Got this for my daughters. 8 y/o decided to try it, because she got a kick out of the thought of writing it on her reading log for her teacher. 😂. Went up to check on her, to see if any comprehension was happening..
Me: “so what‘s happening?”
8: “well there‘s a bunch of people, and there‘s a bunch of different things happening in every chapter. “
Me: Ok, what‘s happening right now?
8: “someone is trying to make someone else go to jail.”
💯

Let my 8 year old go nuts filling the bag at the $5/bag book sale yesterday. So only the stack on the far right were my picks, and she most definitely selected some books we already own, and who know is she will ever actually read most of these. But 47 books for $5 is never a bad deal. #bookhaul

#Readingwomenchallenge COMPLETE! (26/26). This is my first completed annual challenge for the year!! 2 left for #readharder (22/24), 4 for #booked2019 (20/24) and only 3 left to my Goodreads challenge Goal (197/200).

I think this would be incredible on stage. Some of the stories were really powerful. But I struggled with reading the “script”. #readingwomenchallenge #play

I absolutely loved this. These families sucked me right in from moment one and I never wanted to stop listening. This is a sad but beautiful story. I want to read more Baldwin now. Also, this was narrated by Bahni Turpin, and I have listened to a bunch of her books now, but she did a particularly wonderful job of bringing these characters to life with her narration.

This book sounded fascinating from the description. The characters go back and forth from Post 9/11 College/early adult years to post 2016 election middle age years. They are just about exactly my age so much was relatable. I definitely invested in the characters and the story and really enjoyed it. I thought it might be a five star read but the ending didn‘t really bring it all together for me.

This wasn‘t as good as Untangled. My girl is approaching 11, and while she doesn‘t necessarily have unhealthy anxiety, she definitely has a personality that lends to stress. I feel like this book sort of diminished the levels of stress and anxiety many girls deal with. A lot of stress is good and helps us grow stronger.. which sure.. but it can also feel really bad! Nonetheless there were good bits here that I will definitely keep in mind.

So.. I was never a huge carry on fan, but I am a solid enough RR fan that I will read the rest of the Simon Snow series. This book started out pretty good. The struggle in the relationship between Baz and Simon, the first part of the trip with the renaissance fair was hilarious.. but then it lost me. Too many changing points of view.. And I really didn‘t “get” what happened, which is my own struggle with fantasy, but also no real resolution.

This book filled #translatedbookpublishedbefore1945 for #readingwomenchallenge and #publicdomain for #booked2019. My daughter loved the Netflix series based on this book a few years ago but I‘d never read the whole story. Absolutely charming characters and a sweet, happy story about the power of kindness and forgiveness. Loved it.

Not entirely book related but I‘d been saying I wanted to switch to a backpack for work for like a year. This cat backpack was on clearance at target today for $20, so it became mine! It holds so much stuff!

My girls have read all of Telgemeier‘s graphic novels. This was my first. Based on the NYT book review on this and the hype around all her books I was expecting a bit more. Especially on the anxiety topic.. But it was her personal story and told in an honest and entertaining way.

I‘m a first time middle school mom this year so I was interested in seeing what this was all about. It definitely has some solid tips and a lot of food for thought. I almost would like to own it to refer back to the tips as things come up. It‘s not as good of a how to guide as say “untangled.” It also added some worries that i had never thought of worrying about before! 😬😬😬

#bookhaul . Realized unpacking that the “bag sale” definitely didn‘t make for a good deal this time. Paperbacks at 25 cents each or $3.00/bag (also had two paperbacks for 8 year old..) oh well! It‘s a good cause. :) definitely already own A Man Called Ove, but my copy is very tattered, so I am going to pass that one on and keep this new one.

A son of dysfunctional immigrant parents grows up to be in a dysfunctional marriage in which he lies about everything. Why did I waste my time on this? Obama‘s list this year is really lacking.

Our library took for.ev.er to get Guts in and processed and sent out to the holds. But someone is happy it‘s here!! She dropped what she was doing and picked it up immediately.

This is getting a pick from me but just barely. I would have liked to hear a lot more about her work and a lot less about random stories that happened along the way. Also, I get that she was trying to be both and writer and scientist, but the literary references and overly flowery prose cane off to me as trying way too hard. Parts were really interesting though. #readingwomenchallenge #womanwithamentalillness

I had a really rough reading month. 10 books total and 6 were audiobooks and one was a graphic novel. Nothing was really clicking. My favorite was The Golden State. Testaments was very good, as was Pumpkinheads. Hated Nineteen Minutes. Didn‘t like Manhattan Beach.
Hope next month is better.

This is just a post to show @CoffeeCatsBooks my cat. 🤣

I saw mixed reviews on this, but I actually really enjoyed it. I think it is for a pretty specific audience (youngish working moms) and there isn‘t a huge story arc, but I thought Daphne‘s honesty and internal dialogue were very relatable, and I loved the relationship that developed with Alice. I was not a huge fan of the audio narrators delivery..

Littens.. I know I have asked for good job getting luck in the past. But I have an interview next week for a career making job. I applied for it back in July and had just about given up hope.. but I want this so badly! Send all your good thoughts.

Not bad, but not for me. The writing is beautiful, and the story is important, but the combination of the fantasy elements, and the vast number of different characters to keep straight, really made it difficult for me to follow this book. I also felt that the pacing was slow. Nonetheless, if you are a fan of this era historical fiction, and/or magical realism, this book is definitely for you. #booked2019 #POCParanormal

I was looking for some les Mis musical memes, but came across this one and couldn't help but think of our #LesMisBuddyRead last fall.

Since it‘s almost the last quarter of the year, I figured I should update my challenges on here:
#mmdchallenge - 12/12 ✅
#readingwomenchallenge: 23/26
#ReadHarderChallenge 21/24
#Booked2019 17/24 (I‘ve been sticking to the schedule so all but one I won‘t start til October).
I was wondering if we think Next Year In Havana counts for Historical Romance by AOC for #readharder, because if so, That one is done too!

Here is my update for #20booksby2020 @megnews . 12 done, reading The Water Dancer now.
Not gonna lie though, some of these were for challenges that I ended up using other books for and I‘m not sure I will get to them (confessions and the Storyteller). After how strongly I disliked the last Jodi Picoult I read, I‘m not sure I can do it!

I stuck it out and finished it.. but I must say.. I really didn‘t get it. All the different storylines were all over the place. I liked Anna and Eddie but the rest of the characters were just ugh..... Why all the details about Dexters family? And all the details about diving?

I‘m now 56% into this book.. does it get better? I almost never bail books and have put enough time into this one where I feel it would be a waste, but man; this is going nowhere!

I have two books on my netgalley shelf that were archived before I got a chance to download them (requested a year apart!) I guess they really were Well Kept Secrets!! Well played #netgalley!

This was very good. Very different from The Handmaids Tale. Very action packed and fast paced. I will say that I guessed pretty quickly who was who and how it would end, but still a really good read.

Finally finished an actual book. This is actually the first full book (not audiobook or graphic novel) that I finished in September.
This book was certainly creepy. There were a couple interesting twists as well.. The resolution of the book was a bit too tidy, maybe? But at enjoyable read.

I haven‘t read much Stephen King. This was pretty good. I felt like I knew the story just from culturally absorbing it over the years.. so nothing was shocking, but it was well done. I did find it to be a bit dated. Some pretty icky sexist/racist bits.

I haven‘t updated my #readthecandidates list in awhile, and I apologize! But I realized I successfully read books by all the candidates who qualified for tonight‘s debate (plus a couple who dropped out already). I‘m going to call it a success for now.

Love it when my prepub hold actually come in in a timely manner! Only thing is, I think it‘s probably going to come in tomorrow and I don‘t know that I can get to the library before Saturday. 😭😭😭

1. The whisper Man
2. I like both but I‘ll pick Pumpkin Spice
3. “It sounded like a place where we would be safe.”
#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

I saw this mug on one of those Target blogs about all the cute stuff they had in the “dollar section” and loved it. I was reading comments and everyone was saying their stores were all sold out but when I popped in to target yesterday (a fee days later) this was still there! I need another coffee mug like I need a hole in my head but it was a sign. 🤣🤣. Gonna try to break my reading slump now.

This book started out okay-ish.. and then dragged on forever. Reading reviews I was promised a “big shocking twist” which was really the only thing that kept me listening to find out. In reality it was a big pointless twist. There were also a whole bunch of pointless side plots. What was the point of the dead brother and the dads “happiness calculations?” The number of details that got taken straight from Columbine also really bugged me. 🙄🙄🙄

It is September 8th and I have finished ONE book. And I don‘t even really have another in progress other than my audiobook. Yikes!! I need to find something good to read quick. I have tried starting a few but nothing has really sucked me in.

1. Tagged one of my favorite public libraries
2. I work in libraries so nearly daily. But not for work.. probably 1-3 times a week depending..
3. Love downloading audiobooks through Libby. Used to check out DVDs constantly when my kids were small. #getlibrarycarded @nitalibrarian

So adorable. I wish Rainbow Rowell was writing books when I was a teen. Her stories always bring me right back to those times in my life. This was sweet and cute. I am not a huge graphic novel fan and would have loved to learn more about these characters and their internal motivations but I still LOVED it.

I literally cannot recall the last time I purchased a NEW book for myself. I had been waiting for my library hold to come in and stalking it but when it still said “on order” (as in, not even received for processing), I decided I could wait no longer and purchased this for myself. I adore Rainbow Rowells YA stories and I needed this in my life

I read a lot of good books this month! Loved: The Stationery Shop, Biased, Guns Down, Verity, The Female Persuasion, Red at The Bone and Maid.
Only ones I Really disliked strongly were How Not to Die Alone, Helpline, and Elevation

I read this book because it was on Obama‘s list. I hadn‘t thought I really wanted to much. But I started it and couldn‘t put it down. While I‘ve never been a single mom, or homeless, and I‘d be a terrible maid, I definitely identify with the feeling that missing a day, or sometimes even an hour of work can make or break you. This book probably could have benefited from some editing but overall, excellent.

Uhhh.. what was that? It wasn‘t horror, it was barely paranormal.. it was just freaking weird. It sort of captured my attention because I thought there might be some big “ohhh” explanation for “why” at the end.. but there wasn‘t. I‘m guessing it‘s some sort of metaphor but it went over my head. 🤔

Today is the last day of NetGalley's #reviewathon. How did you littens do? I started strong in late July, but then got a bit sidetracked by my library holds and life in general. I did 11 reviews.. I think there were 3 on my list at the beginning of #reviewathon that I didn't get to..
But then I kept requesting more, lol! So I still have 8 books on my #TBR for NetGalley! My Feedback percentage is at 83%, but I was hoping it would be better!

This one is hard to put into words! I was actually just trying to find a short book on my netgalley list to read to squeeze one more in for #reviewathon and oh my goodness I am so glad I did. This was a relatively short book but had so much emotion packed into it. At its essence it is a story of families, but also tackles race, class and many other topics. At the end I was left wanting a little more, but it was a gorgeous story. 5 Stars!

1. Animal farm is my current audio listen. I read it in school and it stuck with me and I‘ve been wanting to reread it. I‘m between print books at this moment.
2. Daughter is having a friend sleep over tonight. We are going to movies in the park.
3. Bubble gum!
4. I used to be pretty good at clarinet but I think my music reading skills have fallen off quite a bit.
5. I will! #friyayintro @howjessreads

I really liked this! I didn‘t want to stop listening to it. I thought it might be a five star read but the middle meandered a bit too much to make it perfect. Solid four stars for sure though. I love coming of age stories, and the feminist angle was really good as well.

Why is this book so popular? It is pure cheeseball hallmark movie fluff. Completely predictable down to each plot point. Also way too much dialogue. I don‘t get it!

1. Oh..there are so many. Kristin Hannah's Magic Hour is one that pops into my head.
2. To Kill a Mockingbird
3. I have 139 on goodreads. I'm sure there are many many more
4. Because Internet. 3 Stars.
5. I say everyone is tagged!
#wondrouswednesday
@eggs

It‘s actually freezing here today but the girls and I haven‘t made it to the beach all summer. So finally some reading time while they beach.