February Book Tally

Books:
Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life by Bryan Lee O'Malley (168)
Iris and Ruby by Rosie Thomas (432)
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (279)
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (452)
Shades of Earth by Beth Revis (369)

February was a slow reading month. But I did read 3 books I wanted to read: Pride and Prejudice, Code Name Verity, and Shades of Earth. I read Pride and Prejudice on the day my Dad went in for surgery. I "read" 200 pages but didn't really read them. I stared at the pages mostly. I did realize that I had read P&P back in high school. Still I'll reread it again sometime in the future. Code Name Verity was amazing. I highly enjoyed it. Shades of Earth. I love Beth Revis. Such an amazing series. I will read the Across The Universe series again.

Stats:

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

Historical Reading Challenge YTD: 2 (Code Name Verity)

Mammoth Book Challenge YTD: 2 (Code Name Verity)

Let Me Count The Ways Book Challenge: Pages read this month (1700), Pages read this year (4484)
Total books to date: 14

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.

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.


Life has been a little busy lately. So busy it's keeping from blogging. Blergh! Hopefully it will even out and I can resume my normal blogging schedule. Until then I hope to post my library loots if nothing else.

Seamus Mullen's Hero Foods

After spying Hero Food on Cooking With Amy, I immediately added it to my library queue. For some reason, cooking in January seems to be a struggle. I'm always looking for inspiration!

The Kitchen Diaries

In the same post on Cooking With Amy, I noticed The Kitchen Diaries. Since joining Full Circle (which delivers fresh fruits and veggies to us weekly), we've been eating more seasonal. But I'd love to get more out of our fruit and veggie box and perhaps try something new. 

Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life

I adore Scott Pilgrim vs The World. I've always thought I should read the books but never did. I decided it was time to stop thinking about reading them and read them.

Code Name Verity

I have heard nothing but good things about Code Name Verity. I'm looking forward to reading it.

What did you get this week?

Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child by Bob Spitz

I picked up Dearie because I wanted to learn more about Julia Child. Spitz does a remarkable job of collecting information about Julia's life. Sometimes it was overwhelming but I was definitely engaged in the story.
The story starts before Julia is born. Spitz does a lot of research on her dad's family. This is where I was little bored and contemplated putting Dearie aside. But I stuck through it and was rewarded with lots of Julia stories. I was especially interested to hear how she met Paul and more about their relationship. I'd read My Life In France so those parts were a little repetitive but Spitz does a good job of collecting stories that gave a deeper understanding to My Life In France. I enjoyed the parts about how she got her television show. Julia had a wicked sense of humor and constantly liked to say things that would make people laugh and blush. Spitz does a great job of letting Julia's personality shine through.
Overall I enjoyed Dearie. I'd recommend it for anyone who wanted to learn a lot more about Julia's life. Others who shared their thoughts about Dearie: Bless Their Hearts Mom, Bearing Reality, and BS in The Kitchen.

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.

House of Many Gods

Another one for the Historical Reading Challenge.

The Spy Lover

I heard about this on Layers of Thoughts. Historical fiction about a Chinese immigrant during the Civil War era. 

What did you get this week?

The Violets of March by Sarah Jio

I'm so glad Staci recommend that I read The Violets of March next. As with Blackberry Winter, I couldn't put The Violets of March down and finished it in a day.
In her twenties, Emily had it all, a best selling novel, a gorgeous husband and unlimited possibilities. Now, Emily has writer's block. Her marriage is ending and she feels limited by life. At the urging of her best friend and her aunt, Emily leaves New York and heads to Bainbridge Island (outside of Seattle, Washington) to heal. I've only been to Bainbridge a few times but Jio captures the feeling of the island perfectly. So beautiful, so relaxing with a force to help heal. Once Emily arrives at her Aunt Bee's house, she finds an old diary. Emily is immediately intrigued by the story of Esther, Elliot and Bobby. The diary is a mystery. Does the diary belong to Bee or one of her friends? How did it wind up in the room Emily is staying in?
I liked Emily. She was going through a hard time and trying to find her footing again. I really like Bee and her friend, Evelyn. I enjoyed the mystery of the diary. Jio is a wonderful writer and draws in the reader so quickly. Again, I was transfixed by Jio's storytelling.
I really enjoyed The Violets of March. I will be reading more of Jio's books! Others who shared their thoughts on The Violets of March: Life In The Thumb, Wandeca Reads, Bookfan, Peanut Butter Fingers (spoiler included), and Just A One Girl Revolution.

The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin

I picked up The American Heiress because I heard good things about it. It was exactly the type of historical fiction I like: interesting characters, richly detailed historical setting, and sweeping romance. I enjoyed The American Heiress.
Cora is the toast of Newport in 1893. She is the heiress to the Cash flour fortune. Cora's mother is looking to find a suitable match for Cora. Cora is looking for love. On a trip to England, Cora accidentally meets Ivo, the Duke of Wareham. Cora is thrust into English society and must learn how to navigate being a Duchess.
I liked the almost fish of water tale that became Cora's life. Cora was a big fish in America but in England, she needed to learn everything all over again. I did like Cora. She's strong and smart and loves with her whole heart. There was something almost endearing about Cora. I also enjoyed the side story about Bertha, Cora's maid. Bertha enjoys her job but misses her home in South Carolina. In England, Bertha doesn't feel her race matters to people as much. Bertha meets a man in England and starts a relationship with another servant. In the United States, their relationship, a white man with a black woman, would be illegal in some states but condemned by society. I did find it interesting that servants were not permitted to marry. Anyone know any historical fiction written from the servants point of view besides The Remains of The Day?
Overall I enjoyed The American Heiress. I thought the end wrapped everything up too quickly but I think I just didn't want to leave Cora's world. Others who shared their thoughts about The American Heiress: Devourer of Books, Wandeca Reads, BookNAround, and Life From A Lefty.
This is my first read for the 2013 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge.

This is my first read for the 2013 Mammoth Book Challenge.