Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Day 5 of Thankfulness

Today is my fifth day of my thirty days of thankfulness I've been doing on Facebook but today I had too much to write to cover there.

Today I am reminded of how very grateful I am for my siblings. I'm one of five kids, when I was born I was a little sister, two years later I became a big sister, and for the last 18.5 years I've been the monkey in the middle. I have it all... An older sister, an older brother, a younger brother, and a younger sister.

Through the years I've certainly had my ups and downs with all of them. I think only my youngest sister has escaped a time when we weren't talking to each other. But today when I think of any of the four of them I know that I am lucky. I would not be who I am without any one of them having not been my sister or brother.

Missy... You were always the big sister who knew everything I didn't. At nearly 9 years older than me you were the bridge for me between the kids (who I usually believed I knew better than) and the adults (who were obviously too old to know anything). I didn't appreciate until it was me with the much younger sister how much work went into being the older one. Making sure we were all taken care of on sibling only outings, making sure we had time and memories together. It wasn't until I was even older than that that I realized that no matter how much we disagreed you were always coming from a place of worry and love because I was your little sister. Not just some random person, but someone you'd loved since before I ever got here. I look forward to getting old(er) with you and the memories we have to look forward to. I love you.  

Matt... My giant of a big brother. I always knew you'd keep me safe when I was with you. You'll never know how much your ability to always go along with what I wanted to do meant to me. The memories (and pictures!) of dressing up in costume jewellery are priceless. I wish we had less time and distance between us. I am grateful for the role that you've played in making me believe in the safety that can come from a big brothers arms (and warnings to all who may want to hurt his little sister!). Even when I wasn't listening to what you were saying I was hearing it in my heart and I'm grateful for the perspective you gave me. I love you.

Stuart... The one who knows what it's like to live with me all the time (poor you :P). You taught me how to love another person more than myself. With you I exemplified the notion of "Sure I can knock him down but if you do it you will have hell to pay from me". Who besides you will know what is coming when I say "Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontaaaaaario", or will know that when I ride the train I ride it alllll the way. You've wiped my tears and held my hand and kept my secrets. I love you.

Andie... My baby girl. I've wanted you since before you were even concieved. From the minute I first saw you sleeping in our room at a day and a half old I thought you were the most beautiful baby sister I could've imagined. Through you I got to have a sidekick, someone to follow me around believing for a time that *I* held all the answers. Laying in bed with you at night as you told me all the things you knew and loved and were worried about are memories that shaped how I parent today. Now you're an adult too and I cannot wait to see how your life unfolds and make many more memories along with you. I love you. 

My siblings. Without them I wouldn't be me. I couldn't be me.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Ages 3+: 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

Total Books: 124
Books Read: 1 - .008% done

  1. A Bear Called Paddington (1958)
  2. Alfie Gets In First (1981)
  3. Amazing Grace (1991)
  4. Angelina Ballerina (1983)
  5. Avocado Baby (1982)
  6. Bad Habits! (1998)
  7. Barbapapa (1970)
  8. Blinky Bill (1933)
  9. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (1967)
  10. Burglar Bill (1977)
  11. Can't You Sleep, Little Bear? (1988)
  12. Clever Bill (1926)
  13. Clifford the Big Red Dog (1963)
  14. Clown (1995)
  15. Corduroy (1968)
  16. Crocodile Beat (1988)
  17. Crispin (2000)
  18. Curious George (1941)
  19. Dogger (1977)
  20. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (2003)
  21. Dusty Wants to Help (1983)
  22. Eloise (1955)
  23. Ernest and Celestine Have Lost Simon (1981)
  24. Father Christmas (1973)
  25. Felix and Alexander (1985)
  26. Fire-Engine Lil (1989)
  27. Freight Train (1978)
  28. Frog in Winter (1992)
  29. Garden of Little Creatures (1994)
  30. Go, Dog. Go! (1961)
  31. Gorilla (1983)
  32. Green Eggs and Ham (1960)
  33. Guess How Much I Love You (1994)
  34. Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy (1983)
  35. Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs (1999)
  36. Harry the Dirty Dog (1956)
  37. In the Night Kitchen (1970)
  38. Is That a Monster, Alfie Atkins? (1978)
  39. Ivor the Engine (1962)
  40. Jamela's Dress (1999)
  41. Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale (2004)
  42. Léo and Popi (1980)
  43. Little Blue and Little Yellow (1959)
  44. Little I Am I (1972)
  45. Little Toot (1939)
  46. Lost and Found (2005)
  47. Lotta's Bike (1971)
  48. Love You Forever (1986)
  49. Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (1965)
  50. Madeline (1939)
  51. Madlenka (2000)
  52. Marc Just Couldn't Sleep (2001)
  53. Marigold Garden (1885)
  54. Martine (1954)
  55. Max (2000)
  56. Mike Mulligan (1939)
  57. Mister Magnolia (1980)
  58. Molly Goes Shopping (1998)
  59. Moomin, Mymble, and Little My (1952)
  60. Morris's disappearing Bag (1975)
  61. Mother Goose (1881)
  62. Mousehole Cat (1990)
  63. Mr. Archimedes' Bath (1980)
  64. Mr. Tickle (1971)
  65. My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes (1973)
  66. My Naughty Little Sister (1952)
  67. Okilélé (1993)
  68. Old Bear (1986)
  69. Olivia (2000)
  70. One Snowy Night (1989)
  71. One Wooly Wombat (1982)
  72. Orlando (1938)
  73. Ox-Cart Man (1979)
  74. Owl Moon (1987)
  75. Pancakes for Findus (1985)
  76. Peace at Last (1980)
  77. Peter in Blueberry Land (1901)
  78. Poems for the Very Young (1993)
  79. Possum Magic (1983)
  80. Postman Pat's Treasure Hunt (1981)
  81. Pumpkin Soup (1998)
  82. Rosa Goes To Daycare (1999)
  83. Runaway Train (1995)
  84. Sleep Well, Little Bear (1993)
  85. Slinky Malinki (1991)
  86. Stina (1988)
  87. Tatu and Patu in Helsinki (2003)
  88. T'choupi (1992)
  89. The Big Honey Hunt (1962)
  90. The Cat in the Hat (1957)
  91. The Children of the Forest (1910)
  92. The Church Mouse (1972)
  93. The Cow Who Fell in the Canal (1957)
  94. The Gruffalo (1999)
  95. The Jolly Aunt (1891)
  96. The Little House (1942)
  97. The Little Red Lighthouse (1942)
  98. The Magic Pocket (1998)
  99. The Quangle Wangle's Hat (1876)
  100. The Sea-Thing Child (1972)
  101. The Snowman (1978)
  102. The Story About Ping (1933)
  103. The Story of Babar (1931)
  104. The Story of Ferdinand (1936) - read in October 2013
  105. The Story of the Little Mole (1994)
  106. The Story of the Root Children (1906)
  107. The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck (1908)
  108. The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher (1906)
  109. The Tale of Peter Rabbit (1902)
  110. The Widemouth Frog (2001)
  111. The Wonderful Tree (1969)
  112. This is the Bear (1986)
  113. Unknown or Forgotten Princesses (2004)
  114. Up in the Tree (1978)
  115. Uppo the Bear (1977)
  116. We Are the Triplets (1983
  117. What Do People Do All Day? (1968)
  118. What Does the Mouse Think on Thursday? (1967)
  119. Where the Wild Things Are (1963)
  120. Where's My Teddy? (1992)
  121. Who's Seen the Scissors? (1975)
  122. Window (1991)
  123. Winnie the Pooh (1926)
  124. Winnie the Witch (1987)

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Ages 0-3: 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

Total Books: 37
Books Read: 1 - 2% done

  1. Alvin Says Good Night (1996)
  2. Bathwater's Hot (1985)
  3. Bedtime for Frances (1960)
  4. Bunny Bath (1990)
  5. Dear Zoo (1982)
  6. Each Peach Pear Plum (1978)
  7. Elmer (1989)
  8. Fly, Little Bird (1977)
  9. Good Dog, Carl (1985)
  10. Good Night, Alfie Atkins (1972)
  11. Goodnight Moon (1947)
  12. Handa's Surprise (1994)
  13. Humphrey's Corner (1999)
  14. Julian the Rabbit (2001)
  15. Kipper (1991)
  16. Lavendar's Blue (1954)
  17. Little Brown Bear (1975)
  18. Little Spook's Baby Sister (1977)
  19. Maisy Goes to Playschool (1992)
  20. Make Way for Ducklings (1941) - read October 2013
  21. Meg and Mog (1972)
  22. Miffy (1963)
  23. Mr. Gumpy's Outing (1970)
  24. Owl babies (1992)
  25. Pat the Bunny (1940)
  26. Rosie's Walk (1968)
  27. The Baby's Catalogue (1982)
  28. The Bear Went Over the Mountain (1999)
  29. The Elephant and the Bad Baby (1969)
  30. The Little Engine Who Could (1930)
  31. The Runaway Bunny (1942)
  32. The Three Railway Engines (1945)
  33. The Very Hungry Caterpillar (1969)
  34. Thomas the Tank Engine (1946)
  35. Tickle, Tickle (1987)
  36. We're Going on a Bear Hunt (1989)
  37. Where's Spot (1980)

Monday, October 14, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving Update

We are almost half way through October. I can't believe it. This week was another great reading week. I only have 7 books left and then I will be done all of my 2013 challenges! Today I am off to spend time with my family enjoying Thanksgiving. I hope all my fellow Canadians enjoy their Thanksgiving today as much as I am going to.

73 Books Challenge: 73/73 books read (DONE)
Library Books Challenge: 50/50 books read (DONE)
A-Z Book Challenge: 26/26 books read (DONE)
Classics Catch Up Challenge: 12/13 books read (92% done)
Books by Women Challenge: 16/16 books read (DONE)
Eclectic Book Challenge: 12/12 books read (DONE)
Literature and War Challenge: 8/12 books read (75% done, 2% behind schedule)
Classic Kids Book Challenge: 10/12 books read (83% done)
Books Tobias Picked: 5.5/6 books read (91% done)

Sunday, October 13, 2013

2013 Books in Review #17: Children of the New World


Children of the New World was the July selection for the Literature and War Reading Challenge hosted by Beauty is a Sleeping Cat.
The book is set out in a series of chapters each from a slightly different character perspective, rather than one overall main character. It is set during the Algerian war, their independence from French colonization. The characters are linked within a small community, some by marriage or blood, others by work or love or friendship or the law.
I really wanted to love this book. It is written by a leading authoress, who is considered to be one of the best in her field. She is notably anti patriarchal, and writes with a feminist slant. I found the book had gaps that made it hard for me to follow and because I didn't know a lot about the French-Algerian conflict my loss was magnified to the detriment of my loving the book.
Overall I'd like to go back and read more of her works. This has been said to be one of her weaker works and so I am wondering if the structural issues I had with the text would be gone in a different work.
Children of the New World was my 59th book of the year, and my 6th book read for the Literature and War reading challenge.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Babywearing and Me: The Beginning (up to 2006)

Babywearing for me was a concept I have always felt made sense, but I wasn't really familiar with it in the form I use it today until early 2007. My first child was born in August of 2006, but before that I was a baby carrier. Quite literally, lugging them in my arms, on my hips, on my back, however I could get them latched onto me enough to be mobile with them.

My sister is almost 9 years younger than me and she was my most carried babe. Unfortunately I don't have any adorable pictures of her curly blonde headedness when she was a baby or toddler but trust me when I say if I was around her, she was in my arms a lot. When she outgrew cradle style holding my carry of choice was a hip carry, and her on my hip as I walked around was a comfortable, comforting thing for me.

I got older, so did she, and soon I carried her mostly on my back piggy back style or else she walked. As she got more to the walking all the time stage kids that I babysat took her place in my arms and on my hips. I love babies, love kids, love nurturing.

Fast forward to 2006. At about the beginning of my third trimester I finally began to believe I might actually get to take a baby home at the end of my pregnancy and my closest friends were urging me to start acquiring the things I was going to need for my baby.

We were short on space and so I knew we were not going to have room for a lot. One of the things I knew I wanted was a baby carrier. I didn't know much about them, except that I'd seen them used. At that point I was familiar with only three kinds: Snugglis, baby Bjorns, and slings. I called them generic "slings" but really what I meant was New Native pouch slings, a type of sling that as I'd find out later, is very difficult to get sized correctly because of the limited number of sizes and the ranges they are meant to be for.

I chose a New Native pouch sling in blue (my favourite colour) and it arrived just before the birth of my baby. I did not own a stroller at all at this point.

After Tobias was born our first time babywearing was when he was a week old. Sadly I have no pictures of him actually in the sling (or maybe that is a good thing because the fit was not very good). I do however have one lone picture of him about to go into the sling. Sadly that is my only babywearing picture of 2006 (I promise there will be more in coming posts though).

You can see the pouch sling over my left shoulder

We used the sling a handful of times at best. It was way too big and he hit my knees when he was in it. By Christmas time I had given up on babywearing. It was uncomfortable and impractical in cold weather (or so I thought!). Then in early January 2007 something happened that literally changed my parenting life...

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

It's International Babywearing Week!

I am a little slow on the draw but I am finally getting my first IBW 2013 post up on Day 2 (just barely!) of International Babywearing Week. I've had a long love affair with babywearing and this week I'm going to share my journey. There will be lots of pics! You've been warned ;-)

One of my favourite babywearing pictures
Tobias and I in front of Niagara Falls in 2007

Monday, October 7, 2013

End of the 1st Week of October Update

This week ended up being way busier with two sick kids than I was expecting it to be. I ended up finishing several more books in spite of it all though, but I didn't get any more reviews done. Next week is a holiday weekend so I am not sure that I will get a lot done this week either but I am hoping for at least 5 more books to be finished.

73 Books Challenge: 70/73 books read (95% done)
Library Books Challenge: 50/50 books read (DONE)
A-Z Book Challenge: 23/26 books read (88% done)
Classics Catch Up Challenge: 10/13 books read (76% done, 1% behind schedule)
Books by Women Challenge: 16/16 books read (DONE)
Eclectic Book Challenge: 10/12 books read (83% done)
Literature and War Challenge: 6/12 books read (50% done, 27% behind schedule)
Classic Kids Book Challenge: 8/12 books read (75% done, 2% behind schedule)
Books Tobias Picked: 5.5/6 books read (91% done)

Monday, September 30, 2013

End of September Challenge Update

Monday again! The last Monday of September. Hard to believe. It's the end of another month and now the weather is chillier and my book reading is moving more indoors rather than out in the glorious sun of summer.

73 Books Challenge: 62/73 books read (84% done)
Library Books Challenge: 47/50 books read (94% done)
A-Z Book Challenge: 18/26 books read (69% done, 6% behind schedule)
Classics Catch Up Challenge: 7/13 books read (53% done, 22% behind schedule)
Books by Women Challenge: 16/16 books read (DONE)
Eclectic Book Challenge: 8/12 books read (66% done, 9% behind schedule)
Literature and War Challenge: 6/12 books read (50% done, 25% behind schedule)
Classic Kids Book Challenge: 7/12 books read (58% done, 17% behind schedule)
Books Tobias Picked: 4/6 books read (66% done, 9% behind schedule)

This week I continued to make up ground and am in great position to be able to finish all of my challenges before the end of the year. I finished 6 more books, and 5 more reviews. My goal in September was to finish 21 reviews, and unfortunately only got 14 done. Next month my goal is 21 more.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

2013 Books in Review #16: Anna Karenina


I read Anna Karenina as my first selection in the Classics Catch-Up Challenge in ebook format.
Anna Karenina is a classic piece of literature that covers many relational themes: marriage, adultery, friendship, courtship, love and loss. It follows Anna Karenina and her husband, her lover Vronsky, her children, and other family and friends. It is written from a 3rd person perspective, but it jumps around between scenes happening at roughly the same time between different characters.
I'd never read Anna Karenina before this and I probably wouldn't have picked it up this year except that it was on the reading list for the Classics Catch Up Challenge. I found myself immensely moved by the characters and their relationships, flawed and all. It felt very real to me, not glossed over or gussied up, but rather raw and honest. People making decisions that others don't agree with, making mistakes, falling in love rather than following social norms set out for them.
Now that I have read the book I think I'd like to watch some of the various movie interpretations and see how they match up. I enjoyed the book much more than I expected to and I am glad to have added it to my reading knowledge in my head. 
This was my 5th book of the year, my first classic book of the year, and the letter A in my A-Z challenge.

2013 Books in Review #15: The Maze Runner


This book (and its sequels) came highly recommended to me by several people I know. I decided to give in and see what all the hype was about.
The Maze Runner is about a dystopian society of adolescent boys. They have all been sent, one at a time, to an "other" place and when they arrive they have no memories at all of where they were before or even who they are other than their name. Within the new society they work at various jobs according to their strengths and eat and sleep. The whole place they live in is surrounded by a maze and their purpose is to figure out the maze (which resets itself every night after dark) so they can escape.
I actually quite enjoyed the story and found it hard to put down. I thought the visual imagery was very good and I loved how the characters were formed and their interactions with each other. I am quite looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series once I make it through my list of books I have on the go for the rest of 2013.
The Maze Runner was my 26th book for the year, my 20th library book, and the letter M for my A-Z challenge.

Friday, September 27, 2013

2013 Books in Review #14: Cinderella Ate My Daughter


I listened to the audiobook version of this book through the Overdrive Media Console app on my phone, mostly in the car as I was waiting for my kids to be done with their various summertime recreation programs.
Cinderella Ate My Daughter was written by an author who has written other books about girls and issues in raising them. This particular book was written as the mother of a daughter herself, and her perspective of how all things culturally stereotypically "girl" are marketed and sold to girls and by extension of course, their parents. She explores the effects that all things "pink" and "girl" have on little girls who are learning who they are by the messages that are sent to them.
Most of her connections were ones I had made myself before reading the book, however some of her interpretations were new and gave me fodder to chew on and think about. One of my favourite chapters was the chapter she did covering the American Girl phenomenon which is less about pink and pizzazz and supposed to be more about "real" girls in real situations. I have never seen an American Girl doll except in pictures, and I don't have any children asking for them so it isn't likely to be a fixture in my life any time soon. The idea that there are whole stores designed around these dolls, where you can even take your doll for food or for a spa experience is just amazing to me. The expense of them, whether they are worth it or not, is enough to put them out of the range of many real girls who may want them.
Overall I found myself nodding through much of the book and I appreciated her take as the mother of a girl who has been long interested in issues surrounding raising a successful little girl. I don't have any girls, but I am a woman with sisters and nieces and I care a great deal about how we separate what is girl and what is boy by artificial lines and then call it nature. I'd highly recommend this book to any parent, but especially parents of girls.
Cinderella Ate My Daughter was my 21st book read for the year, my 16th library book read, my 8th book written by a woman, and fufilled the letter C in my A-Z challenge.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

2013 Books in Review #13: The Other Life


I listened to this book on the Overdrive Media Console app on my phone after taking it out through the library.
Quinn has what could be seen as a charmed life. Happily married, with an adorable little boy and another baby (a girl) on the way. She does carry the baggage of her mother committing suicide and Quinn still struggles with processing her grief and trauma over the loss of her mother and wonders if there was anything she could have done differently.
Quinn also has a secret. She possesses the ability to cross over into an alternate reality via portals found in her every day life. In this alternate reality Quinn made different choices, chose a different partner and career. She gets to see what her life would have been like if she'd made those choices instead of the ones she chose in reality. The book deals with Quinn deciding which reality is right for her and in the end she makes her choice knowing she will never have the chance to go back through for a visit to the other life.
I had a hard time getting into the story and didn't find it as compelling as many of the people who had written reviews of it did. All in all it was about average. I rated it 3 stars out of 5.
The Other Life was my 7th book of the year, and my 4th library book, and the letter O for my A-Z challenge.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

2013 Books in Review #12: The Everything Car Care Book


After having a really bad experience when my van needed fixed because I was not as knowledgeable about vehicles as I needed to be and therefore got taken advantage of, I decided I needed to learn more.
This book gives a great basic rundown of all of the systems in a car. It will teach you how the systems work (when they are working properly!) and how they work together. Also covered are the ways that each system can break down. For each maintenance issue they cover what parts you can do at home easily, what parts can be done at home if you have some vehicle experience, and what should always be left to a mechanic. I appreciated the break down, and also the instructions on how to do the easier things that I may want to tackle myself.
Overall I left feeling like I understood better what goes into making my van tick. I usually take it for granted and then when something breaks I realize how much I depend on it all the time. The book also covered how to find a good mechanic, which I appreciated because that was where my troubles all started to begin with.
This was my 45th book of the year, 34th library book of the year, and letter "E" in my A-Z challenge.

Monday, September 23, 2013

End of Week #38 Challenge Update

It's Monday and that means we are at the end of another week of 2013. Hard to believe how fast it is going! Time for a challenge update to keep me focused.

73 Books Challenge: 55/73 books read (75% done)
Library Books Challenge: 42/50 books read (84% done)
A-Z Book Challenge: 17/26 books read (65% done, 8% behind schedule)
Classics Catch Up Challenge: 3/13 books read (23% done, 50% behind schedule)
Books by Women Challenge: 16/16 books read (DONE)
Eclectic Book Challenge: 8/12 books read (66% done, 7% behind schedule)
Literature and War Challenge: 5/12 books read (41% done, 32% behind schedule)
Classic Kids Book Challenge: 5/12 books read (41% done, 32% behind schedule)
Books Tobias Picked: 3/6 books read (50% done, 23% behind schedule)

Overall not a bad week. I finished 8 more books and also 5 more book reviews. :)

Sunday, September 22, 2013

2013 Books in Review #11: Maternity Rolls


Maternity Rolls came through on a search I was doing on disability issues so I borrowed it from the library and read it very quickly once it was in my hands.
Maternity Rolls is written by a woman who was in a car accident at the age of 6 years old and was left with paralysis from her breast level down. She had to learn to live life in a wheelchair and with a plethora of health issues that stemmed from her paralysis and it's effects on her body systems.
She married her high school sweetheart and they decided to have a child together, and then 8 years later, they had another. She discusses in detail the physical and emotional challenges of pregnancy for her, as a disabled woman, with the acknowledgement that although her voice is just the voice of one person who is disabled (and therefore not representative of all persons with physical disabilities that wish to have children), it is at least one voice, which is more than she was able to find in print when she was looking as a prospective parent, and then pregnant woman, and then mother.
Her book resonated with me on many levels. While I am an able bodied person, my spouse has a physical disability (unable to use his left arm, and walks with an altered gait because of lingering effects of a stroke on his left leg). Her discussions of parenting with a disability were what I was expecting to find, and were indeed interesting to me, but also deeply interesting for me were her discussion of how people treated (and treat) her. How people responded to the notion that she may even *want* children because of course she was an "other" as a woman with such an obvious physical difference from the typical. How medical professionals treated her as a patient. How society views her when she is out with her children. Those discussion of policy and social construct have always been interesting to me, but now to my family they are deeply personal and important.
I'd highly recommend her book to anyone facing disability and pregnancy/parenting. I'd also recommend it to anyone wishing to learn more about these subjects.
This was my 48th book of the year, and my 37th library book.

2013 Books in Review #10: There's No Home


I read There's No Home as part of the Literature and War Challenge. It was not available through the library so I purchased an ebook copy and read it on the Kindle app on my phone.
There's No Home follows the story of soldiers living in a country that is not their own, and the people of the village who normally live there. There are no active battles being fought during most of the time that the book takes place, and it is mainly a story of relationships during wartime. Relationships between the soldiers, relationships between the people of the village who were left behind when the fighting started and remained alive as it continued, and relationships between the soliders and the villagers.
It was an interesting read for me as I have heard war time stories from family members before and it was a common thread. The relationships made are real, but woven out of a thread that sometimes must be broken as new orders come in and things change. I very much enjoyed the book even though some parts were emotionally difficult. I am glad I own it so I can return to it in the future if I want.
This was my 51st book of the year, and my 4th selection in the Literature and War Challenge.

Saturday, September 21, 2013

2013 Books in Review #9: Choice


Choice was an impulse pick up at the library. I generally love reading anything that has to do with women's health and reproductive politics so I thought I might enjoy this.
Choice is a collection of essays written by women about choices they've made, or watched others make, about reproduction. Some of the stories covered pregnancies that came easily, others infertility and loss and assisted reproduction technology. Many of the women spoke of pregnancies chosen and carried to term, and others of making the choice to obtain an abortion. Many of the stories covered politics... the accessibility of abortion (even if it wasn't the choice that the woman made for her current pregnancy), and there was one story that was about a woman's struggle as a lesbian and trying to find help conceiving with her partner and then the logistics of coparenting in a state where same sex marriage was illegal.
I love women's stories. I find them rich and moving so this book was an enjoyable one for me even in the parts that were hard. Some of the stories resonated with my own reproductive journey, many didn't, but I'm glad I read them all and glad that they were shared.
Choice was my 49th book of the year, and my 38th library book.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

2013 Books in Review #8: Living Well With Endometriosis



I was diagnosed with endo in 2005 and many of my symptoms have gotten worse in the last year so I picked this book up to see if it would offer me any insights or just some reassurance.
The book is well laid out and it follows a clear flow throughout. It has real stories from people woven throughout the book about their experiences living with endometriosis. Much of the information about testing and treatment was stuff I already knew, but there was some new information I was glad to have and the information spans from very allopathic methods to very nontraditional methods.
I would recommend this book to someone with endo who is looking for more information or for anyone who has chronic pelvic pain or painful periods who is interested in learning more about a possible answer.
This book was book #47 for me this year, and my 36th library book read.

Monday, September 16, 2013

2013 Books in Review #7: The Friday Night Knitting Club

 


I love to knit. My love for knitting is what prompted me to start this book. I listened to the audiobook version from the library.
Georgia is a single mother to a daughter, Dakota, and the owner of a yarn store. She starts a knitting club at her store on Friday nights and the women who find their way into the store for the club have their lives woven together in the fellowship they share there. 
Part way through the book Dakota's father comes back into their lives and he forges a relationship with Dakota, and then also with Georgia. They find themselves falling into what seems like a lovely life together until the news comes that Georgia has cancer. I will admit that at this point in the book I stopped enjoying it as much. I regularly read books that deal with challenging subjects, books that make me angry or make me cry. However I was expecting this book to be light and when it delved into her illness I found myself having a harder time enjoying the story and then on her death I cried a lot.
Because of my feelings when the book changed it's feeling into seriousness and sadness I doubt I will finish the other two books in the series.
The Friday Night Knitting Club was my 6th book read for the year, and my 3rd Library Book and my 3rd book written by a woman.

Changed Forever In An Instant

Two years ago today all of our lives changed in an instant.

I can still hear the sounds of that night. My calm words as my brain knew what my heart yet did not and I asked my husband to please smile for me, my frantic scream out the door for my mother to come quick, my voice strong and steady to the 9-1-1 dispatch, my tears as I relayed what I now knew to be a certainty even before we'd left the house to my best friend and her calm voice on the other end telling me everything was going to be ok somehow.

I can still see him laying, smiling, on the floor, see the look on my bewildered friends and neighbours as I opened their door like I had so many times before, only this time unannounced and asked if my kids could stay the night as I went with the ambulance. I can still feel the acute pain, the terror, the heartache.

I can still remember how detached I felt as everyone around me at the hospital told me they couldn't believe how calm and collected I was as I was asked to sign consent forms and make decisions as a next of kin like I had many times for my children, only this time my partner, their other next of kin, was lying on a stretcher and the decisions I made were for him.

I remember the arms of my friend Jo strong around me the next morning as she'd started her shift in the ICU and had been briefed on the youngest stroke patient our hospital had taken in since starting their stroke program and then realized she knew him, knew me, knew our kids, knew what was at stake not just in the abstract but on a personal level for our family.

Three months of our lives were spent with him in that hospital, three months of daily visits with my children in tow, of visits home, of learning a whole new way of living.

Visiting with Daddy, I'd often take the kids in pjs because it would be passed their bedtime when we'd get home

Our younger two kids have no memory of Daddy as a fully able bodied person. Our oldest son is still has anger because he does. From totally healthy to hemiplegic in less than 5 minutes, and then back to able to use one limb (his right arm), and then about a month after he came home he was able to walk with a cane instead of a needing a wheelchair all the time, and now he is able to walk independently, albeit with an altered gait. His left arm remains nonfunctional.

Two years ago our lives changed in an instant. Many things about our lives are different, accessibility issues, new specialists, always more testing, work issues, learning new ways to do activities of daily living for James, learning a new way of interacting with one another. Many of the things we have learned and are learning are deeper than just the day to day though. The role of disabled people in our society. The way people view persons with disabilities and the differences between those who have a strong advocate and those who don't. The things those of us who are able bodied take for granted.

It has been two years since James' stroke. I would never have chosen this for him, for any of us, and yet it was thrust upon us and two years out I can look around and see lessons learned that were valuable, relationships made with people we would not otherwise have crossed paths with, gifts in the strangest packages.

James' first night home with us after the stroke was Halloween night, 6.5 weeks after the stroke. He wanted to be able to go trick or treating with our kids. We had a great time. He was in a wheelchair and we had a just turned 1 year old, a 2.5 year old, and a 5 year old with us. We had an amazing time and I won't ever forget the memories we made that night. Next month he and I will take those same kids trick or treating in our own neighbourhood, in the new place we call home. I am so glad he survived the stroke, grateful that we have these memories to make and the hope for many more in the future.

Halloween 2011 <3

Mid September Update

September is half way over and I'm pleased with my progress so far. I've finished 9 more books and I have several I will be finishing in the next week.

73 Books Challenge: 47/73 books read (64% done, 7% behind schedule)
Library Books Challenge: 36/50 books read (72% done)
A-Z Book Challenge: 17/26 books read (65% done, 6% behind schedule)
Classics Catch Up Challenge: 2/13 books read (15% done, 56% behind schedule)
Books by Women Challenge: 16/16 books read (DONE)
Eclectic Book Challenge: 6/12 books read (50% done, 21% behind schedule)
Literature and War Challenge: 3/12 books read (25% done, 46% behind schedule)
Classic Kids Book Challenge: 5/12 books read (41% done, 30% behind schedule)
Books Tobias Picked: 2/6 books read (33% done, 38% behind schedule)

One thing I havn't been doing as well with as I'd like is my reviews. I need to kick my butt into gear on that!

Thursday, September 5, 2013

2013 Books in Review #6: Save Me



Save Me was the first book I read of the bag full of books I was given for my birthday from my Uncle Neil. It immediately caught my eye and I was hooked from the first time I read the jacket cover.
Save Me follows the story of a mother who is put in an impossible situation and has to choose between saving the life of children right in front of her, or saving the life of her daughter. In the end she makes her choice and it still ends up taking an unexpected twist that makes it seem like she didn't make the choice the way that she did.
I was expecting the book to focus mostly on the choice, when it reality that part of the story was done within the first couple of chapters and the rest of the book delved into a much deep plot that kept adding murder and mystery and intrigue to it and it ended up being a much different story line then the one that I was expecting. It wasn't a bad story, just very different and less the type that I am apt to find most interesting. 
All in all I gave this book 3/5 stars. I enjoyed it but it didn't end up being the huge winner I was hoping for.
Save Me was book #24 for the year, and my ninth book written by a woman.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

2013 Books in Review #5: Roland Wright, Future Knight


Tobias chose this book from the library and we finished it in just a few days.
Roland is a young boy living in the middle ages with his father, who is an armorer who builds the best armor in the land, and Shelby, his older brother. Roland dreams of being a knight but as the child not born into nobility there does not appear to be any way for this dream to be realized.
Due to his father's skill a knight is sent to purchase a set of armor for the king himself and later it saves him in battle. After this the king sends a declaration to Mr. Wright that one of his sons may come to the castle to be trained as a page. If he succeeds he may become a squire, and then a knight.
Roland is delighted but also unsure of his ability to be sent since he is the younger son. His father puts his brother and himself through a set of skill tests and although Shelby beats Roland on most of them, Roland shows more of the characteristics that knights must possess because he remains true to himself throughout all of the challenges. In the end he wins the chance to go to the castle. 
This was a fun, easy read and it is the first in a series of books. We will be sure to pick up the next one and read that too.
 This book was #39 for me this year, #29 for my library challenge, and #2 of the books that Tobias picked.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

2013 Books in Review #4: Transition


I actually listened to the audiobook version of this book in my car during the times when I was running errands or doing other time driving when the kids were not with me. I chose to read this because stories about people in the LGTBQ community are in general very interesting to me.
Transition is written by Chaz Bono, born Chastity Bono, only child of the famous couple Sonny and Cher. Chaz writes about his experiences as a transgender man who had always felt more comfortable being masculine but had a hard time expressing that within the family and community roles he was in as a child and young adult. At the age of 13 Chaz realized that he (not realizing yet that he was a transgender male, but still living as a female) was attracted to other females and believed himself to be a lesbian from that point on up until the point where he realized that he was actually a transgender male who was attracted to women.
The book is unbelievably repetitive, and while I really wanted to like it I found myself totally uninspired by the endless litany of  failed relationships with family members, friends, and lovers and his apparent need to reveal intimate secrets about these people who had been or are important in his life. Only the very end of the book does he actually talk about transitioning from female to male.
I'm glad for Chaz that he is comfortable in his own skin now and I wish him luck in the future. This book was not actually helpful IMO as a guide for other trans folk (which is what Chaz says his goal is), especially in his polarizing views such as gender being your biology and gender identity being your choice. I think many of the trans folk who have been seriously depressed or even committed suicide as a result of not being able to identify openly as the gender they really were would disagree that it was a "choice". I rated this book only 1 out of 5 stars.
Transition was book #40 for me this year, book #30 in my library book challenge, and fulfilled my LGBT requirement for the eclectic reader challenge.

Monday, September 2, 2013

2013 Books in Review #3: Freakling



Every once in a while I pick up a book as I pass it on a whim. Freakling is one of those books. I passed it at the library and brought it home because it caught my eye.
Freakling is a young adult dystopian novel, the first novel released by Lana Krumwiede. In it the residents of the world use Psi for all of their daily living. They don't use their hands at all. Taemon has quite powerful Psi but he loses it when his brother tries to kill him and he doesn't fight back. After this he has to relearn everything because he can no longer use his mind to do such activities as buttoning a shirt or feeding himself.
In addition to having to relearn these things in a new way he also must keep his loss of Psi a secret from his community. He manages to do so for a time but then he is found out and he is sent away to a colony of outsiders who do not use Psi. Taemon had always had prejudices against the outside colony but when he arrives he finds that they are not dumb, slow individuals as he was led to believe, but rather a functioning group, albeit living differently than those who use Psi instead of manual labour.
I rated this book 3/5 stars. It was a fairly solid story although some of the characters weren't as developed as I would have liked. All in all though I enjoyed it and I look forward to reading the sequel when it is released.
Freakling was book #3 for the year, #2 in the library challenge, letter F in my A-Z challenge, book #2 in my books by women challenge, and fulfilled the dystopian requirement in the eclectic reader challenge.

End of August update on Reading Challenges

We are 2/3 of the way through the year. Time to do an inventory of where I am in my challenges.

After a strong start to the year I fell off in a huge way starting in March. We moved to a new city and the next several months were a whirlwind of business to do with transferring our life to the new area and getting settled. In July I started to read again and August was a huge catch up month.

73 Books Challenge: 38/73 books read (52% done, 15% behind schedule)
Library Books Challenge: 28/50 books read (56% done, 11% behind schedule)
A-Z Book Challenge: 16/26 books read (61% done, 6% behind schedule)
Classics Catch Up Challenge: 2/13 books read (15% done, 52% behind schedule)
Books by Women Challenge: 13/16 books read (81% done)
Eclectic Book Challenge: 4/12 books read (33% done, 34% behind schedule)
Literature and War Challenge: 2/12 books read (16% done, 51% behind schedule)
Classic Kids Book Challenge: 4/12 books read (33% done, 34% behind schedule)
Books Tobias Picked: 1/6 books read (16% done, 51% behind schedule)

Looks like September will have to be another major catch up month ;-) I also want to write a review every weekday to catch up on those.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Not Just Jam

Today I made 29 jars of jam.



29 jars. Some will nourish my own three children and husband. Some will be enjoyed by my uncles and Gramma. Some will be gifts for those I love.

But today jam was more than just jam. It was wrinkled, competent hands guiding me. It was a gentle, firm voice teaching me. It was laughing and singing songs in her voice that I've known since I was still in my mothers womb.

It was dancing the dance of people who know each other deeply, in a kitchen where so many of my wonderful childhood memories were made. It was hearing stories of her Grandma and wondering if maybe, one day, I may be blessed with a granddaughter to share moments like these with.

It was more than just jam. It was memories. Mine, hers, her grandmothers and on along the women before us and on still to those yet to come, I hope.

29 jars of jam. And love.

Saturday, January 12, 2013

2013 Books in Review #2: Still Alice


I finished book #2 for the year on January 8th! I read it in only two days, it sucked me in and I couldn't put it down. It was one of my many books I got for Christmas and I'm happy to have read it.
Still Alice is written from the point of view of Alice, a wife, mother of three young adult children, author and Havard professor. At only 50 years old she is diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease. She loses her memories and her ability to function as she did, eventually needing quite significant care.
Writing from the point of view of Alice, instead of from the viewpoint of her husband or one of her children brought a quality to the telling that reminded me some of Room (in which the five year old recounts the horrible series of events instead of his mother and in a way makes them easier to read about). She isn't nearly as scared and horrified as her children are, especially as the disease progresses, because the worse it gets, the less aware of it she is and she lacks the context to feel the full despair that she would otherwise feel.
Having watched a loved one go through Alzheimer's disease (though not early onset) I found myself lost in some of my own pain during some of the more challenging scenes. One of her first moments of losing memory of her family involved Alice praising the talent of a young actress, totally unaware that it was her daughter. Moments like that for the family of someone with memory loss are heartbreaking.
All in all the story was woven in a unique way and it is well worth the read. 
Still Alice is Book #2 on my reading list, gives me another letter in my A-Z challenge, and my first book in my Women authors challenge.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Tobias' Books 2013

Goal: To read at least 6 books with at least 100 pages with (to) Tobias

Progress (as of October 7th): 5.5 books read (0.5 to go)

Books
1. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
2. Roland Wright, Future Knight by Tony Davis (Review here)
3. Thea Stilton and the Ghost of the Shipwreck by Elisabetta Dami
4. Roland Wright, Brand New Page by Tony Davis
5. Roland Wright, At the Joust by Tony Davis
6. A Strange Case of Ghosts/A Strange Case of Magic by Kenneth Oppel

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

2013 Pre-1960's Classic Children's Book Challenge

Goal: To read classic children's books with the kids (link)

Progress (as of October 13th): 10 books read (2 to go)

Books
1. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
2. The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
3. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
4. The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
5. Curious George by H.A. Rey
6. Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
7. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
8. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Expury
9. The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
10. And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street by Dr. Seuss

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Literature and War Challenge 2013

Goal: To read all 12 of the read along books (link)

Progress (as of October 13th): 8 books read (4 to go)

Books
January. The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers (Review here)
February: The Flowers of War by Geling Yan
March: The Heat of the Day by Elizabeth Bowen
April: The Wars by Timothy Findley
May: All That I Am by Anna Funder
June: Winter in Wartime by Jan Terlouw
July: Children of the New World by Assia Djebar
August: Grey Souls by Phillipe Claudel
September: There's No Home by Alexander Baron (Review Here)
October: Everything Flows by Vasily Grossman
November: The Death of the Adversary by Hans Keilson
December: The Sorrow of War by Bao Ninh

Monday, January 7, 2013

Reading Challenge Update Week #1/52

A whole week has passed so it's time for an update.

I finished one book this week (Yellow Birds). I have two books in progress: Anna Karenina and Harry Potter #2: The Chamber of Secrets (which I am reading with Tobias). I'm just early into both.

So far a good start to my year, on track with my book a week goal :)

Eclectic Readers Challenge 2013

Goal: To read one book from each of twelve categories to expand my reading book box (link to challenge)

Progress (as of October 13th): 12 books read (DONE!)

Books
Translated Fiction: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Historical Mystery: Perfume by Patrick Suskind
Romantic Suspense: Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard
Made into a Movie: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
New Adult: The Last Summer of You and Me by Ann Brashares
Urban Fantasy: Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
Dystopian: Freakling by Lana Krumwiede (Review here)
Memoir: Half a Life by Darin Strauss
LGBT: Transition by Chaz Bono (Review here)
Action Adventure: 7 Deadly Wonders by Matthew Reilly
Humour: Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
Published in 2013: The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley

Sunday, January 6, 2013

2013 Books in Review #1: "Yellow Birds"



Less than a week into 2013 and I am done my first book! Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers was the first book in the Literature and War 2013 read along and I picked it up yesterday from the library and couldn't put it down. If I hadn't had to sleep and work I would have been done it in one sitting I am sure. My review can be found below.
Kevin Powers served in Iraq with the US army in 2004 and 2005. The book is written from the point of view of Private Bartle who is serving in Iraq during the same time period as Powers actually served. It weaves between time periods, jumping back and forth between Iraq and then the US after Bartle returns from the war. Every chapter jumps to a different period of time and while this could easily be disjointing, Power has woven a story that flows easily.
I don't normally read books about war, and this was stretching me outside of my normal box. The details are disturbing, and because they are written by someone who has seen first hand the realities of this war, they are graphic at times. I found myself drawn into the story, feeling more than just my own emotions, but also those of the characters.
The connection between Bartle and Murph is complex, and touching. While I knew early on that Murph had died, I didn't see the ending coming until it did, and it added a whole new layer for me to the story and the character. In reading about the thought process in deciding what to do with Murph's body I saw parallels to other decisions where we might guess what might be best for another. Sometimes we are wrong, but the thought process and emotions going into the decision are important and fascinating.
All in all Yellow Birds drew me in far more than I thought it would. I love books where I can identify with the characters. In this book I was in a unique position as I have no personal experience going to war or actively sending a loved one off to war, and yet I felt that Powers made the characters relatable to me even still. It is not surprising to me that he is a poet. His way with words was outstanding.
As far as my 2013 challenges go, this will be book #1 read, #1 for my library challenge, my first letter in my A-Z challenge, and book #1 in the Literature and War challenge.

2013 Women Authors Challenge

Goal: To read more books by women authors (link to challenge)

Levels:
  • Baby Girl (1-5 books)
  • Girl Power (6-10 books)
  • Super Girl (11-15 books)
  • Wonder Woman (16+)
Progress (as of September 8th): 16 books read - CHALLENGE COMPLETE!

Books
1. Still Alice by Lisa Genova (Review Here)
2. Freakling by Lana Krumwiede (Review Here)
3. The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs (Review Here)
4. The Other Life by Ellen Meister (Review Here)
5. The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
6. Times Two by Kristen Henderson and Sarah Ellis
7. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
8. Cinderella Ate My Daughter by Peggy Orenstein (Review Here)
9. Save Me by Lisa Scottoline (Review Here)
10. The Cat Whisperer by Mieshelle Nagelscheider
11. Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
12. You Are What You Wear by Jennifer Baumgartner
13. The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley
14. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
15. Flowers of War by Geling Yan
16. The Time in Between by Maria Duenas

Saturday, January 5, 2013

2013 Classics Catch-Up Challenge

Goal: To read more classic books in 2013 (link to challenge)

Levels:
  • Freshman (4 books) - reached in September 2013
  • Sophomore (8 books) - reached in September 2013
  • Junior (11 books) - reached in October 2013
  • Senior (13 books)
Progress (as of October 13th): 12 books read (1 to go to next level)

Books
1. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
2. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
3. My Antonia by Willa Cather
4. Macbeth by William Shakespeare
5. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
6. Animal Farm by George Orwell
7. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
8. Hamlet by William Shakespeare
9. Othello by William Shakespeare
10. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
11. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
12. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

Friday, January 4, 2013

2013 A-Z Reading Challenge

Goal: To read a book starting with every letter of the alphabet in 2013 (link to challenge)

Progress (as of October 13th): 26 letters read (DONE!)

Books
A: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
B: The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
C: Cinderella Ate My Daughter by Peggy Orenstein (Review Here)
D. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
E: The Everything Car Care Book by Mike Florence and Robert Blumer (Review Here)
F: Freakling by Lana Krumwiede (Review Here)
G: The Go Getter by Peter B. Kyne
H: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
I: The Interstitial Cystitis Survival Guide by Robert M. Moldwin
J: Jesus: A Theography by Leonard Sweet
K: KnitLit by Linda Roghaar
L: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
M: The Maze Runner by James Dashner (Review Here)
N. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
O: The Other Life by Ellen Meister (Review Here)
P: The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Q: Quiet by Susan Cain
R: Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
S: Still Alice by Lisa Genova (Review here)
T: Times Two by Kristen Henderson and Sarah Ellis
U. Unstrange Minds by Roy Richard Grinker
V. The Vinyl Cafe Notebooks by Stuart McLean
W: The Whole Brained Child by Daniel J. Seigel
X: The X in Sex by David Bainbridge
Y: The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers (Review here)
Z: Zenzele: A Letter for my Daughter by J. Nozipo Mairare

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Library Books Reading Challenge 2013

Goal: To read library books I'm going to take each level as it comes (link to challenge)

Levels:
  • Board Book (3 books) - reached in January
  • Picture Book  (6 books) - reached in January
  • Early Reader  (9 books) - reached in February
  • Chapter Book (12 books) - reached in August
  • Middle Grades (18 books) - reached in August
  • Young Adult (24 books) - reached in August
  • Adult (36 books) - reached in September
  • Just Insert IV (50 books) - reached in September

Progress (as of September 30th): 50 books read - CHALLENGE COMPLETE

Books
1. The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers (Review here)
2. Freakling by Lana Krumwiede (Review here)
3. The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs (Review Here)
4. The Other Life by Ellen Meister (Review Here)
5. The Princess Bride by William Goldman
6. One Big Thing by Phil Cooke
7. The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
8. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
9. Becoming Sister Wives by Kody, Meri, Janelle, Christine, and Robyn Brown
10. Times Two by Kristen Henderson and Sarah Ellis
11. Pilgrim's Wilderness by Tom Kizzia
12. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
13. The Whole Brained Child by Daniel J. Seigel
14. Autism's False Prophets by Paul A. Offit
15. Half a Life by Darrin Strauss
16. Cinderella Ate My Daughter by Peggy Orenstein (Review Here)
17. The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson
18. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest by Stieg Larsson
19. The Cat Whisperer by Mieshelle Nagelscheider
20. The Maze Runner by James Dashner (Review Here)
21. Be Different by John Elder Robison
22. A Love That Multiplies by Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar
23. You Are What You Wear by Jennifer Baumgartner
24. The Interstitial Cystitis Survival Guide by Robert M. Moldwin
25. We Bought a Zoo by Benjamin Mee
26. Health and Nutrition for Dogs and Cats by David G Wellock
27. Grey Souls by Philippe Claudel
28. Be the Pack Leader by Cesar Millan
29. Roland Wright, Future Knight by Tony Davis (Review Here)
30. Transition by Chaz Bono (Review Here)
31. A Complaint Free World by Will Bowen
32. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
33. Flowers of War by Geling Yan
34. The Everything Car Care Book by Mike Florence and Robert Blumer (Review Here)
35. 7 Deadly Wonders by Matthew Reilly
36. Living Well With Endometriosis by Kerry-Ann Morris (Review Here)
37. Maternity Rolls by Heather Kuttai (Review Here)
38. Choice by Karen E. Bender (Review Here)
39. Perfume by Patrick Suskind
40. All That I Am by Margaret Mitchell
41. Gone With the Wind by Anna Funder
42. Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard
43. Macbeth by William Shakespeare
44. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
45. Quiet by Susan Cain
46. Children of the New World by Assia Djebar
47. Animal Farm by George Orwell
48. KnitLit by Linda Roghaar
49. Hamlet by William Shakespeare
50. Jesus: A Theography by Leonard Sweet

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

73 Books Challenge 2013

Goal: To read 73 Books in 2013

Progress (as of October 8th): 73 books read (DONE!!!)

Books
1. The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers (Review here)
2. Still Alice by Lisa Genova (Review here)
3. Freakling by Lana Krumwiede (Review Here)
4. The Go-Getter by Peter B. Kyne
5. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
6. The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs (Review Here)
7. The Other Life by Ellen Meister (Review Here)
8. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
9. The Princess Bride by William Goldman
10. One Big Thing by Phil Cooke
11. The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
12. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
13. Far From the Tree by Andrew Solomon
14. Becoming Sister Wives by Kody, Meri, Janelle, Christine, and Robyn Brown
15. Times Two by Kristen Henderson and Sarah Ellis
16. Pilgrim's Wilderness by Tom Kizzia
17. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
18. The Whole Brained Child by Daniel J. Seigel
19. Autism's False Prophets by Paul A. Offit
20. Half a Life by Darrin Strauss
21. Cinderella Ate My Daughter by Peggy Orenstein (Review Here)
22. The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson
23. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest by Stieg Larsson
24. Save Me by Lisa Scottoline (Review Here)
25. The Cat Whisperer by Mieshelle Nagelscheider
26. The Maze Runner by James Dashner (Review Here)
27. Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
28. Be Different by John Elder Robison
29. A Love That Multiplies by Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar
30. You Are What You Wear by Jennifer Baumgartner
31. The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley
32. A Wild Surge of Guilty Passion by Ron Hansen
33. The Interstitial Cystitis Survival Guide by Robert M. Moldwin
34. We Bought a Zoo by Benjamin Mee
35. Health and Nutrition for Dogs and Cats by David G Wellock
36. Grey Souls by Philippe Claudel
37. Be the Pack Leader by Cesar Millan
38. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
39. Roland Wright, Future Knight by Tony Davis (Review Here)
40. Transition by Chaz Bono (Review Here)
41. A Complaint Free World by Will Bowen
42. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
43. Flowers of War by Geling Yan
44. The Time in Between by Maria Duenas
45. The Everything Car Care Book by Mike Florence and Robert Blumer (Review Here)
46. 7 Deadly Wonders by Matthew Reilly
47. Living Well With Endometriosis by Kerry-Ann Morris (Review Here)
48. Maternity Rolls by Heather Kuttai (Review Here)
49. Choice by Karen E. Bender (Review Here)
50. My Antonia by Willa Cather
51. There's No Home by Alexander Baron (Review Here)
52. Perfume by Patrick Suskind
53. All That I Am by Margaret Mitchell
54. Gone With the Wind by Anna Funder
55. Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard
56. Macbeth by William Shakespeare
57. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
58. Quiet by Susan Cain
59. Children of the New World by Assia Djebar
60. Animal Farm by George Orwell
61. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
62. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
63. KnitLit by Linda Roghaar
64. Hamlet by William Shakespeare
65. Jesus: A Theography by Leonard Sweet
66: Zenzele: A Letter for my Daughter by J. Nozipo Mairare
67. Othello by William Shakespeare
68. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
69. The Vinyl Cafe Notebooks by Stuart McLean
70. The Last Summer of You and Me by Ann Brashares
71. Unstrange Minds by Roy Richard Grinker
72. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
73. Everything Flows by Vasily Grossman

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

2013 Reading Challenges


Last year I read more than in 2011 but I didn't read as much as I'd like. And I was not nearly as organized about keeping track as I would have liked. This year I have a few goals and I'm going to do a few challenges.

First, my plan is to Read 73 books. That's only 1 every five days. There are a lot of books for me to read in the challenges but many of them overlap too.

6/73 books


We use our library quite a bit for books so it only makes sense for me to join the Library Books Challenge 2013. I'm starting for Level 1 "Board Book" (1-3 books).

2/3 books


Next I'm going to try for the 2013 A-Z Reading Challenge and try and read one book (at least) with a title starting with each level of the alphabet.

3/26 Letters


I'm always wanting to read more classic literature so this year I'm joining the 2013 Classics Catch-Up Challenge. I'm going to aim for the first level of 4 books "Freshman".

0/4 books


As a feminist woman I particularly enjoy books written by women. The 2013 Women Challenge is perfect for this. Aiming low to start with the first level "Baby Girl" (1-5 books by a woman author).

2/5 books


As an incentive to challenge myself outside of the usual categories I read it (which admittedly are fairly varied at this point already) I'm joining the Eclectic Reader Challenge 2013. There are eight categories of books to read.

1/12 books


The last adult reading challenge I've joined is the Literature and War Read Along 2013. 12 books from 12 different countries, written in 8 different languages and covering 6 different wars.

1/12 books


Now for the kids. Two challenges for all of the reading we do with them.

First we are joining the 2013 Pre-1960 Classic Children's Book Challenge. Going to aim to read at least 12 of these.

0/12 books


Also with Tobias blooming into wanting to be read chapter books on a regular basis I'm going to aim to read at least 6 novels with him that he chooses.

0/6 books


Let the reading begin!!!!