Library Loot

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries.

The Winter Witch

I can't remember where I first heard about The Winter Witch. But it sounded really good. 

Just one for me this week. What did you get this week?

Top Ten Tuesday: Authors That I'd Put On My Auto-Buy List

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. 

This week's topic is Authors That I'd Put On My Auto-Buy List

John Green

I was a fan of John Green's collaboration with David Levithan, Will Grayson, Will Grayson. But after reading The Fault In Our Stars, John Green is at the top of my to-buy list. Although I do have quite a backlog of his books to read first.

David Levithan

Every Day and The Lover's Dictionary cemented my love for David Levithan. He also has a backlog of books for me to read too.

David Sedaris

I love everything Davis Sedaris writes. I've read a lot of his work.

Laurie Notaro

I've read almost of all of Laurie Notaro's books. I've enjoyed all her books.

Melissa Marr

I loved her Wicked Lovely series which prompted me to read everything she writes.

Maggie Stiefvater

After reading her Book of Faerie series, I will read anything she rights. I need to finish her The Wolves of Mercy Falls series.

Seanan McGuire

I've enjoyed both her October Daye and Feed series (under Mira Grant). I need to start her InCrypid series.

Kelley Armstrong

I loved her Women of The Otherworld series. I need to start her YA series.

Brian K Vaughan

After reading his Y:The Last Man series, I pick up anything he writes.

Gail Carriger

I loved Carriger's Parasole Protectorate series and will pick up any of her other books.

Who are your must buy authors?

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

I put Code Name Verity on my library queue cause everyone said it was amazing. They weren't lying. Code Name Verity was straight up amazing.
The first part of Code Name Verity is about Queenie. Queenie has been captured and is being held by the Nazis. The first part is her confession and details about England's war plan. I was amazed about the detail that Wein put in there. I admit that it took me some time to get into Code Name Verity. I didn't fully understand what was going on. The second part really helped me understand the first part. This is definitely a book I want to read again.
I didn't cry. I did gasp once.  The writing, the characters were amazing. Code Name Verity will be on my top 10 list for this year. Others who shared their thoughts on Code Name Verity: The Perpetual Page-Turner, Good Books and Good Wine, You've GOTTA Read This, Library Queue, Becky's Book Reviews, Fluttering Butterflies, and My Friend Amy.
This is my second read for the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge.

This is my second read for the Mammoth Reading Challenge.

Awkward and Awesome Thursday

Awkward:

-My new obsession with Candy Crush Saga. My reading is suffering from it.

-We're moving in a little more than a week and we haven't packed any boxes.

-It's taken me about five days to finish this post.

Awesome:

-We finally saw Skyfall the other night. Best Bond movie I've seen in a while.

-The new ramen place near our house is excellent. I'm hoping to do a post on it one day.

-We're going to Cirque du Soleil tonight!

What's been awesome and awkward this week for you?

Weekend Cooking: Valentine's Day Dinner

Every year Tai and I stay home and make a special meal for Valentine's Day. I hate fighting crowds for tables at restaurants. Plus we usually choose our favorite foods.
In the appetizer spot, we usually have bacon wrapped scallops. This year was no different:

Excuse my stained plate. It's a special meal on our regular ole plates.
Our main course is usually steak. Preferably aged steaks but this year we went with something different. Full Circle had special Valentine's meals. Tai and I chose the crab risotto. Full Circle sent the rice, the crab, the shallots, the chives, and the recipe. I supplied the stock and the butter.

It was delicious. We also had artichokes but I didn't get a pictures of those.
Full Circle also sent dessert, a molten chocolate cake from Hot Cakes. It was the perfect sweet treat. I love Hot Cakes. I've been to their shop in Ballard and would recommend going.



Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. For more information, see the welcome post.

The Love List

-Chicken salad sandwiches
-A good night's sleep

-Bacon
-Massages from Tai

-Thrift shops
-Friday Night Lights

-Din Tai Fung
-Cirque de Soleil

-Laughing
-Ramen

Library Loot

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries.

The Corrections

The Corrections is on my Fill In The Gaps list and it would count as a mammoth read (576 pages).

Scott Pilgrim vs The World

Continuing the Scott Pilgrim journey.

Hammered

The next in the Iron Druid Chronicles.

Shades of Earth

It's here! I have the last book in the Across The Universe trilogy! So excited!!!

What did you get this week?

Birchbox

Last year, I gave Marta a 3 month subscription to Birchbox for her birthday. Birchbox sends a box of high end beauty products every month. I was excited when Marta gave me a 3 month subscription for my birthday. I wanted to take pictures of one of my boxes to show you. This is January's box:

I am super excited to try the Frownies and Viva La Juicy.

I absolutely love getting each box and trying the goodies. I highly recommend giving Birchbox to anyone. They even have boxes for men.

I was not paid to post my thoughts on Birchbox. Just a happy customer. 

Life Lately

As I've mentioned, life has been busy. I was at the urgent care 5 times in January. Four more times than I would have liked. One time was when I sliced my finger open. But the other 4 times were due to my dad's health issues. Dad's been feeling crappy for the last couple of months but in January it seemed to get worse. We were in and out of the doctor's office, looking for an answer. Last week they determined that his heart was the problem and on Monday, he had triple bypass surgery. He's recovering well at the hospital for now. We are making preparations for when he comes home so I've got a lot to do before he can come home. Thankfully Tai's been a wonderful help, running the usual household chores so I can focus on Dad.
Dad and I hate to have our pictures taken so here's one from my wedding:

And since this is Thursday, I'll leave you a little awkward and awesome.

Awkward:

-Trying not to see anything below my Dad's belt. Some nurses are very conscientious about his privacy, some are not.

-Running from place to place and sometimes forgetting where I'm going. 

Awesome:

-The support of my friends and family. Gold stars, guys.

-Being able to be there for my dad. 

Library Loot

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries.

The Nightmare Garden

 I was powerless to resist the beautiful cover for The Nightmare Garden, the sequel to The Iron Thorn.

Hexed

I read Hounded last month and really enjoyed it. I'll be devouring this series quickly.

The Wolf Gift

Since it was sitting on the library shelf, I decided to give Anne Rice's latest a try. 

What did you get this week?

January Book Tally

Books:
Scarlet by AC Gaughen (292 pages)
The Color of Earth by Kim Dong Hwa  (312)
Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child by Bob Spitz (557)
The Violets of March by Sarah Jio (296)
Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride (343)
The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin (468)
Tell The Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rikfa Brunt (355)
Bon Appetit by Sandra Byrd (304)
Hounded by Kevin Hearne (289)

Despite the fact this was a busy month, I still managed a respectable nine books read this month. I still have not read Pride and Prejudice despite the fact that I now own it. Too many books, too little time.

Stats:

Fill In The Gaps YTD: 0 (None this month)

Historical Reading Challenge YTD: 1 (The American Heiress)

Mammoth Book Challenge YTD: 1 (The American Heiress)

Let Me Count The Ways Book Challenge: Pages read this month (2784)
Total books to date: 9

Iris & Ruby by Rosie Thomas

It's official. I'm a sucker for Rosie Thomas' books. After thoroughly enjoying The Kashmir Shawl, I requested Iris & Ruby from the library. Iris & Ruby is the only other Thomas book they have besides The Kashmir Shawl. I talked to my coworker who lent me The Kashmir Shawl and she said she'd work on hooking me up with more of Thomas' books.
Iris is in her 80's, living in Cairo, lost in her memories. Iris is content to live like this, not aware of today, only thinking about yesterday. One day, Iris' granddaughter, Ruby shows up on her doorstep. Iris and Ruby don't know each other very well. Ruby, 19, has run away from home. Ruby hasn't set a course for herself which is completely unacceptable to her parents. In order to escape the noise as well as the death of her boyfriend, Ruby seeks refugee with Iris. I absolutely loved how Iris and Ruby's  relationship evolved and how they each changed because of it.
Again, Thomas takes us back and forth between present day Cairo and 1940's Cairo. Sometimes the transitions were a little foggy but this time it worked for me. It's like Iris decided to retire in her memories. She loses herself in remembering her old life and until Ruby shows up there is no reason for her to pay attention to the present. Thomas does an excellent job of capturing war time Cairo and present day Cairo. I loved all the details about the museums, the tombs, and the Pyramids.
Overall I would recommend Iris & Ruby. It was a wonderfully told story about mothers and daughters, love, and loss. Others who shared their thoughts on Iris & Ruby: Little Miss Rachel, Grumpy Old Bookman, and Yeah I Said That.