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.

Rebel Mechanics

Alternate history where Britain controls magic and the colonists invent stuff? Sounds awesomely steampunk.

What We Left Behind

I really enjoyed the last Talley book I read. Looking forward to this one.

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

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 Summer of Chasing Mermaids

I've heard good things about Ockler and about The Summer of Chasing Mermaids. 

The Story of My Tits

I do love graphic memoirs.

My Name Is Lucy Barton

This one has quite the buzz.

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

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds & Brendan Kiely

I don't remember how I heard about All American Boys but I'm glad I did. If you or a teen in your life is looking to understand the #BlackLivesMatter protests or understand more about racial inequality in America, then All American Boys is the book. Reynolds and Kiely do an excellent job of showing how complex the issues are without dumbing down the issues or making light of people's lives.

Rashad goes into a convenience store to pick up some gum and chips on a Friday evening. When he bends down to retrieve his phone from his duffle, a woman trips over him. Moments later, he's being beaten and handcuffed by a police officer. Quinn watches his friend haul Rashad out of the convenience store and beat him mercilessly.

Told in alternating chapters, the reader explores the depth of this situation. Why does this happen? Is it the police? Is black men? How has racial inequality changed or not changed in the last 50 years? All American Boys puts a much more human face on the struggle and helps show how this is everyone's problem. I also found the story to be easier to understand but not easier to determine where the solution lies.

Overall, All American Boys is a fantastic book. I highly recommend it for teens and adults. I think we can all learn from this well told book. Others who shared their thoughts on All American Boys: Rich In Color, YA Bibliophile, YA Love, and Sorcery In The Bookshelves.

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.

Herland

I read about Herland on a list of female-centric scifi novels. I'd like to read more women centered scifi.

When Reason Breaks

Reloot. I really want to read it this time.

Tiny Pretty Things

Black Swan meets Pretty Little Liars? Sign me up.

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

2016 Goals

New  Year, New Goals. How did I do last year? Go here.

-Train to complete STP in 2017. This is a 200+ mile bike ride over 2 days from Seattle to Portland. In order to be ready to bike 200 miles, I'm going to do 3 long rides: Living The Dream Ride, Cycle The Wave, and the Tulip Pedal. I'm excited about this goal and can't wait to start training.

-Take one dance related class a week (Zumba, pole dancing, etc). Dancing doesn't feel like exercise and I love it so I'm going to do that more.

-Continue to set aside time for myself. Continue going to the spa, get my hair cut on something of a schedule, get my nails done. That time is important.

-Clear out the clutter. Last year I worked on physical clutter. I'm going to keep working on that as well mental clutter. There's a lot of shit in my head that needs to go.

-Use up what we get in our Full Circle box each week. Every week we get an amazing box of organic produce and sometimes we don't eat it all. If we haven't finished what we have by the time I need to order again, then we don't order. Also I need to order smarter.

-Take 3 more cooking classes. I'm already signed up for one in March. I enjoyed the ones I took previously and they teach me new things.

-Expand my cooking horizons. Learn to make one Thai dish, one Korean, and one Vietnamese. I went all Asian since we are still doing the no dairy thing.


I'll note my progress each month like I did before. Let's do this!

December Book Tally and 2016 Book Goals

Endless Knight by Kresley Cole
Rolling In The Deep by Mira Grant
Hawkeye by Jeff Lemire
Paris, He Said by Christine Sneed
Winter by Marissa Meyer
Did You Ever Have A Family by Bill Clegg

I made it to 150! I thought it would be easier this year but life got in the way. I'll keep my goal at 150 until I'm surpassing it easily.

Stats:

What's In A Name Challenge: this month: 0 (challenge complete) YTD: 6

Graphic Novel and Manga Challenge: this month: 1 (Hawkeye)
YTD : 52

Historical Reading Challenge: this month: 0 ( none this month) YTD: 19

Foodies Read Challenge this month: 0 (none this month) YTD: 8

Total: 150

How Did I Do On My Goals?

-Participate In The What's In A Name Challenge
Complete!

-Read and Review 24 Graphic Novels for the Graphic Novel and Manga. 
Complete!

-Read 14-18 books for the Foodies Read Challenge.
Fail! I only read 8 :(

-Read 150 books.
Complete!

My 2016 Bookish Goals

-Participate in the Foodies Read Challenge.

-Participate in The Full House Reading Challenge.

-Participate in What's In A Name Challenge.

-Participate in the LGBTQIA Books Reading Challenge.

-Participate in the Graphic Novel & Manga Challenge.

-Read 150 books.

2015 Goals In Review

How did I go on my goals in 2015?

1. Make one meatless meal for dinner a week. I did this pretty well until late in the summer when Tai removed dairy from his diet. No meat to me means cheese. I'd like to explore other options.

2. Continue working on my fitness and lose another 30 lbs. Overall I ended the year the same weight I started the year at. But I'm able to lift more weight and bike further than I've ever have. 2015 was the year I made friends with exercise. I'm looking forward to uping my fitness in 2016.

3. Go back to meal planning. Overall I did well with this. I just failed to keep showing you my meal plans.

4. Schedule one do nothing, stay home weekend a month. This was a great goal and I accomplished more often than not.

5. Plan one trip with Tai this year. We did 2 trips this year and looking forward to more travel in 2016.

6. Get a will and other necessary estate planning documents. Failed. Didn't even start on this one.

7. Clean and declutter one room a month. I did so well on this one at the beginning of the year. This one will continue over to 2016.

8. Do one things for myself a month. I did pretty good at this. This will continue in 2016.

9. Watch one older (pre-2014) movie a month. I needed some mechanism to keep track. I also I suck at watching anything at home.

10. Learn to make 5 Japanese dishes. I made: Yakisoba, Yamatoimo, Gyudon, gyoza, and Chashu.

11. Stop complaining and start sharing my gratitude. I've got a lot to be grateful for. I curbed my complaining for a while but it came back. I noticed that when I take care of myself it's easier to be grateful.

12. Take 2 cooking classes. I took 3 classes total this year. Looking forward to taking more in 2016.

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.

First Library Loot of 2016!!

The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears

This one I found on the shelves. It looks good.

Dead of Winter

I'm loving this series.

Make Your Home Among Strangers

Reloot. I'm determined to read it this time.

What did you get this week? Share below!

December Graphic Novel Review

Hawkeye: All New Hawkeye

Lemire took this new series over from Fraction. I like where Lemire is going. Still enjoying my favorite Avenger graphic novels.

2016 Full House Reading Challenge

Ok, one more challenge. I loved doing the Book Bingo a couple of years ago and have been looking for another bingo card challenge. This one looks like a lot of fun.

To sign up, go here.