2016 Reading Wrap-up

by Carol7 Comments
I read a total of 76 books, novellas, etc. this year. I don't think I wrote reviews for all of them. A couple were kids books that I reread with my nephew and at least one was a Thursday Tale. Numbers Pages read: 6910 Time listened: 310 hrs 51 mins Audibooks: 36 EBooks: 34 Print: 6 Male authors: 32 Female authors: 26 Multiple authors: 6 New to me authors: 47 Genres It's hard to categorize some books into one genre. Some may overlap, but I've tried to put them where I think they fit best. The question becomes, do I care that my reading habits are so skewed toward mysteries? I think yes, I'd like to see a little more diversity in next year's list, especially in the non-fiction and classic categories, but mysteries will always be my first love. Mystery: 42 Fantasy/Paranormal: 9 Picture Book: 9 Sci-fi: 4 Thriller: 3 History (non-fiction): 2 Cookbook: 1 Classic: 1 Romance: 1 Humor: 1 General Fiction: 1 Graphic Novel: 1 Memoir: 1 Favorites 5 star reads Armstrong by Torben Kuhlmann The Serpent by Claire North The Thief by Claire North A Great Reckoning by...
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2017 Back to the Classics Challenge

by Carol4 Comments
I mentioned the other day that I want to read more classics next year. To that end, I'm joining the Back to the Classics Challenge, hosted by Karen at Books and Chocolate. Here's how it works: The challenge will be exactly the same as last year, 12 classic books, but with slightly different categories. You do not have to read 12 books to participate in this. Complete six categories, and you get one entry in the drawing at the end of the year Complete nine categories, and you get two entries in the drawing Complete all twelve categories, and you get three entries in the drawing Here are the categories for the 2017 Back to the Classics Challenge. Some of my tentative selections are in parenthesis. 1. A 19th Century Classic (The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde) 2. A 20th Century Classic (Orlando by Virginia Woolf) 3. A classic by a woman author (something by Agatha Christie) 4. A classic in translation (Around the World in 80 Days by...
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Thursday’s Tale: First Foot

by Carol3 Comments
I don't really have a story for today, more of a tradition to bring luck for the New Year. Hogmanay is the Scottish New Year's Eve celebration. The origins of Hogmanay are unclear, but may be derived from Norse and Gaelic observances. Customs vary throughout Scotland, and usually include gift-giving and visiting the homes of friends and neighbours. The "First Footing" is a tradition celebrated on Hogmanay, a Scottish New Year's celebration. It is supposed to bring luck and prosperity to the household for the new year. Traditionally, the "luckiest" person to enter a house in the new year is a tall, dark-haired man. Definitely do not allow it to be someone with red hair. The First Foot should bring small gifts with him that represent the wishes for the new year, a piece of coal for a warm hearth, bread and salt for all in the house to be fed adequately, and a coin for financial prosperity, and a drink (commonly whiskey) to represent good...
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Wrap-Up 2016 Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge

by Carol1 Comment
I read more than my goal of 31 books for the Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge. I'm reading a book of short story mysteries right now, but don't think I'll finish it by the new year. Here's my list: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty All the Old Knives by Olen Steinhauer Phoenix Rising by Pip Ballantine, Tee Morris "A" Is for Asshat by Rebecca Cantrell, Sean Black Dead & Buried by Leighann Dobbs The Bughouse Affair by Marcia Muller, Bill Pronzini "B" Is for Bad Girls by Rebecca Cantrell, Sean Black The Janus Affair by Pip Ballantine, Tee Morris The Heiress of Linn Hagh by Karen Charlton The Cracked Spine by Paige Shelton Night Shift by Charlaine Harris The Pot Thief Who Studied Georgia O'Keeffe by J. Michael Orenduff Death in a White Tie by Ngaio Marsh Night Night, Sleep Tight by Hallie Ephron In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware Murder...
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2016 End of Year Book Survey

by Carol6 Comments
This great end of the year survey is hosted by Jamie at The Perpetual Page-Turner. I've skipped a few of the questions. Number Of Books You Read: 75 Number of Re-Reads: 0 Genre You Read The Most From: Mystery   1. Best Book You Read In 2016? A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny 2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t? Dark Matter by Blake Crouch 3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?  Arsène Lupin, The Gentleman Burglar by Maurice Leblanc, translated by  Nicolae Sfetcu (surprised by how bad the translation was) 4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)? None, really. I'm not a very good pusher. 5. Best series you started in 2016? Best Sequel of 2016? Best Series Ender of 2016? Started- The Checquy Files by Daniel O'Malley, Best Sequel- A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny, Best Series Ender - The Master by Claire North    6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2016? Claire North 7. Best...
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Readers’ Workouts – 12/27

by Carol9 Comments
  My husband and daughter got me a Fitbit Blaze for Christmas. So far, I love it. I love that it shows me texts and notifies me of phone calls. I think one of my New Year's Resolutions is going to be put down my phone and I think this will help. If I can see when I get texts as long as I'm within 20 ft of my phone, I think I'll be less likely to just have it with me all the time and therefore less likely to pick it up and check facebook or play a game or whatever. It gives me hourly reminders to move if I haven't gone at least 250 steps.  It also tracks exercise better and counts floors, which my old one didn't do. I just got this floor badge. I didn't keep very good track of what I did this past week, with the holidays and David and Amber both not feeling up to par. I...
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