2017 End of Year Book Survey
Month: December 2017
#AMonthofFaves: Fave Book Covers and Top Reads of 2017
I missed yesterday, so I’m combining two topics for this, the last Month of Faves post of the year.
Yesterday’s topic was favorite book covers. Here are mine from my reads this year:
Pictured: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas; Warcross by Marie Lu; I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo; Hunger by Roxane Gay; Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han, and An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole
I legit read/found out more about Warcross just because of the cover.
Today’s topic is top ten reads of the year, so here are my twelve faves (no rereads and, again, so far since I might read a banger before the year is out):
Pictured: A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, Calling My Name by Liara Tamani, And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, The Unhappy Wife by K. E. Garland, Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter, Greensleeves by Eloise Jarvis McGraw, Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly, The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin, and Thug Notes by Sparky Sweets.
As always, it’s been super fun participating in this event. I will probably post about my favorite TV shows from this year before the year is out, and I will be completing the end of year survey. I just started a book today. Will I finish it? There are two full reading days left in the year, so I hope so!
Final #MustReadin2017 Check-In
Since my last check-in post, I read one of the books on my list, bringing my total read to six out of twenty-four and my total attempted to nine. 1/4 read! I’ll take it.
Here are the books on my list:
Since my last check-in, I finished:
Christmas, Books, and Movies
I’m feeling a little out of it today (maybe I need some protein?) so I’m going to keep this week’s update pretty short.
1. I hope everyone had a merry Christmas yesterday (or a happy Monday). As previously mentioned, my daughter and I are at my friend’s house for the break, so it’s nice spending time with both of them (and my friend’s family). We opened presents and napped and cooked and ate and then played games.
#AMonthofFaves: New to Me Author (and Narrator!) Discoveries
Today’s Month of Faves topic is all about new authors encountered this year. I’m going to highlight the authors and audiobook narrators whose work I will definitely be checking out again.
Authors
1. Liara Tamani (book read: Calling My Name) — I just finished this yesterday. It’s Tamani’s debut and it’s exactly the kind of YA story I like best (realistic, slice of life, coming of age). Special shout-out to Sara Zarr for introducing me to the author’s book on Twitter.
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#AMonthofFaves: The Most Memorable Reads (So Far) This Year
Today’s topic is memorable reads: unique, weird or memorable book(s) – books you did not finish, were super weird, characters you disliked, book award winners (from this year) you read and didn’t like, books you didn’t think you would like, but you did. And you know me, always with the “so far” because the year isn’t over yet. (A lot of reading can happen in 11 days!)
Memorable (and not in a good way):
A Bollywood Affair by Sonali Dev — Horrible, awful sex scene that made me stop reading the book.
Blame by Michelle Huneven — White privilege b.s. that goes unchecked and a cop-out ending.
Memorable (and disturbing–doesn’t mean I didn’t like the book):
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn — There is a whole lot of not good and a mess of crazy in this novel.
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie — That last death is…whew. Also, the killer’s motivations and methodology are something else.
Memorable (in a fun way):
Fame, Glory, and Other Things on My To Do List by Janette Rallison — I will forever think of the opening night play and laugh.
The New Guy (and Other Senior Year Distractions) by Amy Spalding — High achieving whackadoo! Passive aggressive dog walking!
Thug Notes: A Street-Smart Guide to Classic Literature by Sparky Sweets — Literary analysis by your favorite around the way dude and mine. Fun and funny.
Also, Merry Christmas to me because I just found out there’s a Thug Notes podcast. God bless us, everyone.
It’s Monday & I’m officially on winter break!
That’s right. Grades are in, out of office reply is on, and my first semester at my new school is done.
I will probably write a reflection post later this week because I have Thoughts, but, well, we know how I do when I promise content.
Let’s get into the week that was, shall we?
Continue reading “It’s Monday & I’m officially on winter break!”
#SomethingonSunday: Holiday Edition
I flew into TN to spend the holidays with my best friend and her family. More importantly, my daughter is also here, and we’ll be together until she heads back to school (and I head back home) on Jan. 2. That is all. 😀
Picking Favorites: The “I Should Be Packing” Edition
It’s a step up from “I should be grading,” so I’ll take it. (Also, as a content warning, the Terry Crews and Johnny Iuzzini stories both discuss sexual assault.)
Terry Crews understands that he is in a unique position to speed up that progress. So, instead of internalizing his abuse and spreading it to others with toxic actions of his own, he is taking the steps necessary to break the chain before our eyes. — What About Your Friends? Why Hollywood’s Abandonment Of Terry Crews Is Unacceptable
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#AMonthofFaves: Best Changes Made This Year
Today’s Month of Faves prompt is Best Changes You Made To Tweak This Year #AMonthofFaves – best changes you made or routines you kept that to better organize your day / life; your = morning, evening or daily routines.
I had a hard time with this topic because I cannot think of any little things I’ve done this year since this has been a year of such BIG changes. I moved across the country, I sent my daughter off to college, I sold my house, etc. I mean, it was just a lot.
But if I had to put into words what the tweak I made this year, I would have to say that it has been my willingness to try things out and give them a chance. Things like not having a car or…that’s really all I can think of right now.
I also really did try to keep myself focused on doing things one step at a time. I applied for the job. I went on the interviews. I waited to see what would happen before planning my next move. That is huge for me. Before, I would have already found a place to live BEFORE I even got called for an interview. This time, I waited until I had an in person interview to look at places to live–and that was mostly because I knew I wouldn’t be able to make a special trip to look at housing.
I also learned to ask for help in a really big way, something I wouldn’t have done before, and it really did make my life so much better.
The Englishist 