Starting this this evening while staying in an isolated house in the woods. That shouldn‘t be a problem, right? 😂

My Christmas haul of bookish t-shirts (and neck scarf) from my dear husband! I love clothing that expresses my passion for reading! ❤️❤️

I was able to participate somewhat this week, so I‘m happy about that! I didn‘t quite reach my goal of 100 books this year (only 88 read), but I‘m changing jobs and expect to have more time this year, so I‘m going for it again! Happy New year, everyone, and playing this game has been loads of fun!
#WinterGames #WinterGames2021 #MistletoeManiacs

May you have a happy and bookish new year!

My library in Christmas garb! Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and is spending today recuperating from their festivities! 🎄🎁

My book haul this Christmas! Most of these were from my son‘s girlfriend, whom I have yet to meet. If she‘s trying to curry favor, she‘s doing a good job! 😂 The B & N gift card is from my husband, who figures the best course of action is to hand me the money and then just stay out of the way! 🎄🎁🎅🧑‍🎄

Merry Christmas to my bookish friends! I hope everyone enjoyed the day in your own fashion, and that book appreciation was a part of that in some way!

Thanks so much, @AmyG ! I am ensured a wonderful Christmas Eve with your excellent gifts! I haven‘t read John Boyne yet but he‘s been on my radar for quite some time. Your recommendation convinces me that I need to move him up the list and get acquainted with his writing. The little notebook is too cute, and the quality chocolate is not long for this world! 😁 Thanks again, and Merry Christmas! 🎄🎁
#jolabokaflodswap

I was really busy last week and didn‘t have much time for the game. Sorry!! Plan to do better this week.
#MistletoeManiacs #WinterGames #WinterGames2021

My first foray into using stickers! I guess it could be worse! 😂 #ThisorThat

I earned more points this week! 🎄🎁🤶
#MistletoeManiacs #WinterGames #WinterGames2021

Favorite Christmas tradition—decorating the tree! It takes awhile, but I ❤️ my 🎄! #SelfieScavengerHunt #MistletoeManiacs #WinterGames #WinterGames2021

Watching our #MistletoeManiac Christmas movie! #SelfieScavengerHunt #WinterGames #WinterGames2021

I received my #jolabokaflodSwap package arrived on the same day that I shipped mine! Thanks, @AmyG ! And also to @MaleficentBookDragon for organizing the swap! Can‘t wait to open it—but I will restrain myself until Christmas Eve! 🎄🎁

While wrapping a gift! #SelfieScavengerHunt #MistletoeManiacs #WinterGames #WinterGames2021

My #JolabokaflodSwap package was shipped today and should arrive at its destination Tuesday! I actually remembered to take a picture this time. 😁

My total for Week 1 of the #WinterGames is 932 points! I‘m still trying to wrap my head around all of the point activities and hope to up my score this week. Having fun with it, though! 😁🎄🎅🤶
#WinterGames2021 #MistletoeManiacs

We #MistletoeManiacs still love sending old-fashioned mail! @BarkingMadRun @AmyK1 @OriginalCyn620 @Jerdencon @Catsandbooks @Bookwormjillk @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks @Emilymdxn @jenniferw88 @OutsmartYourShelf @kezzlou85 @candc320 @TheBookHippie @MoonWitch94 @MsRadioSilence @Julsmarshall @tdrosebud @Allylu @Texreader @Bookgoil @Linsy @5feet.of.fury @Read4life @DebbieGrillo @TheDaysGoBy @Allydanielle88 @Charityann
#WinterGames #WinterGames2021

🙌 to @kay.the.bibliophile and @TheBookHippie for literary classics love, and to @JessClark78 @Larkken and @FantasyChick for their fondness for horror!
#WinterGames #WinterGames2021

🎄 Shout out to fellow #MistletoeManiacs @FantasyChick for shared favorite book Gone With the Wind and to @Texreader for Lonesome Dove! Congratulations on your impeccable taste! 😁
#WinterGames #WinterGames2021

Shout out to fellow #MistletoeManiacs with January birthdays! @MsRadioSilence @melissajayne
#WinterGames #WinterGames2021

We #MistletoeManiacs wear our ugly Christmas sweaters with pride! 😁 @Clwojick @Catsandbooks @britt_reads @guinsgirlreads @Charityann @kay.the.bibliophile @Airykah13 @Nessavamusic @Jerdencon @BarkingMadRun @AmyK1 @MidnightBookGirl @Traci1 @OriginalCyn620 @MsRadioSilence @DebbieGrillo
#WinterGames #WinterGames2021

Many #MistletoeManiacs celebrate with their pets: @Clwojick @Catsandbooks @Bookwormjillk @OutsmartYourShelf @Airykah13 @Nessavamusic @candc320 @TheBookHippie @BarkingMadRun @AmyK1 @MidnightBookGirl @Inkblotsandcoffeestains @Allydanielle88 @Charityann @5feet.of.fury @Read4life @britt_reads @guinsgirlreads @OriginalCyn620 @JessClark78 @MsRadioSilence @Larkken @ozma.of.oz @Julsmarshall @tdrosebud @Bookgoil
#WinterGames #WinterGames2021

Here is my tentative December TBR (just under the wire for my early bird points for the #WinterGames)! I‘m going to try to acquire some Christmas books, as well.

Go #MistletoeManiacs !

1. Anno-Dracula by Kim Newman and Usher‘s Passing by Robert McCammon. I randomly chose two retellings of horror classics to read simultaneously! 🤷‍♀️
2. Cornbread dressing—I‘m making it with boudain this year.
3. The Lost Village by Camilla Sten
#WeekendReads
Thanks for the tag, @wanderinglynn !

I really liked the first short story in this collection, but the second resonated with me immediately! Marty‘s world is going to hell in a hand basket, but all he can think about is his grading! “All those spelling errors waiting to be corrected. All those dangling subordinate clauses and conclusions waiting to be red-inked . . . Just thinking of it made him tired” (96). Been there, done that, Marty!! 😂

I finally opened my #HauntedHollowSwap package! (Saturdays are for sleeping late at my house! 😂) I‘m so excited to get so many books off my tbr—especially Stolen Tongues (I was REALLY hoping that one was in the box, so yay)! Thanks for all the ghoulish goodies, @tdrosebud ! It‘s all great! And thanks, @wanderinglynn , for organizing—I look forward to this every year, and it never disappoints! 👻🧛🏻‍♀️🎃🤡🧟‍♀️👹
#HHS

I actually received this yesterday but came home from work and passed out on the couch and didn‘t want to post late at night! Anyway, looking forward to October 30th!! 🧟‍♀️🧛🏻‍♀️🎃👻🤡👹
#HauntedHollowSwap #HHS

Starting this today while lazing by the lake. Rural settings and isolated cabins are always scary to me, so hopefully the environment will add ambiance to the reading!

Here is my shipping picture! Because I always, always forget—no matter how many times I remind myself—to take a picture of my boxes, you get to see them after the post office has taken possession of them. This picture was taken after my transaction was finished and the people in line had to wait while I snapped proof! 😂 It‘s all part of the holiday fun! (You can see the #HHS on one box). Scheduled to arrive Monday!
#HHS #HauntedHollowSwap

It‘s Banned Books Week! Let‘s celebrate our intellectual freedom and read a book that someone, at some point, tried to censor! #ReadBannedBooks #FreedomtoRead

1. I love zombies, but they‘re rather limited and predictable. I think I‘m going to go with vampires! 🧛🏻‍♀️
2. The tagged book REALLY stuck with me for a long time!
3. I love ghost stories so am always looking for good ones. I also like stories with nontraditional monsters, such as the tagged book. Basically, I love ANY well-written horror story!
#SundayFunday

Here is my budding collection of spooky Funko Pops for #HauntedHollowSwap purposes. No pressure—anything bookish or Halloween related makes me happy! 🤡 #HHS

On some categories I had to choose both because I love them! ❤️
#HauntedHollowSwap #HHS

🎃 No, we decorate but that‘s kinda messy and we don‘t have littles around the house anymore, so . . .
👻 I do, and 8 1/2.
🤡 I like jewel tones—deep red, dark sapphire blue, gold, dark green.
🧛🏻‍♀️ Halloween earrings!
🧟‍♀️Booksleeves, but I also like bookish Funko Pops. I already have a few (will attach a picture in another post). I like bookish everything!
👹I guess my best costume was a 🧙‍♀️.
🦇I don‘t wear hats.
#HauntedHollowSwap #HHS

Here is my Halloween persona collage, updated from last year! Just making it is fun—I ❤️ Halloween!!
#HauntedHollowSwap #HHS

Happy National Read a Book Day, fellow Littens! Hope you are able to cozy up with a good one today!

I graduated from high school in the 80‘s, so this book was right up my alley! I loved the inclusion of so much 80‘s culture, such as naming each chapter after a song and references to hairstyles and clothing. The whole possession thing did have some creepy moments, but the overall mood of the book was nostalgic and fun.

I really loved it—Mandel is a wonderful writer. She takes all these various narrative strands and weaves them together so beautifully. They seem so disparate at first, but she gradually pulls them together until they form a seamless pattern and it all makes sense. Highly recommended!

This was a fun and gory read, but you have to suspend reality. The motivation behind the whole plot is rather over-the-top unrealistic, so there‘s that. Other than that, it‘s a rollicking great horror story!

Very suspenseful! Enjoyed the Native American folklore elements.

This was different but very entertaining! Definitely a writer I will be following!

Happy National Book Lovers Day, Littens!! It‘s a day celebrating our passion! Enjoy! 📚❤️

I loved The Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy and so was looking forward to this. It did not disappoint! The plot was complex and I didn‘t see the twists and turns coming; it comes together in a realistic (for this world) way. The characters are likable and well-developed. The fates of the characters we hate are a little fluffy at the end, but this is YA.🤷‍♀️ Events in the book do have gritty realism. The writing is beautifully lyrical!! ❤️

A reread of a King classic. It‘s been years, so it was like reading it for the first time (translation: I had forgotten all of it)! Really enjoyed it, especially the relationship between Edgar and Wireman.

I thought this was a horror story but it‘s really more of a psychological thriller. Still sucks you in and won‘t let go!!

Wow! I can‘t believe it took me so long to get to this book! So beautifully written, and such a gripping story. Such a wonderful depiction of how people can think they understand a situation, only to discover the limitations of their own perspective.

I found this to be a gripping story. I don‘t know how accurately it depicts the reality of trekking across the desert to enter the US illegally, but it was a fascinating read. I know there is a lot of controversy about this book, but I don‘t think people should be limited to only writing about events they have personally experienced or about characters that look like them. How limited our reading material would be, if that were the rule! IMHO🤷‍♀️

This book exposes the miserable choices women in poverty were faced with in order to stay alive. Marriage was the only chance they had to significantly better their situation. Employment, for them, was almost always poorly paid, no matter how genteel the occupation. A woman couldn‘t afford to be choosy if a marriageable man with decent prospects came calling! Our heroine picks this option while her unmarried sisters eke out lives of quiet misery.

My Nonesuch (reprint) editions collection is growing! ❤️❤️ #Dickenssuperfan