Reading Log 2014

I was just looking over my list of books for this year and comparing it to the previous two years. I shouldn't be surprised that I have read more books this year, but I actually was and goodreads.com tells me that I'm an "overachiever," which kind of nice. This year, I had set a goal on there to read 60 books, and I completed 66! (I thought about just linking that list for a super-lazy blog post, but I'm currently thinking that I need to get back to writing more... so here goes.)

Here are some random facts that have to do with the books I read this year:

• My only actual resolution for this year was to read more classics. I intentionally phrased the goal that way so that I couldn't fail! I went from reading zero classic literature in recent years to 5 classics this year. Also, I learned an important lesson: There's a reason I wasn't previously reading this stuff. I sort of hate it! Hence, I went back to reading what I want, largely chick lit and murder mysteries, for which I will make no apologies. Read what you like!
• My new favorite author is Meg Cabot. I started reading Meg Cabot this year because goodreads suggested her, and it was so right on. I love her sense of humor and her voice.
• After having read most every adult novel by Meg Cabot that I could get my hands on, I moved on to her teen books. These are fun, too, and very satisfying if you want a quick read and something a bit lighter than those dreary classics that some people claim that you must read. (Again, I suggest that you read what you like!!)
• Fun fact: I just recently read The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot (see above), and you might be interested to know that this is actually where my daughter's name came from. (Although, it was from the movie, since I hadn't read the book at the time. Also, the book is, of course, better.)
• Most of the other books I read were chosen because I liked the titles or the art on the spine (lots of cupcakes and that sort of thing drew my attention). 
• However, one recurring theme, which I don't know if I selected intentionally or not was relationships of women with other women, specifically sisters. While I do not have sisters, I do have sisters-in-law (one new just this year!). Anyway, the main thing that struck me is that I've been having conflicts with other women in recent months (not the sisters-in-law, thankfully!), so I can't help but wonder if my mind was trying to problem-solve for me.
• This year, I read my first e-book, Insatiable by Meg Cabot. It was the first of several e-books I have now read (most of which were also by Meg Cabot).
• I also listened to my first audiobook, The Matchmaker by Elin Hilderbrand. I won this from the library, and I thought it would be cool to listen to a book while making a trip Up North with the kids, minus Brett. My thought was they were ready to listen to their DVDs with headphones, so I would be safe to listen to an adult book. And I was wrong. They weren't all that keen to keep headphones on for that long, and this was definitely not a good book for their little ears to hear snippets of. It took me at least another couple of weeks following that trip (possibly longer, I don't exactly remember the details, just that it was tedious for me) to finish listening to this book whenever they were not in the car with me (which I am sure you can guess, wasn't all that frequently). 
• Lastly, I've also read some really powerful non-fiction works this go-round, so let me know if you'd care to chat about any of those. 

On second thought, here's that link -- just in case I've already bored you and you don't want to read the following list of books -- or you just want to view all that cover art that seems to grab my attention when I'm browsing the bookshelves at our local library. https://www.goodreads.com/user_challenges/1346753)

1. The Green Hour: A Daily Dose Nature for Happier, Healthier, Smarter Kids by Todd Christopher
2. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Other Stories by Robert Louis Stevenson
3. Death of a Trophy Wife by Laura Levine
4. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
5. Valentine Murder by Leslie Meier
6. Nineteen Eighty-four by George Orwell
7. Killer Blonde by Laura Levine
8. Killing Bridezilla by Laura Levine
9. Killer Cruise by Laura Levine
10. The PMS Murder by Laura Levine
11. New Year's Eve Murder by Leslie Meier
12. The Hen of the Baskervilles by Donna Andrews
13. Death by Pantyhose by Laura Levine
14. The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom
15. The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom
16. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
17. Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella
18. In the Bag by Kate Klise
19. Death of a Neighborhood Witch by Laura Levine
20. Trick or Treat Murder by Leslie Meier
21. Father's Day Murder by Leslie Meier
22. Time of My Life by Allison Winn Scotch
23. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
24. The Taste of Apple Seeds by Katharina Hagena
25. The One That I Want by Allison Winn Scotch
26. Trains and Lovers by Alexander McCall Smith
27. What Looks Like Crazy by Charlotte Hughes
28. Pie Town by Lynne Hinton
29. Nutcase by Charlotte Hughes
30. High Anxiety by Charlotte Hughes
31. Killing Cupid by Laura Levine
32. The Memory Garden by Laura Rickert
33. Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot
34. Queen of Babble in the Big City by Meg Cabot
35. Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot
36. The Glass Kitchen by Linda Francis Lee
37. Twisted Sisters by Jen Lancaster
38. Insatiable by Meg Cabot 
39. Overbite by Meg Cabot
40. Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot
41. Size 14 is Not Fat Either by Meg Cabot
42. Big Boned by Meg Cabot
43. Personality Plus: How to Understand Others by Understanding Yourself by Florence Littauer
44. Doing It at the Dixie Dew by Ruth Moose
45. The Right Thing by Amy Conner
46. Here I Go Again by Jen Lancaster
47. Stay by Allie Larkin
48. The Matchmaker by Elin Hilderbrand 
49. Thin, Rich, Pretty by Beth Harbison
50. When in Doubt, Add Butter by Beth Harbison
51. Comfort Food by Kate Jacobs
52. Every Boy's Got One by Meg Cabot
53. Unleashing the Power of Rubber Bands: Lessons in Non-Linear Leadership by Nancy Ortberg
54. Known & Loved: 52 Devotions from the Psalms by Caryn Rivadeneira
55. The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands by Lysa TerKeurst
56. Carry On, Warrior: The Power of Embracing Your Messy, Beautiful Life by Glennon Doyle Melton
57. Avalon High by Meg Cabot
58. Size 12 and Ready to Rock by Meg Cabot
59. The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
60. All-American Girl by Meg Cabot
61. Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot
62. Secret Santa by Fern Michaels (and others)
63. The Bride Wore Size 12 by Meg Cabot
64. Christmas Carol Murder by Leslie Meier
65. A Winter Wonderland by Fern Michaels (and others)
66. Princess in the Spotlight by Meg Cabot

"There are two stories for every life; the one you live and the one others tell." ~ Mitch Albom, The First Phone Call from Heaven

Reading Log 2013

My favorite authors that I discovered this year are Mary Kay Andrews (so hilarious!), Sarah Addison Allen (enchanting, hard to put down), and Mitch Albom (very poignant). Quite likely the funniest book I read all year (and maybe ever) was I Don't Know How She Does It by Allison Pearson. I had chanced upon this at the church rummage sale. Now, having reviewed this list, I've decided that I really should look for more books by her!

As always, I enjoy murder mysteries. I have read a few this year including several by new-to-me author, Leslie Meier. While she isn't as fun to read as Joanne Fluke or Donna Andrews, the heroine is one I easily identify with being that she is a busy mom and a part-time writer. Similarly, Laura Levine has created a funny heroine who is also a freelance writer, so I am enjoying her goofy mysteries more and more. In particular, I love when she imparts wisdom in the form of ridiculously punny one-liners such as, "If you ask me, some people shouldn't be allowed into the dating pool without a lifeguard." (Shoes to Die For, page 210) Or, while describing L.A. traffic during rush hour, "Lewis and Clark made better time than I did." (This Pen for Hire, page 176)

One author that I am not sure why I kept reading was Elin Hilderbrand. I guess her characterization is good because it sucked me in every time, but truly, these are depressing books, which are not really my thing. Mostly, I read for escapism, so I prefer lighter fare. On the other hand, it may not be fair to lump all of an author's works together. I had a Nicholas Sparks paperback set aside for our Puerto Rico trip, and I have to say that Safe Haven surprised me. It was very enjoyable, and for once, it had a happy ending. It almost makes me want to give him another try. Almost.

And just in case you worry that I read too much fluff, I would like to point out that I read my fair share of non-fiction. You may notice, for example, that I spent all summer reading books on the craft of writing. I can only hope that this will help me move forward with writing as a career!

I am a bit sad that I only just learned of the existence of goodreads.com this past October. How did I not know about this before?! Anyway, here is the complete list of books I read in 2013. I am way ahead of last year's list, which was a goal of mine.

1. Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
2. I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella
3. The Baffled Parent's Guide to Stopping Bad Behavior by Kate Kelly
4. Hissy Fit by Mary Kay Andrews
5. Tickets to Success: Techniques to Lead Children to Responsible Decision-Making by Jim Fay
6. Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews
7. Little Bitty Lies by Mary Kay Andrews
8. Savannah Breeze by Mary Kay Andrews
9. Deep Dish by Mary Kay Andrews
10. The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews
11. Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews
12. Candy Cane Murder by Joanne Fluke
13. 101 Kid-Friendly Plants: Fun Plants and Family Garden Projects by Cindy Krezel
14. Easter Bunny Murder by Leslie Meier
15. Spring Fever by Mary Kay Andrews
16. World Class Marriage: How to Create the Relationship You Always Wanted with the Partner You Already Have by Patty Howell and Ralph Jones
17. Some Like It Hawk by Donna Andrews
18. I Don't Know How She Does It by Allison Pearson
19. Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand
20. Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand
21. A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand
22. The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand
23. Summerland by Elin Hilderbrand
24. The Love Season by Elin Hilderbrand
25. Young House Love: 243 Ways to Paint, Craft, Update & Show Your Home Some Love by Sherry & John Petersik
26. The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen
27. Bookends by Liz Curtis Higgs
28. Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
29. Just Down the Road by Jodi Thomas
30. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
31. The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen
32. Thanksgiving Prayer by Debbie Macomber
33. A Handful of Heaven by Jillian Hart
34. The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen
35. The Renegade Writer: A Totally Unconventional Guide to Freelance Writing Success by Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell
36. 102 Ways to Earn Money Writing 1,500 Words or Less by I.J. Schecter
37. Writer's Market (2014) -- sections (I feel this counts because I plugged away at it for several days... and to be fair, it is the size of a large phone book! Besides, a person only needs to read the sections that are relevant to her. The rest would be a waste of time.)
38. The Business of Writing for Children by Aaron Shephard
39. Story Sparkers: A Creativity Guide for Children's Writers by Debbie Dadey & Marcia Thornton Jones
40. Creating Characters Kids Will Love by Elaine Marie Alphin
41. The Writer's Guide to Crafting Stories for Children by Nancy Lamb
42. Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
43. The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
44. Shoes to Die For by Laura Levine 
45. Unglued: Making Wise Choices in the Midst of Raw Emotions by Lysa TerKeurst
46. Peter and the Shadow Thieves by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
47. Peter and the Secret of Rundoon by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
48. For One More Day by Mitch Albom
49. Turkey Day Murder by Leslie Meier
50. Family Blessings by Fern Michaels
51. Owe It to the Wind by J.R. Armstrong
52. Christmas Cookie Murder by Leslie Meier
53. Truly, Everything by J.R. Armstrong
54. Wedding Day Murder by Leslie Meier
55. Tippy Toe Murder by Leslie Meier
56. Hokus Pokus by Fern Michaels
57. Birthday Party Murder by Leslie Meier
58. Back to School Murder by Leslie Meier
59. Duck the Halls by Donna Andrews
60. Christmas Bliss by Mary Kay Andrews
61. This Pen for Hire by Laura Levine
62. Beg (ga) (he) r by J.R. Armstrong

Reading Log 2012

So, after reading this list that Button Bird Designs kept last year, and after seeing my friend Kim's Facebook update telling how many books she had read for 2011 (and apparently none were picture books; I checked), I was inspired to keep my own reading log for this year. I don't think I actually wrote any New Year's Resolutions for 2012 since they never seem to be kept and that just makes me feel like a failure, but I did make it a goal to read more often and to keep a log of all the books I finished. I don't think I came close to Kim in terms of how many volumes I made it through, but it's not too shabby.

Re-reading these titles suddenly helps me realize why "murder" has become a recent addition to Mia's vocabulary. Incidentally, if you like light-hearted murder mysteries, I love the "Meg Langslow" series by Donna Andrews, which all have punny bird-themed titles. I also have enjoyed many, many in the "Hannah Swenson" series by Joanne Fluke. As a bonus, all of these dessert-themed books include tons of recipes. I don't think I have actually tried any of them yet, but someday... These books fill a void since I used to love crime-solving shows but I can't watch them any longer. Being a mom makes that stuff hit a little too close to home for some reason -- with the exception for Castle, which is irreverent enough to suit my sense of humor.

Confession time: some books I am listing individually were actually two different sets of three bound together. So, if you are keeping track and don't want to count them as separate novels, that means I am down 4 on my list. Personally, I thought they should all count as individual books since they all have separate authors and are really just compiled together because of similar subject matter, but Amazon listings seem to suggest otherwise...

And yes, I read the Fifty Shades books, which surprised both my sister-in-law and my mom, although I am not sure why. I couldn't put them down and finished the series in about 10 days, mostly while sitting next to the sandbox. Thankfully, it was during those glorious end of summer days that kept the kids engrossed in outdoor play, needing very little from me. Don't get all judgmental. I balanced that out nicely with a few choice parenting tomes. Here's the list:

1. Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella
2. Owls Well that Ends Well by Donna Andrews
3. No Nest for the Wicket by Donna Andrews
4. Cockatiels at Seven by Donna Andrews
5. What Happy Parents Do by Carol J. Bruess, Ph.D. and Anna D.H. Kudak, M.A.
6. We'll Always Have Parrots by Donna Andrews
7. The Penguin Who Knew Too Much by Donna Andrews
8. Six Geese A-Slaying by Donna Andrews
9. Cords of Love by Lynn A. Coleman
10. The Heart of the Matter by Kristy Dykes
11. Merely Players by Kathleen E. Kovach
12. Swan for the Money by Donna Andrews
13. Stork Raving Mad by Donna Andrews
14. The Real Macaw by Donna Andrews
15. Click Here for Murder by Donna Andrews
16. Access Denied by Donna Andrews
17. Delete All Suspects by Donna Andrews
18. Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich
19. The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand
20. Lemon Meringue Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke
21. Cream Puff Murder by Joanne Fluke
22. Fudge Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke
23. Sugar Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke
24. Plum Pudding Murder by Joanne Fluke
25. Blueberry Muffin Murder by Joanne Fluke
26. Key Lime Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke
27. Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke
28. Cherry Cheesecake Murder by Joanne Fluke
29. Carrot Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke
30. The Island by Elin Hilderbrand
31. Devil's Food Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke
32. Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James
33. Fifty Shades Darker by E L James
34. Fifty Shades Freed by E L James
35. Maid of Murder by Amanda Flower
36. Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service by Beth Kendrick
37. Second Time Around by Beth Kendrick
38. Peach Cobbler Murder by Joanne Fluke
39. Apple Turnover Murder by Joanne Fluke
40. Helicopters, Drill Sergeants, and Consultants: Parenting Styles and the Messages They Send by Jim Fay
41. Cinnamon Roll Murder by Joanne Fluke
42. Humor, Play & Laughter: Stress-Proofing Life with Your Kids by Joseph Michelli, Ph.D
43. Parent Talk: Words That Empower, Words That Wound by Chick Moorman
44. The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories by O. Henry
45. Raising Boys: Why Boys are Different -- and How to Help Them Become Happy and Well-Balanced Men by Steve Biddulph
46. Gingerbread Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke
47. The Dangers of Gingerbread Cookies by Laura Levine
48. Gingerbread Cookies and Gunshots by Leslie Meier
49. 500 Terrific Ideas for Organizing Everything by Sheree Bykofsky 

Paperback Pumpkins, Apples, and Pears

I learned how to make paperback pumpkins at our local library recently, and I was so excited by the first one that I quickly returned to buy a stack of books to make more pumpkins. Once I knew the basic steps, I was also able to make apples and pears so now I have a total of 7 fruit shapes on top of my kitchen cabinets. They are very festive for fall.

{The paperback pumpkin that started it all...}

 Materials: 

{Paperback Apple}

• paperback books
• scratch paper
• pencil
• scissors
• sponge (I used an old kitchen sponge cut in half.)
• acrylic paint (I used orange, yellow, red, and green.)
• tray/plate to hold paint
• cup of water
• sticks/twigs
• curling ribbon, twine, or other ribbon
• hot glue gun
• newspaper to protect work surface

Directions: 

1.) Gather some old paperback books, the more beat up the better.

{These teen books were just ten cents each at our library.}

2.) Decide which shape you want to make (apple, pear, pumpkin). Fold a piece of paper in half like a hamburger. (I re-used some printer paper for this.) Draw your shape on one half, cut it out, and unfold it. Make sure it looks the way you want, or make changes if desired. (Note: Definitely be sure that your template will fit the pages of your book.) Now is also a good time to warm up your glue gun.

{Some of the titles are pretty funny: Help! I'm Trapped in My Gym Teacher's Body.}

3.) Tear off the front cover and then begin tracing the template onto the first page using a pencil. Cut out a small section (say 20 pages or so, depending on the sharpness of your scissors and how many pages you can comfortably cut). Continue tracing and cutting small sections until the entire book has been done. Tear off the back cover and any remaining parts of the cover on the spine. (Note: I would start cutting at the bottom, work my way up to the top, and once I got close enough, just tear off the remaining section to the point where it meets the spine, which saves some cutting.)

{Tracing my first pear...}

{Cutting out a pumpkin}

4.) Now for painting. This step takes the longest. First, protect your work surface with newspaper. You may also want to wear old clothes since acrylic paint will stain. Pour some paint onto a tray or plate (I used old Styrofoam meat packaging at home and a paper plate when I made my first one at the library.) Dip you sponge into the cup of water, then dip it into the paint, and dab it onto your tray/plate so that you are applying thin coats only. Sponge paint both sides of each page. I did just outside edges, leaving white space in the centers of each pear, apple, or pumpkin shape. (Note: Thin coats of paint work best because it dries faster and the pages are less likely to stick together. On my first apple, I experimented with a sponge brush in place of a sponge. It worked, but the paint went on much, much wetter and took forever to dry -- over 24 hours and that was with the help of a hair dryer -- so I don't recommend this method because once you start, you want to finish.)

{Sponge painting the pear}

{This apple I painted with a sponge brush, but it was not my preferred method.}

5.) Use a generous amount of hot glue along the spine of the book and then fold the book backward pressing the spine together. The pages should now fan out. Fold parts or individual pages back and forth as needed to get the look you want. (Note: As I made more of these, I just started folding the book back and forth along the binding before even starting the paint process because looser bindings seem to be easier to work with. Sometimes you just have to keep playing with it until it looks the way you want. If it isn't perfect, that's okay, the final step really makes it look finished. Plus, if there are sections pages that lay open and don't look the way you want them to, you can just point this toward the back of your display, unless it is your table centerpiece.) 

 

{A Finished Pear}

6.) Put the finishing touches on your pumpkin, apple, or pear. Add a stick to the center (or wherever you can get it to fit) using hot glue. If needed, glue a page or two around it. Green curling ribbon looks nice for a pumpkin and really makes it look special and finished. I had some wide sparkly green ribbon that I thought would make nice "leaves" for my apples so I just tied that around the stem and cut each end on an angle to resemble stylized leaves (without trying to make them really look like leaves). For my pears, I tied bows with cute green and brown pear ribbon that I happened to have. I thought they turned out cute. For one pumpkin, I used twine instead of curling ribbon to give it a more authentic look. I am not sure if I love it, but it is one option and something different. (Note: My first pumpkin would not stand up straight so I tried trimming the bottom of the pages to make them flatter. When that did not do the trick, I added some cardboard to the bottom, which stabilized it.)

{My First Finished Apple}

{Finished Pumpkin with Wider Curling Ribbon}

{Finished Pumpkin with Twine}

{My Finished Fall Display!}