October Book Tally

Merry Christmas, Mrs Robinson by Delilah Marvelle

Cooking As Fast As I Can by Cat Cora

Wild Swans by Jessica Spotswood

Luke Cage Noir by Mike Benson

Girl in Doir by Annie Goetzinger

Wonder Woman: Earth One vol 1 by Grant Morrison

Star Wars: Vader Down by Jason Aaron

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Dirty River by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha

Arcana Rising by Kresley Cole

Not a bad month. I didn't get to reach as much as I wanted at the Readathon. Too much going on. But I did get some good reads in November.

Stats:

Graphic Novel Challenge: 4(Luke Cage Noir, Girl In Dior, Wonder Woman, Star Wars)  YTD: 23

Foodies Read Challenge: 1 (Cooking As Fast As I Can)  YTD: 3

What's In A Name Challenge: 0 (none this month)  YTD: 1

LGBTQIA Reading Challenge: 2 (Cooking As Fast As I Can and Dirty River)  YTD: 6

Total: 82

Two Quick Reviews

Dirty River

I don't remember how I heard about Dirty River but I'm so glad I read it. I loved Piepzna-Samarainha's voice. Even though she talks about tough topics-abuse, poverty-she tells her story so well that it was enjoyable to read. There was some poetry sprinkled through (Piepzna-Samarainha's a spoken word poet) which I actually enjoyed. I'm not normally a poetry fan. Highly recommended.

Cooking As Fast As I Can

I've enjoyed watching Cat Cora on Iron Chef so I picked up her memoir. I enjoyed her story and I'm glad I read it. Adopted by a family with a Greek father, Cat learned to cook some amazing Greek food. There are some recipes in the back. Cooking As Fast As I Can does talk a lot about Cat's life growing up, the challenges she faced, and how that made her into the chef and woman she is today. Recommended.

August Book Tally

The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson
Stiletto by Daniel O'Malley
When Reason Breaks by Cindy L Rodriguez
Marrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas
Ash & Bramble by Sarah Prineas
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
And I Darken by Kiersten White
Batgirl vol 1 by Gail Simone

Just a few books this month but some good ones! I'd been wanting to read Persepolis for ages and a friend prompted me to check it out again. When Reason Breaks was another one I'd gotten from the library numerous times. Stiletto was one of those books I've been looking forward to all year.


Stats:

Graphic Novel Challenge: 2 (Persepolis, Batgirl vol 1)  YTD: 13

Foodies Read Challenge: 0 (none this month)  YTD: 0

What's In A Name Challenge: 0 (none this month)  YTD: 1

LGBTQIA Reading Challenge: 1 (The Art of Being Normal)  YTD: 4

Total: 60

July Book Tally

At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen
The Astonishing Ant Man vol 1 by Nick Spencer
Gena/Finn by Hannah Moskowitz
Drowned City by Don Brown
The Grownup by Gillian Flynn
When the Duke Was Wicked by Lorraine Heath
You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour
Stars Above by Marissa Meyer
Six Gun Snow White by Catherynne Valente
Southern Bastard vol 1 by Jason Aaron
Paper Girls vol 1 by Brian K Vaughan
Secondhand Souls by Christoper Moore
The Boy In The Black Suit by Jason Reynolds
The Crown by Kiera Cass

Fourteen this month! Woo Hoo! Great month. I hope I can keep this up!

Stats:

Graphic Novel Challenge: 4 (Paper Girls, Southern Bastards, Drowned City, The Astonishing Ant Man)  YTD: 11

Foodies Read Challenge: 0 (none this month)  YTD: 0

What's In A Name Challenge: 0 (none this month)  YTD: 1

LGBTQIA Reading Challenge: 1 (You Know Me Well)  YTD: 3

Total: 52

The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson

I don't remember how I heard about The Art of Being Normal, but I'm glad I did. Another great read.

David is a freak or so say the kids at his school. David's parents think he's gay but David is really a girl trapped in a guy's body. He desperately wants to be a girl but he doesn't know how to tell his family. Leo's new to David's school. The rumors that surround him make him sound like a monster. But David feels drawn to Leo. And when Leo stands up to David's tormentors, Leo and David start a friendship. Both boys are hiding something from everyone.

The story goes back and forth between Leo and David. Leo's a bit of a loner. David's got 2 friends who know his secret. I really liked getting to know Leo and David. I liked how their stories unfolded. I would love another book about Leo and David. Others who shared their thoughts on The Art of Being Normal: Shiny New Books, Pretty Books, and Inclusive Minds.
This is my sixth read for the LGBTQIA reading challenge.

You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour & David Levithan

When I saw LaCour and Levithan had teamed up to write You Know Me Well, I immediately added it to my library queue. I was not disappointed. I expect top notch writing and wonderful characters from both of these authors and got it. You Know Me Well was hard to put down.

Mark is a baseball player and has lately been fooling around with his best friend, Ryan. Since Ryan isn't out yet, their romantic relationship is secret. Mark is ready for them to be out in the open. Kate is anxious to meet the love of her life as soon as she stops running away. Mark and Kate, who have known each other all school year but never really talked, run into each during pre-Pride festivities in San Francisco, just when they needed each other the most.

Ok, I adored Mark and Kate. Kate is scared. Life is moving too fast. Unlike other high school seniors, Kate isn't anxious for college. She's terrified. In fact she's terrified of a lot. She wants to meet Violet who she's pinned her romantic hopes on. Kate runs away and finds Mark who's in love with his best friend who doesn't appear to be in love with him. Kate and Mark band together to discover themselves and their true loves. I love it when you meet the right person at the right time. And despite not knowing them forever, it feels like you have. Mark and Kate help each other without all the drama of lifelong friends. They have no baggage and are able to really help each other during a tough time. You Know Me Well was an adorable read, a lot like Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist or Will Grayson, Will Grayson. Others who shared their thoughts on You Know Me Well: Ninja's Read  Too, Pen To Paper, and Lia's Bookish Obsession.
This was my fifth read for the LGBTQIA reading challenge.

Mid Year Book Challenge Update

 Graphic Novel & Manga Challenge

I've read 7 graphic novels this year but only reviewed 2. I think this will start improving. 

 LGBTQIA Reading Challenge

I'm aiming for 6-12 and I've read 3 so far. I've got more LGBTQIA books in my library queue so I think I'll wrap this one up before year's end.

 Foodies Read

I signed up to read 9-13 and I've read none so far! I love this challenge and I used to have no problem completing it. I do have a couple of foodie related books on the way from the library including a book about Shiro. 

What's In A Name?

I've only read one book out of the six categories. So much harder this year!

How are you doing on your challenges?

Ascension by Jaqueline Koyanagi

I spotted Ascension on a list of books with POC main characters. Alana, the main character, is not only a POC but gay and disabled as well. So rare that you find a book with a character being any of those things much less all three. I did love Alana but still had a few problems with Ascension.

Alana is an engineer. Currently, her and her aunt eek out a living on a small planet servicing  spaceships that come in. Alana's sister, Nova, helps them out. Nova works as a spirit guide, helping people die and providing guidance for the wealthy. Nova doesn't want Alana to be an engineer but being an engineer is all Alana's ever wanted. One day a spaceship comes looking for Nova. Alana stows away and starts a new adventure. Will Alana be able to help the ship's crew find Nova?

Alana is strong. Although she has Mel's Disorder and lives in constant pain, she still wants. She wants to fly. She wants work on ships. She wants to love. Stowing away on the ship got in the sky. Alana fights to stay on the ship, help the crew find her sister. The other crew members are just as wonderful as Alana. They are all wonderful. No one's perfect and they all have their own wonderful struggles. I see this is the first in a series but Koyanagi has yet to write more. I would like to see more about Alana and the crew of the Tangled Axon.

I had 2 problems with Ascension. Koyanagi took a long time to build Alana's world. In fact there were a lot of things that weren't entirely explained. But since this was the first in a series, I assume more will be explained later. The second was the ending. While I see why Koyanagi did it that way but I didn't like it. That had a lot to do with the fact that I didn't feel like the world was fully explained. I do hope that Koyanagi writes more. She's started an interesting world. Others who shared their thoughts: Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, A Dribble of Ink, and elisabethsheff.
This was my fourth read for the LGBTQIA reading challenge.

May Book Tally

Cold Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas
Yes Please by Amy Poehler
Heir To The Jedi by Kevin Hearne
Jubilee Manor by Bethany Hagen
Dark Reign by Andy Diggle
Deadpool: The Ones With Deadpool by Paul Scheer
The Rogue Not Taken by Sarah MacLean
Guardians of The Galaxy vol 1 by Brian Michael Bendis
The Siren by Keira Cass
The Light Between Oceans by ML Stedman
Staked by Kevin Hearne
The House You Pass On The Way by Jacqueline Woodson

Twelve! That's more like it. Not every thing is put away in the house but it's livable. Plus May had less events and more downtime. June's looking the same.

Stats:

Graphic Novel Challenge: 3 (Dark Reign, Deadpool, Guardians of The Galaxy)  YTD: 6

Foodies Read Challenge: 0 (none this month)  YTD: 0

What's In A Name Challenge: 0 (none this month)  YTD: 1

LGBTQIA Reading Challenge: 1 (The House You Pass on The Way)  YTD: 2

Total: 33

The House You Pass On The Way by Jacqueline Woodson

I added The House You Pass On The Way to my tbr list because I wanted to read more by Woodson. Plus it had a POC gay main character. I really liked Brown Girl, Dreaming. But The House You Pass On The Way is just over 100 pages so I felt it was more like a short story. A little underdeveloped and had me wanting more.

Staggerlee lives with her folks in the rural South. Staggerlee's grandparents were musicians and activists. Staggerlee's father is just a working man. Staggerlee is half white, half black. It's just one reason she doesn't fit in this town. Staggerlee also likes girls. No one's told her not too but she suspects that she's not like everyone else. One day, her cousin, Trout, comes to town and Staggerlee has found someone like her. Besides homosexuality, The House You Pass On The Way also address being biracial which I liked. It's a tough topic and I felt that Woodson could have delved deeper. But I felt that way most of the book.

I liked The House You Pass On The Way but Woodson introduces so many characters. Mostly Staggerlee's whole family. They seem so interesting. I would have liked a longer piece about all of them. But Staggerlee is interesting and her relationship with Trout is good but brief. I hope to encounter Staggerlee again.

The House You Pass On The Way was a good short story and left me wanting more. Others who shared their thoughts on The House You Pass On The Way: Lucy Was Robbed, Kim's Book Reviews, and The Lesbrary.
This was my third read for the LGTBQIA Reading Challenge.

March and April Book Tally

Hyperbole and A Half by Allie Brosh
Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky
None of The Above by IW Gregorio
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Once Upon A Scandal by Delilah Marvelle
Rat Queens vol 3 by Kurtis J Wiebe

Two months and not even 10 books read. So sad. But I feel like things are stabilizing and May will be a better month for reading.

Stats:

Graphic Novel Challenge: 1 (Rat Queens)  YTD: 3

Foodies Read Challenge: 0 (none this month)  YTD: 0

What's In A Name Challenge: 0 (none this month)  YTD: 1

LGBTQIA Reading Challenge: 1 (Gracefully Grayson)  YTD: 1

Total: 21

January Book Tally

Prelude To A Scandal by Delilah Marvelle
Happily Ever After by Kiera Cass
All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
Their Fractured Light by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
The White Rose by Amy Ewing
Separate is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh
When A Scot Ties The Knot by Tessa Dare
Over Easy by Mimi Pond
Dead of Winter by Kresley Cole
Deadpool vs Thanos by Tim Seeley
Honey Girl by Lisa Freeman

Good month. I started slumping at the end. I'm hoping some romance novels will pull me out of it.

Stats:

Graphic Novel Challenge: 2 (Over  Easy and Deadpool vs Thanos)  YTD: 2

Foodies Read Challenge: 0 (none this month)  YTD: 0

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

LGBTQIA Reading Challenge: 1 (Honey Girl)  YTD: 1

Total: 11

Honey Girl by Lisa Freeman

I added Honey Girl to my library queue because it is was set in the 70's, featured surfing, and the main character was half Hawaiian and queer. I don't seem to read many books set in the 70's. Plus it's short length sent it shooting to the top of my list.

Nani's dad died suddenly and her mom moved them from Hawaii to California. Nani wants to fit in the local girls so her friend in Hawaii gave her a list of rules to follow. So many rules! That was probably my biggest problem with Honey Girl. The lists of rules. So many things girls weren't allowed to do-eat in front of boys, let him know you pee, cut your hair, wear certain colors. Especially since I could see this didn't fit Nani. She was awesome in her own right but these rules made her hide her awesomeness. But slowly Nani realized what was important. It was kind of a coming of age story.

Nani and the other girls don't surf but they know a lot about surfing in order to attract surfer boys. There's plenty of surfer talk but if you are looking for cool surfer girls, this isn't the book. I did enjoy the 70's feel of the book. I also liked Nani's realizations about her sexual feelings towards boys and girls. It all felt natural and not forced. I'd read more of Freeman's books. Others who shared their thoughts on Honey Girl: Rather Be Reading YA, In Bed With Books, and The Bibliophilic Book Blog.
This is the first book I read for the LGBTQIA reading challenge.

2016 LGBTQIA Books Reading Challenge

Every year I always want to sign up for a LGBTQ reading challenge but never find one until I consider it too late (mid year). But I found one early this time. Yay! I'm going for the Orange level (6-12 books). To sign up, go here.