Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2018

I participate in this challenge every year. I'm a little late in signing up this year, but I still plan to read at least 4 or 5 Christmas-themed books before January 6th. I know it's sappy, but I enjoy it. 
If you want to join the Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge, get all the details here and sign up!  
My first selection is 

I love this Penguin Christmas Classics edition and I am collecting the other five books in the series. My Library Classics Club selected this for our December read. 

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

Title:   Killers of the Flower Moon

Author:          David Grann

Published:     April 18, 2017 by Doubleday

Hardcover:    338 pages

Awards:         Edgar Award Nominee for Best Fact Crime (2018); Andrew Carnegie Medal Nominee for Nonfiction (2018); National Book Award Finalist for Nonfiction (2017); Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for History & Biography (2017); Brooklyn Public Library Prize Nominee for Nonfiction (2017)

Summary:     Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann explores the deaths of an incredible number of Osage Indians in the early 1900’s, specifically the family of Mollie Burkhart. The Osage were moved from their lands to a reservation on land that was later discovered to be on top of a rich oil field. The Osage had headrights to these lands and some of the white men, who were appointed their guardians, worked out ways to eliminate the Osage so they could have the money earned from them. David Grann tells the story of Mollie Burkhart’s family and how they were systematically killed so their headrights would be passed on. He also tells the story of how the U. S. Government was involved and the men who started the Federal Bureau of Investigation, some of whom worked on this Osage case. Who was behind all these murders? Was there only one man or were there many white men taking advantage of the Osage?

Overview:      I probably would never have picked this book up on my own, but it was our library book club’s February selection. I was surprised to find that I was very interested in what happened to the Osage Indians at this period in time and I was saddened by the way the white men treated them – as though they were not intelligent enough to handle their own affairs and that they weren’t fully “human.” It was racist and disgusting to me. Even though there were some passages that were heavy on investigation issues that didn’t work out, I didn’t feel that the book dragged.  I was more and more interested in the eventual outcome as I read along. If you like true crime stories, this is the book for you.

Until Tom White took over, the investigation seemed to go several different ways. Mr. White too all the possible leads and followed them to learn all he could and verify the facts given. I don’t usually like crime novels, but this was true and I wanted to find out if the criminals involved were brought to justice. There was nothing offensive as far as sex or swearing involved, however, there was ample violence due to the way several of the Osage were murdered.  I am very interested in details and making lists and checking off items when they are completed. This book was a great demonstration of that being done. Tom White made a lists of all the evidence that was gathered and set out to prove or disprove each item. He got discouraged, but in the end his persistence paid off.

Mr. Grann goes beyond Tom White’s investigation and communicates with descendants of the Osage to discover even more families who were victimized by their white guardians. As I said previously, it was disgusting to think that a nation of people could be taken advantage of in such a way. Although, if you think about it a bit, there were other nations who leaders attempted to destroy because they were deemed “undesirable”. This brings to mind the Nazis and the Jews. How can man be so cruel?

 I gave this selection 4 stars because it wasn't really a page-turner for me, although I did get more and more interested as i read on. 

Christmas Bells by Jennifer Chiaverini

Title: Christmas Bells
Author: Jennifer Chiaverini 
Published: October 27, 2015 by Dutton 
The copy I read was paperback and included 336 pages. 

This book will appeal to many groups of people: those who enjoy history, literature buffs, music lovers, and those who enjoy romantic, perfect endings. I am all of those. I got a little bogged down with the historical sections. I felt the pace dragged a bit through there, but it was interesting in retrospect. This novel included so many things. The Civil War, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his family, the war in Aphganistan and families at home dealing with deployment of their loved ones, the priesthood and how it affects a family, a Senator's influence and his wife's responsibility serving alongside him. So much, yet it worked. I loved how Ms. Chiaverini wrapped everything up and tied it with a big bow! That's my kind of Christmas tale! I will never hear or sing or play "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" the same again. 

I gave it 5 stars - I thought about giving it 4 stars because the historical parts were kind of long, but in the end it was a wonderful Christmas story. 

Family Tree Reading Challenge

I came across this really interesting reading challenge: the Family Tree Reading Challenge hosted by Becky's Book Reviews. You choose members of your family and read a book that was published in the year of their birth. I am the youngest child in my family, so I chose my youngest daughter who was born in 1991, myself 1954, my father who was also the youngest in his family 1917, my great aunt who was the youngest in her family 1909, my grandfather also the youngest 1894, and the two youngest siblings - twins - of my great grandmother 1860. I looked up the bestsellers for those years and found some interesting choices: 

1991 Loves Music, Loves to Dance by Mary Higgins Clark 
1954 Mary Anne by Daphne du Maurier 
1917 His Family by Ernest Poole 
1909 The Trail of the Lonesome Pine by John Fox, Jr. 
1894 Trilby by George du Maurier 
1860 The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot 

That's my list! You can sign up here. 

Library Love Challenge

If you love your library as I do, this challenge is right up your alley. The goal is to read at least 12 books from the library this year. Of course, you can read more if you want. 
I'm going to start with 12, but hopefully, I will read more. 

It's hosted by Angels Guilty Pleasures and you can sign up here. 

There's also a giveaway at the end that you can read about at the same link. 

Good luck! 

Winter's Respite Readathon

It's January - time to start the #Winter's Respite Readathon! I love an excuse to just read, read, read. 
If you want to join, just click on the picture at the top of this page and it will take you to the post. 

I'm starting out continuing one of my Christmas reads: "Christmas Bells" by Jennifer Chiaverini. It is part historical and part contemporary. I'm really enjoying it. I have a couple of other Christmas books that I need to finish as well. 

Christmas Day brought me three new books - one is a children's book in Spanish, the others are "The Other Alcott" by Elise Hooper which I am reviewing for our book club this year, and "My Brilliant Friend" by Elena Ferrante. You may see those on my booklist, too. 

I also have some books on my Kindle that I could read: "Geekerella" by Ashley Poston which my daughter says is really good, and the next Poldark book! 

I'm so glad to have some time to just sit and read this January! Get a cup of tea and cozy up with your book! 

2017 Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge

It's time to start the 2017 Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge including the... 



2017 Christmas Spirit Christmas & Scary Readathon! 

I have picked up a couple of audiobooks to get started: 

"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" by Barbara Robinson, narrated by C. J. Critt 
"Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery" by Jenny Colgan, narrated by Anne-Marie Piazza 
and 
"The Christmas Room" by Catherine Anderson, narrated by Susan Bennett 

I'm going to listen to these while I am working around the house, writing Christmas cards (I have lots to write this year!) and working on the hand-crafted presents I am going to give this year. It should be fun! 

ReWIRED by S. R. Johannes

ReWired

S.R. Johannes
Publication date: August 27th 2017
Genres: Thriller, Young Adult

YA cyber thriller, ReWIRED, by Shelli Johannes-Wells (writing as S.R. Johannes), which offers a fresh and exciting new take on the genre, and could be described as Ally Carter’s HEIST SOCIETY meets THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO for teens.

Sixteen-year-old Ada Lovelace is never more alive and sure of herself than when she’s hacking into a “secure” network as her alter ego, the Dark Angel. In the real world, Ada is broken, reeling from her best friend Simone’s recent suicide. But online, the reclusive daughter of Senator Lovelace (champion of the new Online Privacy Bill) is a daring white hat hacker and the only female member of the Orwellians, an elite group responsible for a string of high-profile hacks against major corporations, with a mission to protect the little guy. Ada is swiftly proving she’s a force to be reckoned with, when a fellow Orwellian betrays her to the FBI. To protect her father’s career, Ada is sent to ReBoot, a technology rehab facility for teens…the same rehab Simone attended right before killing herself.

It’s bad enough that the ReBoot facility is creepy in an Overlook-Hotel-meets-Winchester-Mansion way, but when Ada realizes Simone’s suicide is just one in an increasingly suspicious string of “accidental” deaths and “suicides” occurring just after kids leave ReBoot, Ada knows she can’t leave without figuring out what really happened to her best friend. The massive cyber conspiracy she uncovers will threaten everything she cares about–her dad’s career, her new relationship with a wry, handsome, reformed hacker who gets under her skin, and most of all–the version of herself Ada likes best–the Dark Angel.

With a deliciously twisty plot, the topical bite of Cory Doctorow’s LITTLE BROTHER, ReWIRED delves into technology addiction, internet privacy, and corporate/government collection of data, as it vividly illuminates the universally human questions about ethics, privacy, and self-definition that both underpin these socio-political issues and dovetail with classic coming-of-age themes. Ultimately, ReWIRED is about the daily choices we all make about who we want to be, how much of ourselves we choose to share with others, and the terrifying risks and exhilarating rewards of being ourselves, online and off.

—

EXCERPT:

Simone never did anything without a reason.

There’s only way to find out what that was. I need to get on a computer. And I know just where to find one. In Ms. Matthews office.

When Ms. Matthews pops in for room check, I pretend to be deathly ill. Getting this lady to believe me isn’t as hard. My fake gagging sounds cleared the room really fast.

After everyone heads to their first activity, I sneak down to the lunchroom and snag the lunch lady’s security card from her register. After some time observing, I know the center uses a standard swipe system, so hopefully this card will gain me access.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36041820-rewired

Purchase:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/ReWired-S-R-Johannes-ebook/dp/B0752Z6V3W/

AUTHOR BIO:

S.R. Johannes is the award-winning author of the Amazon bestselling Nature of Grace thriller series (Untraceable, Uncontrollable, and Unstoppable). She is a winner of the IndieReader Discovery Award in YA, an IPPY a Silver Medalist for YA Fiction, a Finalist in The Kindle Book Review’s Best Young Adult Fiction, and a Finalist in US Book News Best YA Book.

Since leaving Corporate America, she has followed her passion for writing and conservation by working with The Dolphin Project, the Atlanta Zoo, other animal rescue organizations, and by weaving conservation themes into her books.
Currently, she lives in Atlanta, GA with hEnglish-accented husband and the huge imaginations of their prince and princess, which she hopes- someday- will change the world.

Author links:

https://www.facebook.com/srjohannesauthor?fref=ts

https://twitter.com/srjohannes

https://www.srjohannes.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5235537.S_R_Johannes

All the Stars in the Heavens by Adriana Trigiani - review

Title: All the Stars in the Heavens

Author: Adriana Trigiani

Published: October 13, 2015 by Harper

Pages: 447

I love this quote from “All the Stars in the Heavens.” Loretta Young was talking about Edna Ferber, the novelist.

“She told me something that has stayed with me. Ferber said, ‘Beware the clowns. The leaders who start out as jokes – people make fun of them, they’re caricatures, cartoons in newspapers, and people decide they are harmless. These men are the most dangerous. The day comes when thy use their power against their own people.’”

I thought it was so insightful and applicable to our present day.

Our book club chose “All the Stars in the Heavens” by Adriana Trigiani as our August selection. Most of us liked the view of Hollywood, some thought it was too long, and one said she felt as though she was reading a soap opera. Personally, I enjoyed it. My parents and I used to watch Loretta Young on television and I remember her as a lovely woman. This book didn’t mar that image for me. I admire the fact that she held on to her Catholic faith, prayed the rosary, went to confession and attended Mass. She wasn’t what some think of a typical “starlet.” She worked hard and cared about the people she loved. I truly enjoyed this book and thought it ended rather abruptly. I could have read more.

National Tell-A-Joke Day is August 16!

It's National Tell-A-Joke Day - August 16! 

I found some of these on the Internet: 

Here's a bookish one - just to make it worthy of a book blog! 

Keep Calm graphics are always welcome!

 I asked Siri to tell me some jokes and here is what she said: 

"Which baseball player has the shortest commute?" 
"The Catcher - he only works from home." 

"What was the turkey grateful for on Thanksgiving?" 
"Vegetarians" 

and...

"I love math - although do you know what seems odd to me?" 
"numbers indivisible by two." da dum dum

what's your favorite joke? 

Review of "Heartless" by Marissa Meyer

Title: Heartless

Author: Marissa Meyer

Published: November 8, 2016

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Edition: hardcover 453 pages

Literary Awards: Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee for Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2016)

From Goodreads:

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland and a favorite of the unmarried King, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, she wants to open a shop and create delectable pastries. But for her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for a woman who could be a queen.

At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the King’s marriage proposal, she meets handsome and mysterious Jest. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into a secret courtship.

Cath is determined to choose her own destiny. But in a land thriving with magic, madness and monsters, fate has other plans.

Alleluia’s Review:

I read Marissa Meyer’s series The Lunar Chronicles, so I was anxious to read this book to see what she would do with the origins of “the wicked queen.” I got attached to Catherine early on and I kept anticipating what terrible thing was going to happen to her to make her evil. In the end, one could almost commiserate with her, although one could sense where it would lead. I was disappointed that the story stopped where it did – perhaps there will be a sequel? There is a space of time between this story and The Lunar Chronicles that could be filled in nicely with another volume or two. I enjoyed this one. It was quick-moving and interesting. If you are a fan of fairytale retellings, this book is for you.

I gave it 5 stars! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PRESIDENT OBAMA

August 4 is the birthday of our 44th President Barack Obama! Here are just three of the books to consider reading to celebrate! They all are rated at least 4 stars on Goodreads. 

 

Here is a quote from President Obama that I find very inspiring: 

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek." - Barack Obama 

and this one: 

"The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don't wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, and you will fill yourself with hope." - Barack Obama 

NATIONAL COLORING BOOK DAY - AUGUST 2

Yesterday, I was looking for information about Coloring Books in anticipation of “National Coloring Book Day” which is today, August 2. I found this article on the Huffpost blog by Dr. Nikki Martinez, Psy.D., LCPC entitled, “7 Reasons Adult Coloring Books Are Great for Your Mental, Emotional and Intellectual Health.” If you want to read the entire piece with all its footnotes and related links, you can read it here.

Dr. Martinez says coloring books are prescribed by many psychologists, therapists and occupational therapists, including herself, for various reasons. She actually prescribed coloring for herself after she had major surgery and was laid-up in bed for eight weeks. Now she pulls out her coloring books when she needs to shift her focus or practice her own stress reduction. Coloring books are useful in so many ways. Dr. Martinez lists 7 of them:

1.      Coloring can be used as an alternative to meditation, as a means of relaxation, and as a calming tool. It can help an individual focus on what they are doing vs. focusing on intrusive and troubling thoughts.

2.     It can help with many emotional and mental health issues such as boredom, lack of structure and stress. Dr. Mendez says, “The time and focus that adult coloring takes helps the individual remove the focus from the negative issues and habits, and focus them in a safe and productive way.”

3.     They help patients with PTSD, anxiety and stress issues by calming down the part of the brain that controls the fight or flight response. Coloring helps turn down that response to give a patient much-needed rest and relaxation.

4.     It reminds us of a simpler, easier and happier times of childhood. To tap into those times is cathartic and enjoyable.

5.     Coloring has intellectual benefits, too. It uses parts of our brains that enhance focus and concentration. Deciding which colors to use to make the picture pretty activates those parts of the brain.

6.     Coloring uses both sides of our brain. Dr. Martinez says, “When we are thinking about balance, color choices, applying colored pencil to paper, we are working on problem solving and fine motor skills.” Coloring can be used to retrain individuals by occupational therapists by starting with easier pictures and gradually advancing to more and more intricate designs.

7.     Finally, Dr. Martinez gives 3 reference links for us to check out. Read her whole article here, then go get yourself some colored pencils and a coloring book and get started! 

#High Summer Readathon and the Christmas in July Readathon Wrap-up Post - really!

I felt pretty silly last week when I thought the High Summer Readathon was over on Sunday, July 23! It felt like a real gift to get an extra week to continue reading. These are the books I read - reviews are in the works: 

1. Heartless by Marissa Meyer



2. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman



3. Stars in Your Eyes by Lynn Kurland 



For the Christmas in July Readathon, I read these two: 

1. The Christmas Pony by Melody Carlson



2. Married by Midnight by Talli Roland 



Not sure where my 3-stars pic went, but you get the idea. 

It was very nice to be able to devote my free time the past two weeks to reading. I am discovering more and more how much I truly love it! Thank you, Michelle, for hosting these two readathons and giving us a reason to read more, more, more! Also, I liked reading a little bit of Christmas in the summer. 

#HSReadathon Mid-Readathon Update Post

This is my wrap-up post for the #High Summer Readathon. I never do very well with readathons. I am amazed at how many books some of the other participants read in just a week! I read TWO! And I actually didn't finish the last one until the Tuesday after the readathon was over. So sad. But I do like the idea of spending as much of my free time in a week reading. 

These are the two books I read: 

"A Man Called Ove" by Fredrik Backman - I gave this one 5 stars. It was a book about a secretly lovely man. Some people have said it wasn't a life-changing book, but I don't care. It was very good and I liked the way Fredrik Backman laid out the story, the way he let the reader in on Ove's past a little at a time. You just grew to love the man. It deserves 5 stars. 




The other book I read was "Heartless" by Marissa Meyer. I also gave this one 5 stars. It is the imagined story of the Queen of Hearts from "Alice in Wonderland" and how she got to be so fond of the phrase "off with his/her head!" For most of the book, I couldn't reconcile the character of Catherine with the Queen of Hearts. As the reader, I liked her so much. Then... You can suspect the ending, and I did, too, but getting there was quite a story. 


So, there are my two High Summer Readathon books. I didn't even get to a Christmas book for the end. I was going to read "The Christmas Pony" by Melody Carlson. Her Christmas books are so good. There is always something to be learned and considered from her books. She is my favorite Christmas author. 

SILLY ME! THE READATHON ISN'T OVER UNTIL NEXT SUNDAY!!! 

#HS Readathon

Change up! I started reading "A Man Called Ove" by Fredrik Backman as my first #HS Readathon book! It's very good so far. They were showing the movie at our local library last week and I had the book, so I have started it and plan to watch the movie when I am finished. 

We were here yesterday and I purchased 4 books to add to my TBR (like I needed them). Anyway, the Book Loft is 32 rooms of heavenly books in all genres imaginable. It was wonderful! Here is what I bought: 





I read "The Kitchen House" a while ago and really liked it, so I have been wanting to get "The Glory Over Everything." "Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend" was recommended by Katarina Bivald and I am anxious to read it. "Lilac Girls" has been popping up in places - you know how that is, you keep seeing a book until you buy it. The story sounds very good. "Ink and Bone" is the first in The Great Library series by Rachel Caine and I heard about it from one of my Book Tubers on You Tube. Will I get to any of these during the High Summer Readathon? Who knows. Ooooh! I forgot to get a Christmas book. I will look at our library for one. 

What are you reading today? 

High Summer Readathon #HSreadathon

 
It's that time of year again - time for the High Summer Readathon! As you can see, it runs from July 17 - 30, 2017. There are no reading requirements, so I can whittle away at my TBR pile. It will be great! Here are a few of the books that I plan to read - I usually only get through 2 or 3: "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" by Victor Hugo. I am planning to listen to the audiobook while I read the physical book. "Let's Pretend This Never Happened" by Jenny Lawson. It is our book club selection for July. AND "Heartless" by Marissa Meyer. I read the Lunar Chronicles and loved them, so I can't wait to dig into this book. During the end of the High Summer Readathon, the Christmas In July Readathon will be going on for 48 hours July 29 & 30. For that, I will dig out one of my Christmas novels. I know I have some put away to read this Christmas, I just don't remember what they are. Anyway, I love Christmas!!! If you want to sign up for the High Summer Readathon, here is where you can do it.