Friday, November 13, 2015

Sign Up for 12 Days of Christmas Swap!

Ahhh!  Life has been crazy here lately, but that's for another post.  For now, I just wanted to pop in and let you all know that sign up are open for the 12 Days of Christmas Swap from Chaotic Goddess.  I do this one every year and it's so much fun!  You buy you partner twelve presents.  Mail them off, all wrapped and ready to go, and then they get to open one a day right up to Christmas.  Sound like fun?  Sings up close November 16, so get going.  If you blog and would like to join in, head over to Chaotic Goddess' for more info!

And I promise I'll be back in the loop more soon!

Thursday, November 5, 2015

November Reading List

Since we're almost through 2015- yikes!- I decided I should go back and try to read some of the books I had been hoping to read earlier in the year, but didn't get to.  So here's what I'm hoping to read in November:


MaddAddam by Margaret Atwood- This was from my April list.  I got it from my Broke and Bookish secret Santa last year, and really think it's time I read it!

Reading Like a Writer by Francine Prose- This one was on my June list, but never got read.  I bought it on Amazon a couple years ago but never got around to it.  Since I'm not going to do NaNoWrMo, I figured this might be a good, albeit weak, alternative.

If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name by Heather Lende- This was a pick from way back in February!  The blurb on the front says it's part Anne Lamott and part Annie Dilliard, and after discovering Anne Lamott this year, I want to read it all the more!

Faithful Place by Tana French- I added this to my list just last month, and I was really looking forward to reading it, but didn't get through the books I had started in September!  I love Tana French so I'm excited to read it!

So, even though it's going to be a busy month, I'm hoping to get through my reads for November by reading more and wasting time surfing online less.  What are you hoping to read?

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

October Book Recap

Well, October was a really sad reading month here!  I was definitely busier with schoolwork, and getting together with friends on the weekends, but I also slept in later and spent time just twirling around the internet.  So, I'm kind of embarrassed to show what I've read versus what I bought, but here goes:


Yikes!  That's right, I only read one book!
  • Bogtrotter by Richard Coffey is the story of Richard and his wife Jeanne lived in the Twin Cities.  Had successful jobs, and took part in the hustle and bustle of normal life, but always longed for a place of their own, in the quiet.  They decided to sell most of their things, move to rural, northern Minnesota, and build a little cabin on a bog, with outdoor plumbing and no electricity.  It was interesting.  I don't think I could do it, but it was a good read about slowing down and loosening the control stuff has on our lives.  But, I really do love a nice hot shower and that I don't have to cut firewood to keep my home warm through the long winters.

I found quite a few books thanks to two different stops at two different thrift shops and a book showing up on my wishlist at Bookmooch.
  • The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky- No I have never read this modern classic!
  • American Gods by Neil Gaiman- I liked Stardust and I know Beth from Printcess and Miss Angie from My Socalled Chaos both love Neil so I when I saw this one for 50cents, I scooped it up.
  • Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald- Usually I stay away from Oprah Book Club books.  I don't know why, it's kind of pretentious to not want to read something because I consider it too "mainstream" or "popular",  But this one takes place in Nova Scotia, a place I've always wanted to visit, and with winter coming, it sounded like a good read.  Gothic family saga and all.
  • A Wolf at the Table by Augusten Burroughs- After reading the reader reviews on Goodreads, I'm thinking I maybe should have not got it, but it too was 50cents.  Worse case, it sits on my shelf for a long time before finding it's way back to Goodwill.
  • Gift of the Red Bird by Paula D'Arcy- D'Arcy wrote this book after her husband and baby.  After such loss, she needed to restore her faith.
  • Natural Wonders of Wisconsin by Don Davenport- This is more a reference book.  It lists national, state, and local parts, resources available there, hiking trails, etc.
  • A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World by Paul E. Miller- Prayer is something I need to do better about.  I thought this book looked good.
  • 48 Days to the Work You Love by Dan Miller- Sounds like a lot of hype, but maybe I can glean a thing or two from it.
So what are you looking forward to reading?

2015 Totals
Read-34
Acquired-56