reviews? 3 and I won one of the books I read in a goodreads giveaway.

How many books read on kindle? The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah.

Any re-reads? Saving CeeCee Honeycutt.  My book club picked it and it was one of my favorites from when I read it.

 

Which countries did you go to through the page in your year of reading? United States, England, Ireland, Nigeria, France, Sweden, Iceland, Qatar, Germany, Australia, and Pakistan.

 

 

What states did you go through the page in your year of reading? New York, Michigan, Alaska, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, West Virginia Georgia, Minnesota, Ohio, Alabama, Washington D.C. (calling it a state), South Carolina, Maine, Tennessee, Idaho, California, Oklahoma, Texas, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Mississippi, Virginia, and Louisiana.

Which book wouldn’t you have read without someone’s specific recommendation?  The Butterfly Garden, The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, and The Parker Inheritance.

Which author did you read the most of? 3, Charlaine Harris, 2 Susan Boyers, 2 Patricia Harman, 2 Linda Castillo, and 2 Nic Stone.

What was your best reading month? September.  I read 11 books then.

What was your worst reading month? May, I only read 2 books.

 

I seemed to average about 8 per month for the most part.



Top Ten Reading Moments of 2020

 

-      Having the 9 year old recommend books for me to read.

-      Reading on the porch.

-      Reading with both of my girls.

-      Talking about books with the 9 year old.

-      Discussing Educated with Book Club.

-      Making the cookie recipe in the Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder book

-      Discussing Amal Unbound with the nine year old

-      Reading my first graphic novel

-      Reserving books through my libraries pick up with NO CHARGE!!! (Big deal because it used to be 25 cents per hold!!!)

-      Have the one year old sing and dance to Down by the Bay 243434234 times

2020 Reading Goals - Revisited

Read 60 books. – Success! I read 81. 

2.   Read more books from my shelf and clear them out.  – This did not go so well.  With the ease of curbside pick ups and not charging for library holds, I read a TON of library books this year. 

3.   Write more about what I read. – FAIL.  FAIL FAIL FAIL.  I blame lack of sleep, a baby, and the pandemic.  Whoops. 

 

 

2021 Goals

 

1.   Read 60 Books

2.   Read 12 books from my shelves.

3.   Read 12 books that my friends have read.

4.   Read a biography of a president or first lady.

5.   Use Book Riot’s Read Harder challenge as a way to find books to read when I need one.

How many books did you read this year? Did you complete your 2020 reading goals? What are your goals for 2020? Which author did you read the most of? What was your most recommended book? What book do I NEED to read in 2021?