tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89687272569254515122023-11-16T05:31:49.336-06:00R Squared: Reading + RachelAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937088195052064420noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968727256925451512.post-51237465656471515142016-09-01T11:13:00.007-05:002016-09-01T11:13:54.526-05:00Month in Review: August 2016<div style="text-align: center;">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Month in Review: August 2016</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, I'm back. Summer was summery. The kids
fought too much, and I am delighted to have them back in school.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I read an astonishing 24 books in August,
although at least one of them was very short. After a summer reading adult
books almost exclusively, I got back into reading kidlit and YA to keep up with
the Missouri state readers awards in those categories. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Adult books (mostly fiction)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1. Along the Infinite Sea by Beatriz Williams -
My first Williams novel. This was for my in-person book club, and it was just
okay for me. As with most dual storyline novels, I felt like the storyline set
more in the past was the stronger one and carried very little for the other
narrative stream. My book group seemed to really like it though. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2. Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson - This
was great, but not as great as Brown Girl, Dreaming. Seriously if I could get
everyone to read Brown Girl, I would. My sci fi/fantasy-loving husband did, and
he loved it too. But Another Brooklyn was good, and short. It leaves you
wanting more. It is about a group of girls growing up in Brooklyn in the 1970s.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3. Arrowood by Laura McHugh - This was pretty
good. It is about a woman who returns to the Iowa town where she and her family
had lived before her sisters' disappearance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4. Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn -
Dennis-Benn's first novel is a powerful story about a family of women living in
Jamaica. It is about the desperate pressures of poverty and getting by. This
was one seriously messed up family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi - Another amazing
debut novel! Also depressing. Two girls in Ghana live very different lives, and
we watch as their families' stories continue to diverge through the
generations. It covers 300 years of colonization and African and American history. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6. Imagine Me Gone by Adam Haslett - A wonderful
novel about the reverberations of mental illness in a family and the
medicalization of mental illness and how we treat it. Chilling. Also it gets
bonus points for introducing me to kratom the week before it became a banned
substance. I saw a story on it last night and was like, "Oh! Oh! I know
what that is!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7. March: Book Two by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin,
& Nate Powell - Part two of John Lewis's graphic novel that follows him on
his journey from college student to political activist and major player in the
Civil Rights Movement. Book Two covers the Freedom Riders and the March on
Washington.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8. Siracusa by Delia Ephron - Two couples travel
to Italy together and come back changed. Not my cup of tea, but I knew that
going in. I just wanted to be entertained. I wish it had come together
differently. The big event that we learn about at the end was a major turn-off
for me, and the teasing style annoyed me at times. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9. Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel - Honestly
I finished this on August 1, and it feels so long ago. A sci fi novel. We
discover something strange buried in the earth, and it goes from there. I am
not sure what would be considered a spoiler, so I will leave it at that. I
liked the characters and their interactions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10. The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood
- Another one that feels like I read it ages ago. A chilling premise that feels
too possible in this day and age. Then I find out that it is loosely based on
something that happened in Australia in the 70s! This one gets bonus points for
its feminist themes. Feminism is my jam.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">11. The Sport of Kings by C. E. Morgan - A
sweeping saga about a man and his horse farm. Sort of. But also racism, family,
and a powerful critique of our social structures. This felt overly long. The
author tended to wax poetic at times, and it didn't always work for me. Morgan
is definitely a talented writer, but WTH was that ending? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12. The Story of My Tits by Jennifer Hayden - A
graphic memoir about author's life with her breasts: starting with their
development and ending with her battle with breast cancer and covering all of
her life and relationships in-between. I picked this up partly because I know
someone with the same name as the author, then that friend was diagnosed with
breast cancer. It was good, not great.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">13. Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters - A
novel set in an USA where the Civil War didn't happen, not only is there still
slavery in a handful of states, but racism everywhere seems to be more overt. A
slave catcher, a sort of undercover operative of the US Marshals Service, is
hunting an escaped slave in Indianapolis. I thought this was very interesting,
but it suffered in comparison to the next novel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">14. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
- I am going to tell you right away that this novel is part historical fiction
and part speculative fiction. I didn't realize that going in and was very
confused until I learned to just roll with its anachronisms and inaccuracies
and embrace the journey. It is a classic hero's quest story, and it is
phenomenal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">15. The Unseen World by Liz Moore - A girl tries
to crack the code of her father's mysterious past. This was a pageturner for
me. Well, really, I listened to it, but I finished it in just 1-2 days, which
means I listened at every available minute. It has faded a little since I
finished it, but still a good literary novel with a hint of science fiction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">16. Girls & Sex by Peggy Orenstein - I took
a huge break in the middle of reading this to finish things that had to be read
right then, and the book suffered for it. Ultimately I would recommend this to
anyone raising daughters. I have boys, but I read it because 1) feminism, and
2) I want to raise my sons to be good people who are respectful to women.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Young Adult books<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">17. Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway - A
preliminary nominee for the 2017-2018 Missouri Gateway Readers Award. Emmy
& Oliver are best friends, when Oliver is kidnapped by his father. He is
returned 10 years later, and they struggle to reconnect. This was just okay for
me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">18. Falls the Shadow by Stefanie Gaither - A
girl's sister dies and is replaced by a clone, then the clone is involved in a
death. Is it part of a larger plot? I found this one's premise more interesting
than the previous book, but it was still just okay for me. Falls the Shadow is
a 2016-2017 Missouri Truman Readers Award nominee. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">19. Some Boys by Patty Blount - Grace says she
was raped at a party, but everyone at school seems to be on his side. She is
bullied and made miserable, but refuses to hide or back down from her story.
Does it matter that he used to be her boyfriend or that she was drinking and
dressed provocatively? This was good. Some Boys is a 2016-2017 Missouri Gateway
Readers Award nominee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">20. What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler - Kate went to
a party, got drunk, and was escorted home by a male friend. After she left a
girl may have been raped. This book focuses more on the people who stand by and
do nothing. The girl that was raped is only in it briefly. The focus is on Kate
as she struggles to figure out what happened and how it affects her
relationships with her classmates. I found this more thought-provoking than
Some Girls. What We Saw is a preliminary nominee for the 2017-2018 Missouri
Gateway Readers award. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Middle Grade books<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">21. Red Berries, White Clouds, Blue Sky by
Sandra Dallas - A somewhat simplistic story about a girl whose family is
interned in a camp in rural Colorado during World War II. This could be a good
introduction for kids to a troubling episode in our nation's history. A
2016-2017 nominee for the Missouri Mark Twain Readers award.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">22. The Lost Tribes by C. Taylor-Butler - A good
middle-grade sci-fi adventure story about a group of kids who are starting to
suspect that their parents are more than they seem to be. The book features a
racially diverse group of kids. (Disclaimer: The author is a friend of a
friend.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">23. The Worst Class Trip Ever by Dave Barry - A
wildly implausible story about a group of eighth grade kids who suspect that
the people sitting behind them on an airplane are up to no good and set out to
foil their terrorist plot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So many good books this month, but the standout
favorite is The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead. So, so good it makes
it hard to think about other books.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
<o:PixelsPerInch>96</o:PixelsPerInch>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="381">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Mention"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">24. Harriet the Invincible by Ursula Vernon - An
easy read with lots of pictures good for a child that is reading chapter books.
My boys both enjoyed Vernon’s Dragonbreath series, so I picked this one up to
see what it was like.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
**I am having huge problems getting images to copy into my blog right now, so I am skipping pictures of book covers for right now. I am not sure if it is me, or Blogger, or my new to me Mac. Anyway, I apologize.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937088195052064420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968727256925451512.post-5007097328053291602016-05-19T15:11:00.001-05:002016-05-19T15:11:55.987-05:00Review: The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messud<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<img alt="The Woman Upstairs" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1345666863l/15701217.jpg" width="134" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15701217-the-woman-upstairs" target="_blank">The Woman Upstairs</a></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Claire Messud</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
A. A. Knopf</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2013</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
First lines: "How angry am I? You don't want to know. Nobody wants to know about <i>that</i>."</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The next paragraph is actually pretty freaking brilliant and sets the tone for the book really well.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>The Woman Upstairs</i> is Nora Eldridge, third grade teacher and part-time artist. Never married. As Nora explains it, the woman upstairs is not Ralph Ellison's invisible man in the basement or Bronte's madwoman in the attic: she is "the quiet woman at the end of the third-floor hallway, whose trash is always tidy, who always smiles brightly in the stairwell with a cheerful greeting, and who, from behind closed doors, never makes a sound" (6). She lives Thoreau's life of "quiet desperation". In her 37th year, Nora becomes entangled with the family of a foreign student, and it changes her. Or maybe not exactly changes her, but wakes her up and makes her no longer able to continue in the life she was living.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I enjoyed the heck out of this book. I have seen people complain about Nora's unlikeableness, and frankly that is not a big concern of mine. I want characters who feel real. I think most of us have something unlikeable about us, and if a book was written, it might not be about my good side. We could write a book about Nora's years as a teacher, of caring for her ailing mother, of being a dutiful daughter to her father. But where is the fun in that? </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I would love to have a discussion with someone about this book. Why is Nora so angry? What do you make of the fact that Nora seems to have inherited her anger from her mother despite the fact that their lives turned out so differently? Or were they so different after all?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
***I hadn't intended to write an actual review, but I had more to say than I realized! Back soon, with mini-reviews of the other books I have been reading...</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937088195052064420noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968727256925451512.post-22912932751063567362016-05-16T11:39:00.001-05:002016-05-16T11:39:39.525-05:00It's Monday, May 16th! What Are You Reading?<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="badge" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNp-HpHNg9fMEGD7occUgZFZa4G6xhwytsvEfThg8PAFS7Xv6BIITmXg5pi8Kw6_ulrMrqk177iyb1VSUL8sKBdgGwyouxafqnYhboXLdCqUM-qQxesbuSiv7mTOcx4pyxXQtXi3-NQ/s200/It%2527s+Monday%2521+What+Are+You+Reading.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It is a new week and time for the weekly Monday post. "It's Monday! What Are You Reading?" is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://bookdate.blogspot.com/2016/05/its-monday-what-are-you-reading_16.html" target="_blank">Kathryn at The Book Date</a> that gives bloggers a chance to share what they have been reading and what they plan to read next.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Here is what I am currently reading:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="The Woman Upstairs" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1345666863l/15701217.jpg" width="134" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I am listening to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15701217-the-woman-upstairs" target="_blank"><i>The Woman Upstairs</i> by Claire Messud</a>. This is one from my backlist must list. I have the physical book checked out also, so I imagine I will get through this one quickly.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="The Lost Tribes" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1424307500l/24728342.jpg" width="133" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I am also in the middle of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24728342-the-lost-tribes" target="_blank"><i>The Lost Tribes</i> by C. Taylor-Butler</a>. The author is the friend of the sister of my friend, and I'd meant to read it when it first came out last year, but I forgot. So far, so good. I look forward to learning more about another culture.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Other than <i>Inkspell</i>, which my son and I are still reading together, that is it for right now!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I still have a few on deck from last week, <i>The Excellent Lombards</i>, <i>Big Girls Don't Cry</i>, and <i>Sunday's on the Phone to Monday</i>. I have more audiobooks on deck than I can hope to get read before they are due, but my home fiction shelf has been winnowed down to things that I really want to read. Here is a sampling of what I have available right now.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Kill 'Em and Leave: Searching for James Brown and the American Soul" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1455502562l/25489088.jpg" width="140" /><img alt="Golden Age (Last Hundred Years: A Family Saga #3)" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1432679277l/25241466.jpg" width="134" /><img alt="Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1453060710l/25852784.jpg" width="136" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Americanah" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1356654499l/15796700.jpg" width="134" /><img alt="Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1: No Normal" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1413031883l/20898019.jpg" width="130" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What are you reading this week?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937088195052064420noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968727256925451512.post-27519986105268802882016-05-12T09:41:00.002-05:002016-05-12T09:41:49.818-05:00Thursday Thoughts, May 12th - Diversity<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Armchair BEA" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYe0ufw0aMkjDKhOgU7y8sD-HKeaHJ3kJxZOS6sCK0H18IyEvbEBZOe4P0qu6h0-1qtVfXd9c4qzQV7agHe1yCuTaUYx2cetpgO5eyQQksgkVuj1vsKKYuatxRxHSvjX9A9PjtMZL_7pz/s200/ArmchairBEA+LogoExample.png" width="200" /></div>
<br />
First, I stole this topic from <a href="http://www.armchairbea.com/" target="_blank">Armchair BEA</a>. Although I am not a participant this year, I am following along. Yesterday ABEA asked people to introduce themselves, then talk about diversity.<br />
<br />
Diversity is pretty important to me. I have a spreadsheet where I keep track of my reading. In addition to title and author, I also track genre, format, source, year of publication, and the gender and nationality of author. I also have a somewhat fuzzy category that I call diversity. It is a simple 0/1 entry that I can then total at the end of the year/month/etc.<br />
<br />
Initially it represented the author's race/ethnicity and sexual orientation, but I have started giving myself credit for other differences, like mental or physical disabilities. This is problematic. If the author doesn't have a disability, should it count? How do you know what connection the author has to a disability? I don't count books written by white people about African-Americans as diverse books, i.e., Sue Monk Kidd, Kathryn Stockett, or even Harper Lee. Why should I count a book written by a healthy person about a person with a disability?<br />
<br />
Rarely is the answer easy. A good example of an easily categorized book is <i>The Reason I Jump</i> by Naoki Higashida. The author is actually autistic. But what about Steve Silberman's <i>NeuroTribes</i> that looks at the history of autism? Steve Silberman is not autistic, but he's written a sensitive portrayal of autism. Should it count?<br />
<br />
Even things that seem more straightforward can be confusing. Is an author Latina or racially mixed? Can you tell from an author photo? Do you read their bio? Is this a good use of my time? Sexual orientation can be even trickier. And transgender. The book <i>Becoming Nicole</i> by Amy Ellis Nutt is in the same tricky category as Silberman's book. Or what about <i>Challenger Deep</i> by Neal Shusterman which is a fictionalized account of his son's descent into schizophrenia and features artwork by his son? Shusterman is also Jewish. Does that count? Do they have to be practicing Jews or write about actively Jewish characters for it to count? <br />
<br />
The diversity column is my least favorite column on my spreadsheet. I want to read diverse books, but how do I know which books are diverse?<br />
<br />
What do you think?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937088195052064420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968727256925451512.post-52329966580104007142016-05-09T16:14:00.002-05:002016-05-09T16:14:17.570-05:00It's Monday, May 9th! What Are You Reading?<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="badge" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNp-HpHNg9fMEGD7occUgZFZa4G6xhwytsvEfThg8PAFS7Xv6BIITmXg5pi8Kw6_ulrMrqk177iyb1VSUL8sKBdgGwyouxafqnYhboXLdCqUM-qQxesbuSiv7mTOcx4pyxXQtXi3-NQ/s200/It%2527s+Monday%2521+What+Are+You+Reading.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It is another new week and time for the weekly Monday post. "It's Monday! What Are You Reading?" is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date, where bloggers share what they have been reading and what they plan to read in the next week.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I can't believe another week is over! I am not sure where last week went!!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Anyway, here is what I am currently reading:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1461904020l/23604559.jpg" width="133" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23604559-my-grandmother-asked-me-to-tell-you-she-s-sorry" target="_blank"><i>My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry</i> by Fredrik Backman</a> is my first Backman. Initially I was overwhelmed by the sheer quirkiness of its characters, but it has grown on me. I am not sure if I will pick up more of his books though.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1384018847l/16113737.jpg" width="131" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I had <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16113737-the-reason-i-jump" target="_blank"><i>The Reason I Jump</i> by Naoki Higashida</a> on my one of my "It's Monday" lists last month, but now I have actually started it. It is pretty interesting. It was written by a thirteen year old Japanese boy who is severely autistic and largely non-speaking.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Tuesday Nights in 1980" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1459703573l/25814192.jpg" width="132" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I am listening to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25814192-tuesday-nights-in-1980" target="_blank"><i>Tuesday Nights in 1980</i> by Molly Prentiss</a>. It's good. It centers on a handful of characters connected in some way to the art scene in New York City in 1980.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I have a few books on deck.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="The Excellent Lombards" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1462089603l/26031214.jpg" width="133" /><img alt="Big Girls Don't Cry: The Election that Changed Everything for American Women" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328773454l/8392798.jpg" width="151" /><img alt="Sunday's on the Phone to Monday" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1462663671l/25814219.jpg" width="133" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="The Serpent King" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1435673762l/22752127.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="Every Heart a Doorway" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1431438555l/25526296.jpg" width="133" /><img alt="Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1417410395l/13153693.jpg" width="132" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What are you reading this week?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937088195052064420noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968727256925451512.post-11369264477790025672016-05-02T10:46:00.004-05:002016-05-02T10:46:52.049-05:00It's Monday, May 2nd! What Are You Reading?<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="badge" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNp-HpHNg9fMEGD7occUgZFZa4G6xhwytsvEfThg8PAFS7Xv6BIITmXg5pi8Kw6_ulrMrqk177iyb1VSUL8sKBdgGwyouxafqnYhboXLdCqUM-qQxesbuSiv7mTOcx4pyxXQtXi3-NQ/s200/It%2527s+Monday%2521+What+Are+You+Reading.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It's a new week and time for the weekly Monday post! "It's Monday! What Are You Reading?" is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://bookdate.blogspot.com/2016/05/its-monday-what-are-you-reading.html" target="_blank">Kathryn at The Book Date</a>. It gives bloggers a chance to share with they have been reading and what they plan to read next.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It's a new month! Happy May! Only 16 more days of school left for the kids.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Here is what I am currently reading:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1447463920l/25810500.jpg" width="127" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25810500-what-is-not-yours-is-not-yours" target="_blank"><i>What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours</i> by Helen Oyeyemi</a> is a book of short stories. I've only read the first 2 so far, and, while I prefer longer form fiction, they have both been very interesting.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="The Memory of Light" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1435706701l/25665016.jpg" width="128" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I am listening to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25665016-the-memory-of-light" target="_blank"><i>The Memory of Light</i> by Francisco X. Stork</a>, read by Frankie Corzo. After Vicki's suicide attempt, she finds herself in a state mental hospital. There she makes friends and tries to understand what drove her to try to commit suicide and how to get well. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Maniac Magee" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1395884800l/139463.jpg" width="139" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I am also reading <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/139463.Maniac_Magee" target="_blank"><i>Maniac Magee</i> by Jerry Spinelli</a><i>. </i>This is my first Spinelli. It won the Newbery Medal back in 1991, so it seemed like a good place to start.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And that is what I'm currently reading. Up next, I have a few books. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
On audio:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="The Passenger" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1456682660l/26154406.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="The Serpent King" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1435673762l/22752127.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="Private Citizens" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1439498459l/25817440.jpg" width="132" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And in print:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="All Stories Are Love Stories" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1453682619l/25816865.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="Eleven Hours" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1458601080l/26096924.jpg" width="129" /><img alt="The Hidden Oracle (The Trials of Apollo, #1)" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1449765273l/26252859.jpg" width="132" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What are you reading this week?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937088195052064420noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968727256925451512.post-85670108095699980902016-04-30T10:29:00.000-05:002016-04-30T10:29:35.656-05:00(Tri-) Weekly Review, Saturday, April 30thWow! I have been putting off my weekly reviews for almost 3 weeks now, which means that I have 20 books to cover. It also means that since April 10th I have finished a book a day, which seems crazy. Tomorrow is the last day of April, and before I can summarize my month, I need to get caught up on my reviews. Sorry, these will be super short!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Out of Darkness" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1449766386l/25256386.jpg" width="141" /><img alt="The Naturals (The Naturals, #1)" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1374862751l/13597723.jpg" width="131" /><img alt="The Monsters of Templeton" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1440991869l/1850102.jpg" width="131" /></div>
<br />
1. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25256386-out-of-darkness" target="_blank"><i>Out of Darkness</i> by Ashley Hope Perez</a> - YA historical fiction about the worst school disaster in U.S. history; also racism; 4 stars.<br />
<br />
2. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13597723-the-naturals" target="_blank"><i>The Naturals</i> by Jennifer Lynn Barnes</a> - YA nominee for Gateway Readers Award about a teenager who is recruited by the FBI to analyze cold cases but ends up in the middle of an active investigation; 3 stars.<br />
<br />
3. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1850102.The_Monsters_of_Templeton" target="_blank"><i>The Monsters of Templeton</i> by Lauren Groff</a> - Adult fiction novel about a twenty-something woman who returns to her hometown of Templeton and spends the summer trying to sort out her life and figure out who her daddy is based on old letters and diary entries. 3.5 stars.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="The Nest" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1461354827l/25781157.jpg" width="130" /><img alt="Inkheart (Inkworld, #1)" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328866790l/28194.jpg" width="137" /><img alt="Thousand Words" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1352312661l/15790870.jpg" width="132" /></div>
<br />
4. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25781157-the-nest" target="_blank"><i>The Nest</i> by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney</a> - Adult fiction novel about a group of adult siblings who were relying on getting an inheritance when the youngest sister turned 40, but find out Mom spent the money on big brother, and they are left trying to figure out how to clean up the financial messes they are in. 4 stars.<br />
<br />
5. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28194.Inkheart" target="_blank"><i>Inkheart </i>by Cornelia Funke</a> - Juvenile fiction novel about a man who can read people and animals out of a book and is being hunted by an evil book villain because of it. 4 stars.<br />
<br />
6. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15790870-thousand-words" target="_blank"><i>Thousand Words</i> by Jennifer Brown</a> - YA nominee for Gateway Readers Award about a girl who sends her boyfriend a naked picture of herself and ends up paying for it. 3 stars.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Ways to Disappear" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1448987159l/25746685.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="Alexander Hamilton" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1436131915l/16130.jpg" width="129" /><img alt="All Our Yesterdays" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1370046261l/13514612.jpg" width="133" /></div>
<br />
7. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25746685-ways-to-disappear" target="_blank"><i>Ways to Disappear</i> by Idra Novey</a> - Adult fiction novel about a woman who travels to Brazil to look for the missing author whose work she translates. She meets up with the author's children and misadventures ensue. It is both thoughtful and light. 3.5 stars.<br />
<br />
8. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16130.Alexander_Hamilton" target="_blank"><i>Alexander Hamilton</i> (abridged) by Ron Chernow</a> - Adult nonfiction about one of the U.S.'s founding fathers. I checked out the audiobook from the library not realizing it was abridged until I downloaded it, but in the end I think it was detailed enough for me. 4 stars.<br />
<br />
9. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13514612-all-our-yesterdays" target="_blank"><i>All Our Yesterdays</i> by Cristin Terrill</a> - YA nominee for Gateway Readers Award about a girl who is trying to stop the creation of a time machine. 3.5 stars.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Gaby, Lost and Found" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362537693l/17166339.jpg" width="131" /><img alt="The Rules for Disappearing (The Rules for Disappearing, #1)" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1352817095l/13018503.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="Rapunzel Untangled" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1354573414l/16225157.jpg" width="133" /></div>
<br />
10. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17166339-gaby-lost-and-found" target="_blank"><i>Gaby, Lost and Found</i> by Angela Cervantes</a> - Juvenile fiction nominee for Twain Readers Award about a girl whose mom has been deported to Honduras. 3 stars.<br />
<br />
11. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13018503-the-rules-for-disappearing" target="_blank"><i>The Rules for Disappearing</i> by Ashley Elston</a> - YA nominee for Gateway Readers Award about a girl in the witness protection program with her family, but they won't tell her why. 3.5 stars.<br />
<br />
12. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16225157-rapunzel-untangled" target="_blank"><i>Rapunzel Untangled</i> by Cindy C. Bennett</a> - YA nominee for Truman Readers Award about a girl who is trapped in a tower (modern retelling of Rapunzel). 2.5 stars.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="The Summer Before the War" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1443294379l/25776122.jpg" width="137" /><img alt="The Queen of the Night" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1460425080l/17912498.jpg" width="134" /><img alt="13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1445534207l/25716567.jpg" width="130" /></div>
<br />
13. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25776122-the-summer-before-the-war" target="_blank"><i>The Summer Before the War</i> by Helen Simonson</a> - Adult fiction novel about a woman who is trying to make her living as a latin teacher in the town of Rye, England, at the beginning of WWI. 3.5 stars.<br />
<br />
14. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17912498-the-queen-of-the-night" target="_blank"><i>The Queen of the Night</i> by Alexander Chee</a> - Adult fiction novel about an opera singer whose past has come to find her. 4 stars.<br />
<br />
15. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25716567-13-ways-of-looking-at-a-fat-girl" target="_blank"><i>13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl</i> by Mona Awad</a> - Adult fiction novel that follows a girl who struggles with her weight into adulthood, meeting her in different stages of her life in each of 13 chapters. I thought it was a smart but uneven discussion of the body image issues that plague us. 4 stars.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="All American Boys" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1444506678l/25657130.jpg" width="133" /><img alt="Jane Steele" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1443463785l/25938397.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="One Good Turn (Jackson Brodie, #2)" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1442945693l/501124.jpg" width="133" /></div>
<br />
16. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25657130-all-american-boys" target="_blank"><i>All American Boys</i> by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely</a> - YA novel about police brutality. Very straightforward but still manages to tease out a lot of the surrounding issues. 4.5 stars.<br />
<br />
17. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25938397-jane-steele" target="_blank"><i>Jane Steele</i> by Lyndsay Faye</a> - Adult fiction novel that re-imagines Jane Eyre as a murderess with a conscience. Not great literature, just great fun. 4.5 stars.<br />
<br />
18. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/501124.One_Good_Turn" target="_blank"><i>One Good Turn</i> by Kate Atkinson</a> - Adult fiction novel in which Jackson Brodie travels to Edinburgh where he witnesses a couple crimes and encounters a lot of interesting characters. 3.5 stars.<br />
<br />
<img alt="Only Love Can Break Your Heart" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1442616440l/24001098.jpg" width="131" /><img alt="Margaret the First" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1447140898l/25943007.jpg" width="133" /><br />
<br />
19. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24001098-only-love-can-break-your-heart" target="_blank"><i>Only Love Can Break Your Heart</i> by Ed Tarkington</a> - Adult fiction novel in which Rocky grows up in a small Virginia town and experiences heartbreak. Also filled with interesting characters. 3.5 stars.<br />
<br />
20. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25943007-margaret-the-first" target="_blank"><i>Margaret the First</i> by Danielle Dutton</a> - Adult fiction novel about Margaret Cavendish (1623-1673), an English noblewoman during the interregnum and restoration, known for her writing and offbeat sense of style. That outfit that she wore to the theater! 3.5 stars.<br />
<br />
Random spoilery thought: I was thinking about the book that Bea almost writes in <i>The Nest</i> because I knew it reminded me of something, and I finally figured it out: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/125502.What_I_Loved" target="_blank"><i>What I Loved</i> by Siri Hustvedt</a>. Hustvedt is married to author Paul Auster, and <i>What I Loved</i> is based loosely on something that happened to/near Auster's son from his first marriage.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937088195052064420noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968727256925451512.post-52157138155411280712016-04-29T09:25:00.002-05:002016-04-29T09:27:10.841-05:00Thursday Thoughts on Friday, April 29th - The List<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZl3uo-R7mACDsvEh9AGX8bFccj-7rYOneITUT1qDVEPkPuAfFNyx3HKdCJaUwGKYfFXeHwcrIgMAu7qOADZgS6Dwevfu1qlCiYBIZ-SZNfOul7kOCc-_DryMuC_YpZ6aQTJVNz1f009s/s200/Friday.JPG" /></div>
<br />
On March 15, I participated in my first Top Ten Tuesday of 2016. It was "Top Ten Books on Your Spring TBR" and while I focused on new books on my list, I made a separate list on a notecard of authors whose backlist I wanted to read. It started as 10 authors and ballooned to 20 (although really 19 because one author was repeated twice). In the intervening month and a half, I've read books by 4 of the authors on the original list of 10, and it's actually been kind of great. I think I'm going to give myself 3 months to get through as many of the 10 as I can, then I will start a new list.<br />
<br />
The 10:<br />
<br />
1. <b>Jennifer Egan</b><br />
2. <b>Kate Atkinson </b><br />
3. <b>Lauren Groff</b><br />
4. Fredrik Backman<br />
5. Kazuo Ishiguro<br />
6. <b>Hannah Kent</b><br />
7. A. S. King<br />
8. Claire Messud<br />
9. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie<br />
10. C. Taylor-Butler<br />
<br />
The list has a clear female bias. 8 of the 10 authors are women. Fredrik Backman and Kazuo Ishiguro being the token men. 8 of the 10 also write adult fiction. A. S. King writes young adult fiction, and C. Taylor-Butler is actually someone I've met in real life at a friend's lake house. Her book is middle grade fiction. 3 of the 10 are authors of color. The authors in bold are the ones I've read since March 15th.<br />
<br />
Who would be on your list of backlist authors?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937088195052064420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968727256925451512.post-51757387642198227192016-04-27T11:16:00.003-05:002016-04-27T11:16:59.054-05:00Library Love, Wednesday, April 27th<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0t3VpaiDtijCha92wNPRn1YAg6GNY5G4dMTKXlA81z7GpaKycXAxQym-wFm7_aRV7O6Nc33Swr5xYFlk1UwEFmyBgzZLV_zQ5CHoGtEE98-mX04s3JEWk_a_7spbRYFFpzrry2-i5ps/s200/IMG_8090b.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It's been a couple weeks since I posted a library update. I try to keep all of my library books on one shelf. At the time of my last writing, I had one shelf plus another 8-10 books that had to be stacked in front. Recognizing that things had gotten a little out of hand, I suspended all of my library holds. This has slowed things down considerably. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Here are my checkouts for the last 2 weeks:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
From the library where I work:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="In the Unlikely Event" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1421711380l/23899174.jpg" width="134" /><img alt="The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1384018847l/16113737.jpg" width="131" /><img alt="Odd and the Frost Giants" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1323790894l/2108198.jpg" width="130" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Gorsky" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1427564155l/23346725.jpg" width="140" /><img alt="Big Girls Don't Cry: The Election That Changed Everything for American Women" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1282581723l/7545147.jpg" width="150" /><img alt="Inkspell (Inkworld, #2)" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1395358683l/28195.jpg" width="153" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23899174-in-the-unlikely-event" target="_blank"><i>In the Unlikely Event</i> by Judy Blume</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16113737-the-reason-i-jump" target="_blank"><i>The Reason I Jump</i> by Naoki Higashida</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2108198.Odd_and_the_Frost_Giants" target="_blank"><i>Odd and the Frost Giants</i> by Neil Gaiman</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23346725-gorsky" target="_blank"><i>Gorsky </i>by Vesna Goldsworthy</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7545147-big-girls-don-t-cry" target="_blank"><i>Big Girls Don't Cry</i> by Rebecca Traister</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28195.Inkspell" target="_blank"><i>Inkspell </i>by Cornelia Funke</a></li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
From the library across town that has a more diverse collection:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="The Physics of Sorrow" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1415678093l/23129709.jpg" width="129" /><img alt="The Story of My Tits" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1433286485l/25652567.jpg" width="199" /><img alt="Guapa" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1445792162l/25739241.jpg" width="133" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Laurus" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1429675607l/24694092.jpg" width="130" /><img alt="Margaret the First" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1447140898l/25943007.jpg" width="133" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23129709-the-physics-of-sorrow" target="_blank"><i>The Physics of Sorrow</i> by Georgi Gospodinov</a><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25652567-the-story-of-my-tits" target="_blank"><i>The Story of My Tits</i> by Jennifer Hayden</a><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25739241-guapa" target="_blank"><i>Guapa </i>by Saleem Haddad</a><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24694092-laurus" target="_blank"><i>Laurus </i>by Evgenij Vodolazkin</a><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25943007-margaret-the-first" target="_blank"><i>Margaret the First</i> by Danielle Dutton</a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And on e-audio:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<img alt="The Madwoman Upstairs" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1456682807l/25814154.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="The Memory of Light" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1435706701l/25665016.jpg" width="128" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25814154-the-madwoman-upstairs" target="_blank"><i>The Madwoman Upstairs</i> by Catherine Lowell</a>, read by Katie Koster</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25665016-the-memory-of-light" target="_blank"><i>The Memory of Light</i> by Francisco X. Stork</a>, read by Frankie Corzo</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Often, I don't remember why I requested a book. This time, two books were checked out as a direct result of a blog post. I requested The Reason I Jump because I wanted to participate in <a href="http://doingdeweydecimal.com/2016/04/02/nfbookclub-reason-jump-read-along-may-poll/" target="_blank">Doing Dewey's Nonfiction Book Club</a>. Sadly, April is almost over, and I still haven't started it. I requested Big Girls Don't Cry because of <a href="http://rivercityreading.com/2016/04/perfect-time-read-rebecca-traisters-big-girls-dont-cry.html" target="_blank">Shannon's post at River City Reading</a>. It seemed like timely.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937088195052064420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968727256925451512.post-3520630441495663082016-04-25T11:12:00.001-05:002016-04-25T11:12:07.578-05:00It's Monday, April 25th! What Are You Reading?<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="badge" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNp-HpHNg9fMEGD7occUgZFZa4G6xhwytsvEfThg8PAFS7Xv6BIITmXg5pi8Kw6_ulrMrqk177iyb1VSUL8sKBdgGwyouxafqnYhboXLdCqUM-qQxesbuSiv7mTOcx4pyxXQtXi3-NQ/s200/It%2527s+Monday%2521+What+Are+You+Reading.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It's a new week and time for the weekly Monday post! "It's Monday! What Are You Reading?" is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://bookdate.blogspot.com/2016/04/its-monday-what-are-you-reading_25.html" target="_blank">Kathryn at The Book Date</a>. It gives bloggers a chance to share what they've been reading and what they plan to read next. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Gosh, another Monday! By the way, I am so behind on my weekly review posts that I am not sure if I can catch up. But I will try. Maybe. But not today.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Here is what I am currently reading:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Margaret the First" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1447140898l/25943007.jpg" width="133" /> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I belong to a new literary fiction group on Goodreads, and a few of us are doing a buddy read of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25943007-margaret-the-first" target="_blank"><i>Margaret the First</i> by Danielle Dutton</a>. I am a little behind because I had to wait for it to be in at the library, but it is fairly short and I should finish it easily this week. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Jane Steele" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1443463785l/25938397.jpg" width="132" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I am listening to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25938397-jane-steele" target="_blank"><i>Jane Steele</i> by Lyndsay Faye</a>, and it is as good as everyone said it was. I was pretty sure that I did not want to read a Jane Eyre-inspired novel where Jane is a serial killer, but I was wrong. It is so much fun!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="One Good Turn (Jackson Brodie, #2)" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1442945693l/501124.jpg" width="133" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Also, this week I hope to read at least one book from my back list TBR. This will probably be <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/501124.One_Good_Turn" target="_blank"><i>One Good Turn</i> by Kate Atkinson</a>, although it could just as easily end up being a <i>Jane Eyre</i> reread.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Private Citizens" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1439498459l/25817440.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="Why We Came to the City" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1442381193l/25716667.jpg" width="132" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If I finish that, I will read one of these two novels next: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25817440-private-citizens" target="_blank"><i>Private Citizens</i> by Tony Tulathimutte</a> or <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25716667-why-we-came-to-the-city" target="_blank"><i>Why We Came to the City </i>by Kristopher Jansma</a>. One is a novel that I haven't heard much about by an author of color, and the other is a novel that I have heard so many great things about that it would be hard to pass up. Decisions, decisions!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="All American Boys" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1444506678l/25657130.jpg" width="133" /><img alt="Only Love Can Break Your Heart" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1442616440l/24001098.jpg" width="131" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I am about 60% done with <i>Jane Steele</i> on audio. Up next, I will listen to either <i>All American Boys</i> by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely or <i>Only Love Can Break Your Heart</i> by Ed Tarkington, both of which come highly recommended by friends. <i>All American Boys</i> is only 6 hours, so I am hoping to get to both books this week. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And after that I am going to need some serious girl power next week. Last year approximately 2/3 of the books that I read were written by women. I am a little behind on my 2016 spreadsheet, but I would expect that to continue.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I am also still reading a couple books from last week: <i>The Reason I Jump</i> and <i>Inkspell</i>. I didn't get around to starting <i>The Reason I Jump</i>, and I am reading <i>Inkspell </i>aloud to my third grader. I also didn't finish one of the Gateway books: <i>In The Shadow of Blackbirds</i> by Cat Winters. I haven't decided if I will finish it.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What are you reading this week?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937088195052064420noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968727256925451512.post-11239656858217611582016-04-21T09:44:00.002-05:002016-04-21T09:44:28.217-05:00Thursday Thoughts, April 21st - MASL Reader AwardsWhile I intend for this blog primarily for me to be a place where I share about all of the great literary fiction and occasional nonfiction that I am reading, I am a mom with school-age kids who works in a library, and so I read some kids' books too. <br />
<br />
Last year I set a goal of reading all of the nominees for the <a href="http://www.maslonline.org/?page=ReadersAwards" target="_blank">Missouri Association of School Librarians' Reader Awards</a> for grades 4 and up before the winners were announced. Well, the winners will be announced on Monday, and I am proud to say that I have read 38 of the 39 nominees. I have read the first 99 pages of the 39th book.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1379335670l/16054808.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="The Testing (The Testing, #1)" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1363452191l/13326831.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="Eleanor & Park" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1341952742l/15745753.jpg" width="133" /></div>
<br />
My predictions for what books will win are shown above: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16054808-escape-from-mr-lemoncello-s-library" target="_blank"><i>Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library</i> by Chris Grabenstein</a> (Mark Twain 4-6), <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13326831-the-testing" target="_blank"><i>The Testing</i> by Joelle Charbonneau</a> (Truman 6-8), and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15745753-eleanor-park" target="_blank"><i>Eleanor & Park</i> by Rainbow Rowell</a> (Gateway 9-12).<br />
<br />
<i>Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library</i> and <i>Eleanor & Park</i> are definitely my favorites of their categories. I found <i>The Testing</i> a little derivative, but it was by far the most popular of the nominees this year, and it appealed to kids of both genders. (Case in point: it is one of only 2 nominees that my seventh grader bothered to read. The second book he read was <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16101054-sylo" target="_blank"><i>SYLO </i>by D. J. MacHale</a>, which I thought was such a BOY book. Ugh.) My favorite was either <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15756277-prisoner-b-3087" target="_blank"><i>Prisoner B-3087</i> by Alan Gratz</a> or the little read <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16101109-rogue" target="_blank"><i>Rogue</i> by Lyn Miller-Lachman</a>, but I questioned whether <i>Rogue </i>was a good choice for this age group. Of the Twains, I also really enjoyed <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15766776-rump" target="_blank"><i>Rump: The True Story of Rumplestiltskin</i> by Liesl Shurtliff</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17061488-the-great-trouble" target="_blank"><i>The Great Trouble: A Mystery of London, the Blue Death, and a Boy Called Eel</i> by Deborah Hopkinson</a>, and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16101014-al-capone-does-my-homework" target="_blank"><i>Al Capone Does My Homework </i>by Gennifer Choldenko</a>.<br />
<br />
In the Gateway category, there are almost too many to name, but if I had to choose just 3, it would be <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11861815-winger" target="_blank">Winger by Andrew Smith</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11178225-out-of-the-easy" target="_blank">Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys</a>, and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17182126-steelheart" target="_blank">Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson</a>. The content in <i>Out of the Easy</i> and <i>Winger </i>are definitely more appropriate for older teens! My young teen has read Steelheart and its sequels. It is violent, but doesn't contain some of the more questionable behavior found in the other two.<br />
<br />
Funny story: I have been trying to get my third grader to reading <i>Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library</i> since I read it last May. I even got him his very own copy to keep. My seventh grader read it and liked it, but apparently that wasn't enough for the younger one. Well, he finally read it last week and loved it! If you have an elementary-school kid, I definitely recommend it. It is a lot of fun!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937088195052064420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968727256925451512.post-69529464718597942842016-04-19T09:17:00.003-05:002016-04-19T09:17:37.816-05:00Top Ten Tuesday, April 19th - Books that Made Me Laugh<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7HQQ4_HJLimDT4xqBe8RDSGq35vR4rxdlpk2tm5NkGdosdCVxbxSeFXQDN_neUUP0ow_lQsjhrGEwfz42wDoHvRaT_0REUsSFY4inZoN460Luuo_LUZ0Eu5_zhqcf0oAWRiZkKuubAAZ/s200/toptentuesday2.jpg" width="200" /></div>
<br />
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://www.brokeandbookish.com/2016/04/10-books-that-made-us-laugh-top-ten.html" target="_blank">The Broke and the Bookish</a>. This week's theme is books that make you laugh.<br />
<br />
This was a little tricky because I don't think that I actively seek out books that are funny with the obvious exceptions of memoirs by comedians: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Mindy Kaling, you all deserve to be on the list, but you feel a little too obvious - sorry! I also left off The Sellout and Nimona because I feel like they were highlighted on lists recently. I may have included Sherman Alexie on a list recently too, but I firmly believe <i>almost </i>everyone should read that book (it's a little off-color at times).<br />
<br />
Oh, and yes, I have a counting problem. This list goes to 11. (Not initially intentional, but now it is.)<br />
<br />
Also, the list is noted without comment because I have to go to work today!<br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="Dear Committee Members" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1432245100l/19288259.jpg" width="130" /><img alt="I Feel Bad about My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1386924394l/8765.jpg" width="134" /><img alt="Bad Feminist" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1421292744l/18813642.jpg" width="132" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="Catch-22" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1359882576l/168668.jpg" width="130" /><img alt="The Importance of Being Earnest" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1376473652l/1162506.jpg" width="122" /><img alt="Much Ado About Nothing" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327885569l/12957.jpg" width="124" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327908992l/693208.jpg" width="131" /><img alt="The Sisters Brothers" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1291999900l/9850443.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="American Housewife: Stories" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1439572654l/25472765.jpg" width="132" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361283827l/12868761.jpg" width="133" /><img alt="Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1409522492l/17571564.jpg" width="133" /><br />
<br />
What's on your list?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937088195052064420noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968727256925451512.post-43601919952765442032016-04-18T10:09:00.004-05:002016-04-18T10:09:40.834-05:00It's Monday, April 18th! What Are You Reading?<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="badge" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNp-HpHNg9fMEGD7occUgZFZa4G6xhwytsvEfThg8PAFS7Xv6BIITmXg5pi8Kw6_ulrMrqk177iyb1VSUL8sKBdgGwyouxafqnYhboXLdCqUM-qQxesbuSiv7mTOcx4pyxXQtXi3-NQ/s200/It%2527s+Monday%2521+What+Are+You+Reading.jpg" width="200" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It's a new week and time for the weekly Monday post! "It's Monday! What Are You Reading?" is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://bookdate.blogspot.com/2016/04/its-monday-what-are-you-reading_18.html" target="_blank">Kathryn at The Book Date</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Here is what I am currently reading:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="All Our Yesterdays" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1370046261l/13514612.jpg" width="133" /> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I am about one hour away from finishing <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13514612-all-our-yesterdays" target="_blank"><i>All Our Yesterdays</i> by Christin Terrill</a>. When it is done, I will have finished 12 of the 15 nomineees for the Gateway Readers Award. I think the winner will be announced later this week. On Thursday I will write a post on all of the nominees that I read and what my predictions are.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="The Queen of the Night" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1460425080l/17912498.jpg" width="134" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I started <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17912498-the-queen-of-the-night" target="_blank">The Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee</a> on audio last month, and I had trouble getting into it. I hope to give it a try in print this week. It is due back at the library on the 23rd.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="The Summer Before the War" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1443294379l/25776122.jpg" width="137" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I am listening to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25776122-the-summer-before-the-war" target="_blank"><i>The Summer Before the War</i> by Helen Simonson</a>. I really like the narrator, but again I am having trouble paying attention to it. Maybe it's me? I plan to stick with it for now.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Inkspell (Inkworld, #2)" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1395358683l/28195.jpg" width="153" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Also this week my son has requested that I read him the next book in the Inkheart trilogy, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28195.Inkspell" target="_blank"><i>Inkspell</i></a>. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1384018847l/16113737.jpg" width="131" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If I find time to read some nonfiction this week, it will be <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16113737-the-reason-i-jump" target="_blank"><i>The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-year-Old Boy with Autism</i> by Naoki Higashida</a>. It may have to wait until after the Missouri Readers Awards are passed out at the end of this week. I still have 4 books to read for that. Even though teen and juvenile books generally only take me a day, that's still 4 days of reading! </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I know some bloggers are participating in a readathon this weekend, but between working 8-5 on Saturday and my son's baseball and soccer teams both having a tournament this week, I think I will be too busy!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Have a good week, everyone! Feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you are reading or your thoughts on what I'm reading. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937088195052064420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968727256925451512.post-60400741771765709602016-04-15T09:44:00.000-05:002016-04-15T09:44:23.611-05:00Book Beginnings and Friday 56, Friday, April 15th, and a Quick Introduction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZl3uo-R7mACDsvEh9AGX8bFccj-7rYOneITUT1qDVEPkPuAfFNyx3HKdCJaUwGKYfFXeHwcrIgMAu7qOADZgS6Dwevfu1qlCiYBIZ-SZNfOul7kOCc-_DryMuC_YpZ6aQTJVNz1f009s/s1600/Friday.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZl3uo-R7mACDsvEh9AGX8bFccj-7rYOneITUT1qDVEPkPuAfFNyx3HKdCJaUwGKYfFXeHwcrIgMAu7qOADZgS6Dwevfu1qlCiYBIZ-SZNfOul7kOCc-_DryMuC_YpZ6aQTJVNz1f009s/s200/Friday.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This week I decided to participate in two Friday memes: <a href="http://www.rosecityreader.com/2016/04/book-beginning-listen-by-francesca-g.html" target="_blank">Book Beginnings, hosted by Rose City Reader</a>, and <a href="http://www.fredasvoice.com/2016/04/the-friday-56-with-book-beginnings_14.html" target="_blank">Friday 56, hosted by Freda's Voice</a>.<br />
<br />
Currently, I am reading <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25746685-ways-to-disappear" target="_blank"><i>Ways to Disappear</i> by Idra Novey</a>.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Ways to Disappear" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1448987159l/25746685.jpg" width="132" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Book Beginning:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"In a crumbling park in the crumbling back end of Copacabana, a woman stopped under an almond tree with a suitcase and a cigar. She was a round woman with a knob of gray hair pinned at the nape of her neck. After staring for a minute up into the tree, she into her cigar, lifted her suitcase onto the lowest branch, and climbed up after it."</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
P. 56:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"From now on, if I let you go, you will be bleeding."</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Oddly, I am on p. 57 of this book right now, so for my Friday 56, I chose the last sentence that I had read on the previous page. It conveys such a sense of menace that is not really present in the book!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
...And now for some housekeeping...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Ideally, I would post reviews or some bookish thoughts on Thursdays. Yesterday, I was busy frantically reading the book for my evening parent-child book group at the library that I host. Whoops! I had intended to introduce myself and tell a little bit about my reading preferences.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So, briefly, I am a stay-at-home mom of 2 boys that are both in school now. The oldest is in middle school, while the youngest still has a few years of elementary school to go. Literary fiction is my first love with a slight preference for books by women, but when my oldest son started reading books on his own, I would read them too. I wanted to get a feel for what he was reading and kind of keep an eye on content and difficulty. I discovered that I couldn't keep up with him pretty much right away. He used to finish a book a day in first and second grade! They were pretty short books, but still.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
About a year and a half ago (fall 2014), I got a part-time job at a local library as a substitute clerk, also known as an Access Specialist I. Don't you just love fancy job titles? I am one of the few employees with school-age children, so I have taken it upon myself to become more familiar with middle-grade fiction in order to better serve our customers. What this means is that I started reading girl books too. The horrors! I had already enjoyed a teen book now and then, but I make a greater effort now to read more broadly. This year, I had a goal of reading all of the Missouri Association of School Librarians' nominees for their reader awards for grades 4 and up. I have read 11/12 of the Mark Twain nominees (grades 4-6), 11/12 Truman nominees (grades 6-8), and 11/15 Gateway nominees (grades 9+).</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Anyway, so that's me. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What kind of books do you like to read? </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937088195052064420noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968727256925451512.post-16090367927128356012016-04-13T12:48:00.000-05:002016-04-13T12:48:06.713-05:00Library Love, Wednesday, April 13th<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0t3VpaiDtijCha92wNPRn1YAg6GNY5G4dMTKXlA81z7GpaKycXAxQym-wFm7_aRV7O6Nc33Swr5xYFlk1UwEFmyBgzZLV_zQ5CHoGtEE98-mX04s3JEWk_a_7spbRYFFpzrry2-i5ps/s200/IMG_8090b.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It's National Library Week and what a great week to unveil my ridiculous haul of books from last week. I believe I've mentioned that I have a hold problem. Well, last week on top of my holds that had come in (a few of which get immediately returned to the system), I also remembered my pledge from last year to read all of the nominees for the reader awards of the Missouri Association of School Librarians (minus the K-3 books). </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Here are all the physical books that I checked out within the last week:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Only Love Can Break Your Heart" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1442616440l/24001098.jpg" width="131" /><img alt="What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1447463920l/25810500.jpg" width="127" /><img alt="Your Heart Is a Muscle the Size of a Fist" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1432652569l/25604513.jpg" width="128" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Adult Fiction (6)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Ed Tarkington</li>
<li>Darkness at Noon by Arthur Koestler</li>
<li>Look at Me by Jennifer Egan</li>
<li>What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours by Helen Oyeyemi</li>
<li>Your Heart Is a Muscle the Size of a Fist by Sunil Yapa</li>
<li>All Stories Are Love Stories by Elizabeth Percer</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Wolf By Wolf (Wolf By Wolf, #1)" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1424193184l/24807186.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="Mosquitoland" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1402661616l/18718848.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="The Serpent King" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1435673762l/22752127.jpg" width="132" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Young Adult Fiction (11)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin</li>
<li>Mosquitoland by David Arnold</li>
<li>Drama by Raina Telgemeier</li>
<li>We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson</li>
<li>The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner</li>
<li>Rapunzel Untangled by Cindy C. Bennett (Truman nominee)</li>
<li>All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill (Gateway nominee)</li>
<li>In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters (Gateway nominee)</li>
<li>The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston (Gateway nominee)</li>
<li>The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Gateway nominee)</li>
<li>Thousand Words by Jennifer Brown (Gateway nominee)</li>
</ul>
<div>
For the hubby or kiddos (6)</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson</li>
<li>The Wee Free Man by Terry Pratchett</li>
<li>Alcatraz Vs. The Shattered Lens by Brandon Sanderson</li>
<li>The Fall by Robert Muchamore</li>
<li>Death Weavers by Brandon Mull</li>
<li>Ashley Bell by Dean R. Koontz</li>
</ul>
<div>
I also checked out several e-books and e-audiobooks. I am afraid that too many of my electronic audiobooks came in at once, and I will not get to all of them. Meanwhile my son ran out of Kindle books and started reading an adult book that I had purchased on the Kindle, The Magicians by Lev Grossman. When I told him it wasn't a kid book, he replied, "Oh, I wondered why they used the F-word so much." It was a magical parenting moment. Now I make sure he has at least 3 books waiting for him.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
E-books (almost exclusively for my 9-year-old son who has appropriated my Kindle):</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>The Battle Begins by Tony Abbott</li>
<li>When Monsters Escape by Tony Abbott</li>
<li>The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo</li>
<li>Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein</li>
<li>Krakens and Lies by Tui T. Sutherland</li>
</ul>
<div>
E-audiobooks:</div>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson</li>
<li>Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye</li>
<li>Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow</li>
<li>The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George</li>
<li>All American Boys by Jason Reynolds</li>
<li>Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Ed Tarkington</li>
</ul>
<div>
That brings me to a grand total of 70 physical items checked out and 18 electronic items, which really doesn't seem so bad when I look at it. I have 125 physical items and 29 electronic items on hold, most of which are currently suspended.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937088195052064420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968727256925451512.post-14076992599146577792016-04-12T10:49:00.001-05:002016-04-12T10:49:16.250-05:00Top Ten Tuesday, April 12th<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiprg-MsIbCyBzkIk6JPKr6WN9LBZdQtyioEMV2xkvepT7Q1LbRGkLTPZtKFJiCwMEw78H13RR2c4vBwPO3Cl4mndREnG4iXYwHhRrH42hm6vh_r9KCAp6OHRuw2bn7v-qHkSclDtt5dn/s200/toptentuesday.jpg" width="200" /></div>
<br />
"Top Ten Tuesday" is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://www.brokeandbookish.com/2016/04/books-that-should-be-on-your-list-if.html" target="_blank">The Broke & the Bookish</a>. This week's Top Ten Tuesday theme is "Top Ten Books Every X Should Read", where X is supplied by the list maker. If you look below, you will see that I removed the "top" from my list. I am tempted to make it "might want to" instead of "should". My list is in no way definitive.<br />
<br />
Ten Books Every Feminist Should <strike>Consider</strike> Read<strike>ing</strike><br />
<strike><br /></strike>
<i>The Classics</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="The Handmaid's Tale" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1294702760l/38447.jpg" width="129" /><img alt="The Color Purple" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1386925078l/11486.jpg" width="121" /><img alt="The Awakening" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1221926569l/1967357.jpg" width="126" /></div>
<br />
1. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood<br />
2. The Color Purple by Alice Walker<br />
3. The Awakening by Kate Chopin<br />
<br />
<i>A Couple Recent Nonfiction</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Bad Feminist" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1421292744l/18813642.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="We Should All Be Feminists" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1430821222l/22738563.jpg" width="140" /></div>
4. Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay<br />
5. We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie<br />
<br />
<i>The Rest in no particular order</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="The Round House" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1352999408l/13602426.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="When She Woke" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358274814l/11045709.jpg" width="129" /><img alt="The Buddha in the Attic" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327878988l/10464963.jpg" width="137" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Ruby" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1410625395l/18282970.jpg" width="131" /><img alt="Luckiest Girl Alive" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1425975301l/22609317.jpg" width="132" /></div>
<br />
6. The Round House by Louise Erdrich<br />
7. When She Woke by Hilary Jordan<br />
8. The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka<br />
9. Ruby by Cynthia Bond<br />
10. The Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll<br />
<br />
What would you add to the list?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937088195052064420noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968727256925451512.post-72212674882732634422016-04-11T07:31:00.002-05:002016-04-11T07:31:44.209-05:00It's Monday, April 11th! What Are You Reading?<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://bookdate.blogspot.com/2016/04/its-monday-what-are-you-reading_11.html" target="_blank"><img alt="badge" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNp-HpHNg9fMEGD7occUgZFZa4G6xhwytsvEfThg8PAFS7Xv6BIITmXg5pi8Kw6_ulrMrqk177iyb1VSUL8sKBdgGwyouxafqnYhboXLdCqUM-qQxesbuSiv7mTOcx4pyxXQtXi3-NQ/s200/It%2527s+Monday%2521+What+Are+You+Reading.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It's a new week, and time for the weekly Monday post! "It's Monday! What Are You Reading?" is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. Click on the picture above to visit her blog.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Here is what I am currently reading:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="The Monsters of Templeton" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328051913l/1474628.jpg" width="150" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I am about 3/4 of the way through this one on audio, and I am really enjoying it. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1474628.The_Monsters_of_Templeton" target="_blank"><i>The Monsters of Templeton</i> by Lauren Groff</a> was Groff's first novel. The town of Templeton is modeled on Groff's home town of Cooperstown, which is the birthplace of baseball and famous author James Fenimore Cooper. After this I will just have Groff's collection of short stories <i>Delicate Edible Birds and Other Stories</i> to read by her.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="The Nest" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1437184519l/25781157.jpg" width="128" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This week I will also be reading <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25781157-the-nest" target="_blank"><i>The Nest</i> by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney</a> for an in-person book group at the library. It is a special after hours book group for people who donated to the library.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="The Naturals (The Naturals, #1)" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1374862751l/13597723.jpg" width="131" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I also hope to start reading <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13597723-the-naturals" target="_blank"><i>The Naturals</i> by Jennifer Lynn Barnes</a>. Last year I set of goal of reading all of the <a href="http://www.maslonline.org/?page=1516FinalNoms" target="_blank">Missouri Association of School Librarians Readers Award nominees</a> for grades 4 and up. I was doing really well until I sort of stopped. I have read 11/12 Mark Twain nominees (grades 4-6), 11/12 Truman nominees (grades 6-8), and 10/15 Gateway nominees (high school). I don't know if I'll be able to finish up before the winners are announced later this month, but I am going to try.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
After that I am looking at a few different books to start:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="In Other Words" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1439837402l/25614298.jpg" width="126" /><img alt="Alexander Hamilton" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1442457781l/395848.jpg" width="124" /><img alt="The Summer Before the War" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1443294379l/25776122.jpg" width="137" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="As Close to Us as Breathing" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1437659656l/25861138.jpg" width="128" /><img alt="Ways to Disappear" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1448987159l/25746685.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="The Queen of the Night" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1421139915l/17912498.jpg" width="132" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What are you reading this week?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937088195052064420noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968727256925451512.post-29535812663450327202016-04-10T11:56:00.000-05:002016-04-10T11:56:03.429-05:00(Bi-)Weekly Review, Sunday, April 10thSince my last review update, I've finished 10 books! They include 6 books for adults, 1 YA, and 3 juvenile fiction.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Fahrenheit 451" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1432793380l/13259307.jpg" width="130" /></div>
<br />
<i>Fahrenheit 451</i> by Ray Bradbury was originally published in 1953. This was a re-read for me. Our library is hosting a variety of events around Fahrenheit 451 this spring, and I wanted to participate.<br />
<br />
I think everyone is probably already familiar with the story. Firemen no longer put out fires, but now they start them. People spend their free time watching large screen TVs, and books are considered dangerous. Guy Montag is a fireman, but something is starting to change on him when he encounters his neighbor on the street.<br />
<br />
The book felt more dated than I remember it being when I first read it as a teenager, but still relevant. I really enjoyed the supporting materials in the edition that I read, which included in introduction by Neil Gaiman, essays and reviews, and more. <b>Highly recommended</b>.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="All the Birds in the Sky" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1429225322l/25372801.jpg" width="131" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>All the Birds in the Sky</i> by Charlie Jane Anders was published in January. It is her first novel. <i>All the Birds in the Sky</i> is the story of two childhood friends: Patricia Delfine and Laurence Armstead. They meet in middle school where they are both outsiders. Laurence is a computer whiz whose parents want him to spend more time outside, and Patricia initially serves as his alibi. They separate before middle school is over with Laurence set to attend a math and science high school and Patricia going to a school for witches. The novel jumps over most of their high school experiences and picks up in San Francisco when they run into each other again. It then follows them for several years as Laurence works on secret science projects and Patricia uses her witchy powers to help people. Both the scientists and the witches are concerned with the end of humanity and how to prevent it.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
For someone who would say that sci fi/fantasy is not my jam (sorry! I can't think of a better word), I read a fair amount of it. I really liked following Patricia and Laurence's stories, and I thought the characters and situations were well-developed. This book reminded me a lot of <i>The Magicians</i> by Lev Grossman, but while I found that novel a slog, really hating its main character, I enjoyed this one. <i>The Magicians </i>suffered because it ultimately it felt like a novel of male wish fulfillment, while <i>All the Birds in the Sky</i> is an intelligent novel about friendship and humanity and how we face the future. <b>Recommended</b>.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="A Brief History of Seven Killings" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1399045083l/20893314.jpg" width="132" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>A Brief History of Seven Killings</i> by Marlon James was published in 2014. It won the Man Booker Prize in 2015, one of the most prestigious awards for fiction. It is also almost 700 pages long, written partially in Jamaican dialect with shifting points of view, set over a period of 15 years, and features a large cast of characters. The novel centers around the attempt to assassinate The Singer (Bob Marley) on December 3, 1976, and how that event shaped Jamaica and contributed to the drug wars in the United States in the 1980s and beyond.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It is an ambitious novel, and it works, but it took me at least a third of the book to get into it. It is long, and probably could have been shorter, but the characters that seemed least integral to the story were often the most relatable. I am glad I read it, but it was definitely a project. <b>Recommended</b>.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="All Things Cease to Appear" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1444155872l/25731953.jpg" width="130" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>All Things Cease to Appear</i> by Elizabeth Brundage was published in March. As the novel opens, Catherine Clare has just been murdered. Her husband is the prime suspect. We then travel back in time a few years to witness the events leading up to that day. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This is pretty much a standard literary thriller with a suggestion of the supernatural thrown in. The "who did it and why" part of the story felt very uninteresting to me. I don't want to give anything away, but it feels like it's new fad in thrillers and it's boring to me. I like several of the characters though, and there was enough to keep me reading. During a two hour soccer practice I sat in the car and power read to the end, determined to finish and move on. That's not exactly a ringing endorsement of the novel, and it might be time for me to give up on thrillers for a while. <b>Skim.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Forty Rooms" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1445788706l/25716695.jpg" width="131" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Forty Room</i> by Olga Grushin was published in February. An unnamed narrator living in Russia dreams of being a poet when she grows up, but her life doesn't quite turn out as expected when she was young, and she asks herself whether it was a good life. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The idea behind the novel is that the average person inhabits 40 rooms in their lifetime. We visit the narrator in each of her 40 rooms, and see how her life has evolved from her girlhood in Moscow to her adulthood in American suburbia. The novel explores what is means to live a good, full life and what meaning we find in our choices. Life is, after all, full of choices and trade-offs. The author is careful not to take sides but to celebrate the uncertainty. As the novel opens the narrator is an I, who transitions to she, and finally Mrs. Caldwell. It is a brilliant device that highlights the narrator's sense of self and inner conflict. I loved it. <b>Highly recommended.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Bluets" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1354902976l/6798263.jpg" width="125" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Bluets </i>by Maggie Nelson was published in 2009. It is a lyric memoir/meditation on the color blue. It is presented as a list of thoughts on color, and life, and the color blue in particular. In particular the author is struggling with a recent break-up that has her feeling "blue", although for her that is not the meaning of blue. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I really didn't have a clear idea of what to expect from this book. I guess I expected something less fragmentary and with more something. I only knew that it was a lyric memoir and that Book Riot had recommended it as the first stop on a <a href="http://bookriot.com/2016/03/02/reading-pathways-maggie-nelson/" target="_blank">Maggie Nelson reading pathway</a>. Not wanting to spoil the book, I did not read any of their description. I probably should have. I think I need more narrative. But if philosophical lists that border on poetry sound like something you would enjoy, pick this up. <b>Skim</b>.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Illuminae (The Illuminae Files, #1)" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1443433956l/23395680.jpg" width="132" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Illuminae (The Illuminae Files, #1) </i>by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff was published in 2015. It is a young adult science fiction novel. The year is 2575, and a mining company has just attacked the illegal mining colony of its competitor. Kady and Ezra are two of the survivors of the initial attack. Now they are aboard two space vessels trying to outrun their pursuers. Oh, and until yesterday, they were a couple. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I expected this to be a run-of-the-mill teenage romance in space. It wasn't. Instead it was so much fun. It is told through excerpts from an investigative report on the attack that was commissioned by the attacking corporation. It includes email and IM transcripts, military files, medical reports, and more. If this sounds dry, it's not. <b>So Much</b> <b>Fun.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Doll Bones" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1424981042l/15944406.jpg" width="136" /><img alt="The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320496341l/108077.jpg" width="121" /><img alt="Goodbye Stranger" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1439670673l/23615709.jpg" width="132" /></div>
<br />
I also read a trio of juvenile fiction over the last couple weeks. While I enjoyed all of them, <i>Goodbye Stranger</i> was definitely my favorite. I loved it. It is about a trio of seventh grade girls navigating the new waters of middle school. Because of the subject matter, I would say that this is appropriate for about fifth grade and up, but other people might feel differently. A boy asks one of the girls to send him a picture. <a href="https://www.commonsensemedia.org/" target="_blank">Common Sense Media</a> (a great resource for parents) rates it 5 stars and 11+. <br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937088195052064420noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968727256925451512.post-58401099342042688082016-04-06T11:14:00.001-05:002016-04-06T11:14:15.944-05:00Library Love, Wednesday, April 6th<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0t3VpaiDtijCha92wNPRn1YAg6GNY5G4dMTKXlA81z7GpaKycXAxQym-wFm7_aRV7O6Nc33Swr5xYFlk1UwEFmyBgzZLV_zQ5CHoGtEE98-mX04s3JEWk_a_7spbRYFFpzrry2-i5ps/s1600/IMG_8090b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0t3VpaiDtijCha92wNPRn1YAg6GNY5G4dMTKXlA81z7GpaKycXAxQym-wFm7_aRV7O6Nc33Swr5xYFlk1UwEFmyBgzZLV_zQ5CHoGtEE98-mX04s3JEWk_a_7spbRYFFpzrry2-i5ps/s200/IMG_8090b.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
This was another slow week for me at the library. I only brought home 5 physical books for myself and checked out another 2 e-audiobooks. I have 17 holds currently available, and I think most of them are for me, so next week will be a bigger week!<br />
<br />
This week I brought home 6 adult fiction books and 1 adult nonfiction, so not a lot of variety. I did pick up several books for my teenager, which have a way of making their way onto my library shelf when he is done.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="The Nakeds" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1430512782l/23492484.jpg" width="134" /><img alt="13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1445534207l/25716567.jpg" width="130" /><img alt="Why We Came to the City" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1442381193l/25716667.jpg" width="132" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="A Doubter's Almanac" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1441736259l/22318513.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="One Good Turn (Jackson Brodie, #2)" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1442945693l/501124.jpg" width="133" /><img alt="The Monsters of Templeton" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328051913l/1474628.jpg" width="150" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="In Other Words" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1439837402l/25614298.jpg" width="126" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Right now, I have 61 physical items checked out and 10 ebooks and e-audiobooks. I also have 129 physical items on hold and 33 electronic items on hold. I actually suspended all of my physical holds because I had 28 items come in last week. Oops! I have the sole library account for our family, so not everything is for me. Still, I might have a library problem.</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937088195052064420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968727256925451512.post-35126971554328490122016-04-04T23:16:00.000-05:002016-04-04T23:16:28.321-05:00It's Monday, April 4th! What Are You Reading?<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://bookdate.blogspot.com/2016/04/its-monday-what-are-you-reading.html" target="_blank"><img alt="badge" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNp-HpHNg9fMEGD7occUgZFZa4G6xhwytsvEfThg8PAFS7Xv6BIITmXg5pi8Kw6_ulrMrqk177iyb1VSUL8sKBdgGwyouxafqnYhboXLdCqUM-qQxesbuSiv7mTOcx4pyxXQtXi3-NQ/s200/It%2527s+Monday%2521+What+Are+You+Reading.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It's a new week and (past) time for the weekly Monday post! "It's Monday! What Are You Reading?" is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at <a href="http://bookdate.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Book Date</a>. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Here is what I am reading this week:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="A Brief History of Seven Killings" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1399045083l/20893314.jpg" width="132" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Yes, I am still reading/listening to <i>A Brief History of Seven Killings</i> by Marlon James, BUT I am about 20 minutes from the end now. I expect that I will easily finish it during my morning commute tomorrow.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="All Things Cease to Appear" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1444155872l/25731953.jpg" width="130" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I wanted something a little less heavy to read at times when I didn't have the attention needed for the previous book, so I picked up <i>All Things Cease to Appear</i> by Elizabeth Brundage. I am not sure where it is going, but I can say that it appears determined to make me dislike everyone in it. Thankfully I do not need to like the characters to enjoy a book.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And that's it for me. I have pretty much the same books on deck as last week, plus I have 21 holds available at the library. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Up next, I think are <i>The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963</i> by Christopher Paul Curtis, <i>Forty Rooms</i> by Olga Grushin, and <i>Bluets</i> by Maggie Nelson.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What are you reading this week?</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937088195052064420noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968727256925451512.post-11660684168590114022016-04-03T09:41:00.000-05:002016-04-03T09:41:00.575-05:00Month in Review: March 2016Sorry! I am a little behind on posting my month in review. I had a two-day migraine, and now we have family in town for the weekend. Blogging has not been a priority.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Book of the Month</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="The Sellout" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1403430899l/22237161.jpg" width="133" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The Sellout</i> by Paul Beatty</div>
<br />
I finished 27 books in March, which is close to a monthly high for me, especially when I look at how many were adult novels rather than kids' books. There were so many excellent books. For book of the month, I feel like I have to pick <i>The Sellout</i> by Paul Beatty, but I could just as easily pick one of a handful of other books. I also loved <i>The Tsar of Love and Techno</i>, <i>The Past</i>, <i>American Housewife</i>, <i>The Longest Night</i>, <i>Furiously Happy</i>, and <i>Salt to the Sea</i> and would gladly recommend any of those to other readers.<br />
<br />
Here is what I read and their ratings, sorted into categories (* = audiobook).<br />
<br />
Adult Fiction<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><i>The Tsar of Love and Techno: Stories</i> by Anthony Marra, 4.5 stars</li>
<li><i>The Past</i> by Tessa Hadley, 4 stars*</li>
<li><i>The Sellout</i> by Paul Beatty, 4.5 stars</li>
<li><i>The Opposite of Everyone</i> by Joshilyn Jackson, 3.5 stars*</li>
<li><i>Bats of the Republic: An Illuminated Novel</i> by Zachary Thomas Dodson, 4 stars</li>
<li><i>Ghost World</i> by Daniel Clewes, 3 stars</li>
<li><i>Arcadia</i> by Lauren Groff, 4 stars</li>
<li><i>Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse</i> by Faith Sullivan, 3 stars</li>
<li><i>American Housewife: Stories</i> by Helen Ellis, 4 stars*</li>
<li>The Longest Night by Andria Williams, 4 stars</li>
<li>The Keep by Jennifer Egan, 4 stars*</li>
<li>Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, 5 stars (reread)</li>
</ul>
<br />
Nonfiction:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis, 4 stars*</li>
<li>NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity by Steve Silberman, 4 stars*</li>
<li>Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson, 4 stars*</li>
<li>Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War by Steve Sheinkin, 4 stars*</li>
</ul>
<div>
Young Adult Fiction:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Calamity (Reckoners, #3) by Brandon Sanderson, 3.5 stars</li>
<li>The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman, 4 stars</li>
<li>Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys, 4.5 stars</li>
<li>The Rise of the Wolf (Mark of the thief, #2) by Jennifer A. Nielsen, 3 stars*</li>
<li>American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, 4 stars</li>
<li>Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff, 4 stars</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
Juvenile Fiction:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani, 2.5 stars</li>
<li>Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage, 4 stars</li>
<li>The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, 3 stars</li>
<li>The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale, 4 stars</li>
<li>Doll Bones by Holly Black, 3.5 stars</li>
</ul>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937088195052064420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968727256925451512.post-11824780647084548922016-03-30T09:56:00.001-05:002016-04-06T11:14:38.828-05:00Library Love, Wednesday, March 30thShannon over at River City Reading has a monthly Library Checkout post. While I love the idea, I check out too many books to just post once a month.<br />
<br />
This week I brought home: 4 adult fiction, 1 young adult fiction, 1 young adult graphic novel, 1 lyric memoir (?), and 6 books for my middle schooler, plus a handful of other books that I cannot remember that I returned immediately because I knew I wouldn't get to them. I only added one e-audiobook this week.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="A Brief History of Seven Killings" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1399045083l/20893314.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="Burial Rites" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1384207446l/17333319.jpg" width="131" /><img alt="The Queen of the Night" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1421139915l/17912498.jpg" width="132" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="The Nest" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1437184519l/25781157.jpg" width="128" /><img alt="A Tyranny of Petticoats: 15 Stories of Belles, Bank Robbers & Other Badass Girls" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1440757116l/22020592.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="The Shadow Hero" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1381948340l/18465601.jpg" width="129" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Bluets" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1354902976l/6798263.jpg" width="125" /><img alt="The Japanese Lover" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1427252746l/25152052.jpg" width="131" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What about you? Have you read any of these? Do you use your local library? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937088195052064420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968727256925451512.post-90777255858138313292016-03-29T09:43:00.002-05:002016-03-29T09:43:27.998-05:00Top Ten Tuesday - Ten of the Best Books I've Read Recently<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7HQQ4_HJLimDT4xqBe8RDSGq35vR4rxdlpk2tm5NkGdosdCVxbxSeFXQDN_neUUP0ow_lQsjhrGEwfz42wDoHvRaT_0REUsSFY4inZoN460Luuo_LUZ0Eu5_zhqcf0oAWRiZkKuubAAZ/s320/toptentuesday2.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://www.brokeandbookish.com/2016/03/top-ten-of-our-latest-5-star-reads.html" target="_blank">The Broke and the Bookish</a>. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This week's theme is Ten of Your Most Recent 5-Star Reads. Because I don't 5-star things very often, I am choosing 10 of the best recent reads.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="The Sellout" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1403430899l/22237161.jpg" width="133" /><img alt="The Tsar of Love and Techno" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1428086934l/23995336.jpg" width="135" /><img alt="Fates and Furies" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1434750235l/24612118.jpg" width="132" /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1. <i>The Sellout</i> by Paul Beatty</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2. <i>The Tsar of Love and Techno</i> by Anthony Marra</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
3. <i>Fates & Furies</i> by Lauren Groff<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Salt to the Sea" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1437084512l/25614492.jpg" width="133" /><img alt="The Vegetarian" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1439328100l/25489025.jpg" width="131" /><img alt="A Manual for Cleaning Women: Selected Stories" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1437827518l/22929586.jpg" width="133" /></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
4. <i>Salt to the Sea</i> by Ruta Sepetys</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
5. <i>The Vegetarian</i> by Han King</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
6. <i>A Manual for Cleaning Women: Selected Stories</i> by Lucia Berlin<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Nimona" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1412626919l/19351043.jpg" width="133" /><img alt="Delicious Foods" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1403533903l/22444789.jpg" width="129" /><img alt="The Mare" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1435708529l/25241463.jpg" width="134" /></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
7. <i>Nimona </i>by Noelle Stevenson</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
8. <i>Delicious Foods</i> by James Hannaham</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
9. <i>The Mare</i> by Mary Gaitskill<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Our Souls at Night" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1418766517l/23602562.jpg" width="134" /></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
10. <i>Our Souls at Night</i> by Kent Haruf</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Unfortunately, my list is pretty boring. Obviously my first love is adult literary fiction, and most of the usual suspects from the past year are on here. Of these, the two that I would push on almost anyone are <i>Nimona</i> by Noelle Stevenson, a YA graphic novel that I thought was just fabulous, and <i>Our Souls at Night</i> by Kent Haruf, which is so wonderful and short!<br />
<br />
I can't wait to see everyone else's lists!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937088195052064420noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968727256925451512.post-51445328225841572652016-03-28T09:26:00.001-05:002016-03-28T09:26:47.112-05:00It's Monday, March 28th! What Are You Reading?<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://bookdate.blogspot.com/2016/03/its-monday-what-are-you-reading_28.html" target="_blank"><img alt="badge" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNp-HpHNg9fMEGD7occUgZFZa4G6xhwytsvEfThg8PAFS7Xv6BIITmXg5pi8Kw6_ulrMrqk177iyb1VSUL8sKBdgGwyouxafqnYhboXLdCqUM-qQxesbuSiv7mTOcx4pyxXQtXi3-NQ/s200/It%2527s+Monday%2521+What+Are+You+Reading.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It's a new week and time for the weekly Monday post! "It's Monday! What Are You Reading?" is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. Click on the picture above to visit her blog.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Here is what I am currently reading:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="A Brief History of Seven Killings" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1399045083l/20893314.jpg" width="132" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I had so much fun last week finally getting around to reading <i>The Keep</i> by Jennifer Egan and <i>Arcadia </i>by Lauren Groff that I asked myself what else I needed to read. I guess I wanted to challenge because I picked <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20893314-a-brief-history-of-seven-killings" target="_blank"><i>A Brief History of Seven Killings</i> by Marlon James</a>. I have both the hardcover and the e-audiobook checked out. I've only read a few chapters so far, and I'm already intimidated by its cast of thousands. <i>A Brief History of Seven Killings</i> won the Man Booker Prize for Fiction in 2015. It's set in Jamaica in 1976 and beyond and centers around an attempt to kill Bob Marley two days before he was to perform at a peace concert and the aftermath.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Illuminae (The Illuminae Files, #1)" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1443433956l/23395680.jpg" width="132" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I have an unwritten rule that if I bring something home from the library enough times I have to read it. I thought I could tempt my teenager to read <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23395680-illuminae" target="_blank"><i>Illuminae</i> by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff</a>, but he decided he wasn't interested. I am not a big fan of science fiction, but I started it last night, and I had to force myself to stop reading. <i>Illuminae</i> is set in 2575, and its two main characters have just fled the planet on which they lived after it was attacked by a competing mining company. And because it's YA, the two characters used to date, but they broke up the night before the attack.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Doll Bones" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1424981042l/15944406.jpg" width="136" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I am also currently reading <i>Doll Bones</i> by Holly Black. It's juvenile fiction, and that doll is creepy! </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
After I finish those three, it is anyone's guess what I will read next. Here are some of the books that I am considering.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="All Things Cease to Appear" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1444155872l/25731953.jpg" width="130" /><img alt="Forty Rooms" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1445788706l/25716695.jpg" width="131" /><img alt="March: Book One (March, #1)" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1360539808l/17346698.jpg" width="136" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="All the Birds in the Sky" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1429225322l/25372801.jpg" width="131" /><img alt="The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy (The Penderwicks #1)" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320508900l/266904.jpg" width="136" /><img alt="The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320496341l/108077.jpg" width="121" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What are you reading this week?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937088195052064420noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968727256925451512.post-40901607760687886172016-03-27T12:39:00.001-05:002016-03-28T08:50:49.653-05:00Week End Reviews, Week Ending Sunday, March 27thI am a little behind this week. Friday we went to a movie. Yesterday, I worked, and we had extended family Easter. So here it is Easter Sunday, and no week end post yet.<br />
<br />
I finished 10 books since my last week end review! Here is a quick summary of what I have been reading.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Bats of the Republic: An Illuminated Novel" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1428245149l/24724564.jpg" width="131" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24724564-bats-of-the-republic" target="_blank"><i>Bats of the Republic: An Illuminated Novel</i> by Zachary Thomas Dodson</a></div>
<i><br /></i>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Bats of the Republic</i> was a surprise winner of an early round in the <a href="http://www.themorningnews.org/tob/" target="_blank">Morning News Tournament of Books</a><span id="goog_1509728999"></span><span id="goog_1509729000"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a>. It is more of an awesome art project than a novel. <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><i>Bats </i>has two principle storylines. One is set in the steampunk future of 2143, and the other is set in 1843 in the wild west and the city of Chicago. But it's not quite the 1843 our ancestors lived in. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;" /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">The book is an exercise in style. It's told in the format of excerpts from 2 novels supplemented by letters and illustrations and carats and occasional green text. It's metafiction.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">For the most part it worked for me. There was a part near the middle, where I just quit reading one of the storylines for a few pages because the author insisted on alternating one storyline on the left hand pages and another on the right. The plots were tightly mirroring each other, and it was obnoxious, so I just said F it and read the left. Or maybe it was the right. Anyway, after that I never really got back into the story in the same way. And the ending was kind of a huge disappointment, but that implies a level of caring that I couldn't quite muster and ignores the excitement that I felt at having made it to the end.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">This book's layers have layers, and it's all very impressive, and it's an experience. If that sounds like fun to you, try it.</span> I'm trying to think of another book that favors style over substance, and the book that keeps coming to mind is <i>S</i> by J. J. Abrams and Doug Dorst or <i>Building Stories</i> by Chris Ware. Neither of which I have actually read.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Ghost World" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327894702l/62953.jpg" width="131" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62953.Ghost_World" target="_blank"><i>Ghost World</i> by Daniel Clowes</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Ghost World</i> is a graphic novel. It's about two teenage girls, Enid and Becky, getting ready to embark on their post-high school lives. The girls hang out at a diner a lot, and Enid has a strange fascination with repulsive people. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">I always tell myself that I like quirky books, but sometimes when I start a book and it's a little too quirky, I have to really force myself to keep going. In this case I am glad that I did, but in the end this book was just kind of there for me, and I have zero interest in watching the movie. Is it one of those art-house movies where there is a lot of talking and nothing much happens? Because that is what the book was like. The movie stars Thora Birch as Enid and Scarlett Johansson as Becky. </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Arcadia" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1440680831l/11866694.jpg" width="134" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11866694-arcadia" target="_blank"><i>Arcadia</i> by Lauren Groff</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Arcadia</i> is a book that had been on my TBR for several years. It was in the Tournament of Books in 2013, but it lost early. <i>Arcadia</i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"> centers on Bit, who at the opening of the novel is a 5 year old boy living on a hippie commune called Arcadia in upstate New York. The book is divided into 4 sections: Bit as a boy on the commune, Bit in his teens still on the commune, Bit as an adult in the city, and Bit about a dozen years later.</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">When I try to put into words what I think it was about, the first thing that I think of is community, but also family and society. Despite its flaws, I think Groff is like Bit in that she has a lot of sympathy for the commune dwellers and the sense of community and togetherness they tried to foster, and that sense of togetherness is something that we are often lacking. There was a clash between the dream of living purely and the dream of living freely.</span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">The final section of the novel was a bit of a surprise. It is set in the near future and carries a warning. In that, it reminded me of the last section of <i>A Visit from the Goon Squad</i> by Jennifer Egan. I spent too much time during the section pondering how well this part will age. 2018 was a much more distant near future in 2012 than it is today in 2016.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;" /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">I thought it was interesting how different Bit's and Helle's memories of Arcadia were, and I wondered how much of that was the mitigating influence of Bit's parents and their relationship with each other and Bit. I appreciate that Groff didn't romanticize life on the commune but didn't dismiss it either, and I liked that the novel wasn't about Handy. He was one of the least interesting things about it, and Groff seemed to think so too.</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"> </span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="American Housewife: Stories" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1439572677l/25489013.jpg" width="132" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25489013-american-housewife" target="_blank"><i>American Housewife: Stories</i> by Helen Ellis</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>American Housewife</i> is a short collection of short stories. Although most of the stories feature an American housewife, that is about all they have in common. I've seen the collection described as uneven, and I would agree. Some stories are wonderful, biting and funny. Others are a little flat. But overall a worthwhile read. I especially liked "What I Do All Day", "The Wainscoting War", and "Dumpster Diving with the Stars".</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">A solid 4-star read with 5-star moments.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1438047795l/24945403.jpg" width="129" /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24945403-good-night-mr-wodehouse" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse</i> by Faith Sullivan</span></a></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">I read <i>Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse</i> for my local book group. </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">It is about Nell, a young wife and mother, whose husband passes away suddenly in 1900, and follows her through her teaching career and two wars all the way into the 1960s.</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">The book was an enjoyable, if sweet, read, and it contained many passages expounding on the rewards of being a reader and how a reader can develop a relationship with a writer through his work. I definitely liked it, but it was a bit light. Having read Wodehouse is not a prerequisite, but it might add to one's enjoyment of the book. This book was recommended to a member of our group by the owner of a local bookstore.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #181818;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="The Keep" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1171075825l/86655.jpg" width="134" /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/86655.The_Keep" target="_blank"><i>The Keep</i> by Jennifer Egan</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><i>The Keep</i> has two storylines: one set at an old castle in Eastern Europe and the other in an American prison. In the first storyline, Howard has purchased a creepy castle complete with an ancient baroness who refuses to leave, and he wants to turn it into a hotel. He asks his cousin Danny with whom he has a complicated history to come and help him, although he doesn't seem to have a clear task in mind for Danny. In the other storyline, Ray is taking a creative writing class in prison, and he develops a crush on the teacher Holly. Also his cellmate Davis has a special box.</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">I've seen this described as Gothic, which I think means creepy. I am not a fan of creepy. Egan does a good job of creating and building tension. I was very uncomfortable reading the book. Unsettled might be a better word. Both Ray and Danny are well-developed characters, and I liked how it all came together in the end.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="The Longest Night" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1430696501l/25430670.jpg" width="131" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25430670-the-longest-night" target="_blank"><i>The Longest Night</i> by Andria Williams</a></div>
<br />
As <i>The Longest Night</i> opens, it is 1959, and Paul and Nat Collier are moving with their two young daughters to Idaho Falls, Idaho, where Paul has accepted a job working at a small nuclear reactor. The job is dangerous. Paul quickly finds out that the reactor needs a new core. He and his boss get off to a bad start. It is hard being new to town and not knowing a lot of people, and it puts a strain on their marriage.<br />
<br />
Although <i>The Longest Night</i> is fiction, it is based on a real incident that occurred on January 3, 1961, a little known incident in American history.<br />
<br />
<i>The Longest Night</i> is a solid read. It has a prologue that reveals part of the ending, which is a pet peeve of mine because sometimes I think the author relies too much on the prologue to create tension in the novel. The Longest Night had plenty of tension, mostly interpersonal, without it, and really you didn't have to read the prologue to see it coming.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Rise of the Wolf (Mark of the Thief, #2)" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1432315158l/25582867.jpg" width="132" /><img alt="The Princess in Black (The Princess in Black, #1)" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1400886035l/20708771.jpg" width="156" /><img alt="American Born Chinese" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1317066615l/118944.jpg" width="136" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Also, this week I read the three juvenile and young adult books pictured above. All were solid efforts, although my favorite was <i>American Born Chinese</i>, and I look forward to reading more of Gene Luen Yang's books in the near future.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937088195052064420noreply@blogger.com0