Library Loot

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and me 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 Book of Salt

I added The Book of Salt after reading Books for Living.

Patience & Sarah

I was looking for LGBT historical fiction and I found this.

1920

This one sounded good. 

What did you get this week? Share your loot before.

Weekend Cooking: Creamy & Crunchy by Jon Krampner

I picked up Creamy & Crunchy because who wouldn't want to learn more about peanut butter. I do enjoy a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a good peanut butter cookie. But Creamy & Crunchy didn't hit the spot.

Krampner has a conversational tone but sometimes it rubbed me the wrong way. Sometimes I felt that I was a someone's house and he was recounting what he learned and every time I thought it was over, he'd find someone else to tell me. There are plenty of facts about where and how peanuts are grown. Some debate over who invented peanut butter (Not George Washington Carver) as well as the loss of regional brands that were made for specific tastes. There's even a chapter on peanut butter in music. I admit I skimmed a large portion of the book.

There are some interesting peanut butter recipes through out the book like Elvis' favorite peanut butter sandwich. I'd hoped to make one but time got away from me. I do love a simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich with strawberry or grape jam. What's your favorite way to enjoy peanut butter?
This was my second read for the Foodies Read challenge.

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth  Fish Reads and is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

Library Loot

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and me 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.

Binti

This one looks good. Very excited to read it.

Shirley Jackson's The Lottery

A favorite. Looking forward to the graphic adaptation. 

Whiskey Distilled

I actually found this one on a display for St Patrick's Day. Excited to learn more about my favorite beverage. 

What did you get this week? Claire's got the linky. 

Library Loot

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and me 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.

Heroine Complex

This one looked good.

When We Collided

Reloot.

Scarlet

Interesting looking graphic novel.

What did you get this week? Share your loot below.

February Update on 2017 Goals

Prepare to do something physically challenging in 2018. I've rolled my ankle again so walks are shorter. I'm going to the doctor to see what can be done about my wobbly ankles!

Be able to park my car in the garage by December 31, 2017. Made almost no progress here. 

Add yoga back into my life at least once a week. I went to yoga-once this month. I want to go back once my ankle feels better. 

One hour a day without technology (no phone, no computer, no tv). Still doing pretty goiod about this one. Tai and I have been reading after dinner, just listening to music.

Add more art into my life. Added some art museums to my Instagram feed. Enjoying learning about new artists.

Get back to meal planning. We did Blue Apron one week this month. Really helped with the meal planning. 

Take more pictures. Still sucking at this. I don't always like the prompts. 

February Book Tally

The Mothers by Brit Bennett
Pancakes in Paris by Craig Carlson
You Can't Touch My Hair by Phoebe Robinson
The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple
Lost In NYC by Nadja Spiegelman
Paper Girls vol 2 by Brian K Vaughan
Carrie by Stephen King
Jessica Jones vol 2 by Brian Michael Bendis
Lena Finkle's Magic Barrel by Anya Ulinich

Much more productive month. A lot of good reads this month. Feeling like I'm back on track. Plus I got one read towards the Foodies Read challenge. I really want to finish that challenge this year.

Book Stats:

Foodies Read: 1 (Pancakes In Paris) YTD: 1

What's In A Name: 0 (none this month) YTD: 0

Read Harder: 1 (The Mothers) YTD: 1

Total: 15

Just Juliet by Charlotte Reagan

I picked up Just Juliet after seeing some good reviews on Goodreads. I'm glad I did. Just Juliet was a sweet story about first love.

Lena is 17 and a senior in high school. She has a boyfriend and does well in school. Lena figures she'll go to college, get married, have kids, and become a teacher like many of the other girls in her town. But when Lena meets Juliet, Lena discovers that she might not want those things after all. Juliet is artistic and spends a lot of time making her own clothes. And the rumor is that Juliet is gay. Lena's never met a gay person before but she knows she wants to become Juliet's friend. Lena and Juliet seem to have a lot in common-art, horror movies, video games. The more time Lena spends with Juliet the less time Lena wants to spend with anyone else. But does Lena like Juliet as a friend or something more?

I appreciated how real Lena, Juliet and the other characters were. Reagan takes the time to let the characters tell their story. I also loved the epilogue which provided the happiest ending for all the characters. I really enjoyed Just Juliet. Others who shared their thoughts on Just Juliet: Life of A Crazy Mom, Every Book Counts, and The Nerdgirl Reviews.
This satisfies the Read a LGBTQ romance novel for the Read Harder Book Challenge.

Library Loot

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and me 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.

Norse Mythology

Squee! Gaiman and Norse Mythology. Let me clear my schedule. 

What did you get this week? Claire's got the linky.

Books for Living by Will Schwalbe

I choose Books for Living to satisfy the Read Harder challenge: Read a book about books. I don't really like reading about books. Either the author likes to shame the reader for not reading great works of literature or they talk about books so obscure that maybe 5 people read them. Schwalbe strikes a balance. He talks about books I never heard of in a way that made me want to read them. He doesn't shame, rather offers his opinion or other's opinion about why you might want to read a book. His tone was conversational. Plus his own love of reading oozed out of the pages and made me want to read more.

Books for Living added to my tbr pile. It was an enjoyable read and one you could read a little at a time. I hadn't wanted to read The End of Your Life Book Club but now I might. Others who shared their thoughts on Books For Living: 20somethingreads, Lit Lovers, and Linda's Book Bag.
This satisfies the book about books category of the 2017 Read Harder Challenge.

Library Loot

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and me 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.

Elmer

I'm always looking for graphic novels written by POC. 

The Edge of The Orchard

I like Chevalier and I was excited to see a new book from her on the library shelf.

What did you get this week? Share your loot below.