February 2016 Library Checkout

February 2016

A great monthly check-in about Library reading hosted by Shannon of River City Reading!

I am so excited to have discovered and begun using the listing function on my local library's network site! I now have a list for the books I will check out and read for the Book Challenge by Erin 4.0, a "Diversity" listing, a "Really really want to read, once available" list, "Borders Book Club" (the face-to-face book club I facilitate) and a "Nonfiction" list! (My nonfiction reading last year was woefully low and mostly autobiographies. I will correct that!) I can add books whenever and then when I want to place holds, voilà! There they are--easy peasy! :)

I did slow down on holds, but now look at the amount of books I have checked out! 

And still so many to review on my blog yet! Yikes!! Okay, really, I love it! :)

Books Read: 

**Reviews/blog posts can be viewed by clicking on the title. 

If I have not yet completed a blog post, it will link to my Goodreads review.

1) Laughing Boy: A Navajo Love Story by Oliver La Farge
One of our Borders Book Club members who winters in warmer climes is reading this for her "other" book club and it sounded fascinating! It won the Pulitzer Prize for Novel in 1930. I am finishing this one today. I love the information it provides regarding Navajo beliefs and communication, etc. And it is not just a narrative of such, but a true depiction as played out in peoples' lives. Even better! My only possibly negative comment has to do with the fact this is written by a white male, Harvard-educated anthropologist...that opens up my mind for much discussion regarding authenticity... Research awaits! :)

2) Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of a Fist by Sunil Yapa
Oh, my goodness! I cannot believe how this book impacted me. Viscerally. Permanently. I want to know more about WTO, IMF, World Bank, etc., though I have a feeling I really don't WANT to know more because it would only make me doubt whether as a species humanity is ever going to learn each human is to treat each individual with respect, kindness, generosity...love... I can't begin to put my reactions into words just yet in the aftermath of this one. Everyone should read it, in my opinion! And this is one where the title and cover image are so symbolic of the story!

3) Bury the Lead by David Rosenfelt
#3 in the Andy Carpenter series.

4) Sudden Death by Davis Rosenfelt
#4 in the Andy Carpenter series.

5) My Son's Story by Nadine Gordimer
A selection for Book Challenge by Erin 4.0! Actually, at 52 pages in this was a very slow moving narration. I took a break and read a couple of mysteries, then returned and finished this one. It was intense. Rather depressing overall. And again, why must people die for social change to occur? *SMH* 

Currently Reading: 
1) Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
This is the March read for the Campus Book Club. I can't attend the meeting but was a bit curious about the book so will read and review... I am honestly surprised at how much I like this book! 

Checked Out, TBR:
1) Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs
This book was mentioned as one that Ivoe, Jam on the Vine's protagonist, was reading. This is a classic! 

3) Ana of California by Andi Teran
Supposedly a modern-day retelling of Anne of Green Gables. I typically stay away from retellings but for some reason was attracted to read this! Probably due to the Green Gables Read Along I completed last year!

4) My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem
The first book selected for Emma Watson's Feminist Book Club on Goodreads! :) This one is actually waiting for me at the library...the new and more convenient library from which I will do most of my library 'business' in the future! :) Actually, I'm picking this one up this evening!

5) The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King
The first in the Mary Russell series. She will be one of the authors at the CHG Guild Book and Author Luncheon in April. The 14th book in the series will be released in April. I own a couple of the books in this series but always try to read the first in a series before any others to determine whether I like it or not...hence the hold! :) One of my former coworkers at Borders loves this series.

6) Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
The only reason I am not purchasing? Trying not to bring any more books into my house for keeps! :) I am excited that 6 months have elapsed from the release date so I can obtain a copy through the local interlibrary loan network! I just can't imagine that this will not be a great read for me! 

7) Smashed, Squashed, Splattered, Chewed, Chunked, Spewed by Lance Carbuncle
A dog and his human are parted and trying to get back together. I'm bettin' I'm gonna love it or not like it much...of course, I'm hopeful it's the former! But, it's a dog...and his human... :) The Borders Book Club I facilitate decided to read this! 

8) Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit
Had to see what I thought about this one after reading Manno at Dilettante Artiste's review! It is touted as a feminist read. 

9) The Color Purple by Alice Walker
The second book selected for Emma Watson's Goodreads Feminist Book Club! For February 2016. 

10) Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
This looks as if it will be an amazing read!

Returned Unread:
None...yet! Although that will most likely change as I have resigned from my local library's Board of Trustees (Let's just cite "insurmountable philosophical differences" with a majority of the Board membership as my reason!) and will no longer have that enviable "no fine" perk! This will be a challenge for me, but may help me not get quite so "hold crazy" in the future...as I obviously was in January! :)

On Hold: 
1) House Made of Dawn by N. Scott Momaday
Pulitzer Prize Winner 1969. I intend for this to be somewhat of a companion read to Laughing Boy (first book on this list). Momaday is Native American, not just an "observer" and though there are three decades between these publications, it might give me a chance for comparison. At least more exposure to Native American literature.

What have you checked out lately at your library? 

December Library Checkout

December 2015

A great monthly check-in about Library reading hosted by Shannon of River City Reading!

This month has been another great one for good reads! Though I am not as caught up as I had wished prior to the start of the Little House Read-Along I am cohosting with Bex of An Armchair by the Sea. (But that's okay!) There are currently 11 other readers registered to join us in this event!! YAY!! (Twitter #littlehouseRAL)

Books Read: 

(**Reviews/blog posts can be viewed by clicking on the title. If I have not yet completed a blog post, it will link to my Goodreads review.)

I completed reading these as preparation for the Little House Series Read-Along, cohosted by myself and Bex of An Armchair By The Sea, beginning now! :) I have NEVER read a Wilder book and after participating in Reeder Reads' Green Gables Read-Along last year, I decided reading one of the Wilder books per month would be a great way to read them all during 2016! Then both Bex and I posted on the Classics Club site that we planned to host the same read-along, and a cohosting team was born! Bex's introductory post is here and mine is here! Be sure to register using the link on either of these posts! It is going to be fun! There are already 13 of us committed to this monthly project! And, please, if you wish to only follow along with the reviews/comments, that is also fine. Or if you only wish to read of few of these books and participate for only those months, that is also fine! Whatever works for you, works for us! :) The introductory January posting is here and you can link to your review and/or comment there once you've read the first book, Little House in the Big Woods.

1) West from Home: Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder to Almanzo Wilder, San Francisco 1915 by Laura Ingalls Wilder, edited by Roger Lea MacBride.

2) On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894 by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

3) A Wilder Rose by Susan Wittig Albert. A very revealing historical fiction account of Rose Wilder Lane's life and her rather strained relationship with her mother, Laura Ingalls Wilder. (Albert is one of my favorite writers!)

Currently Reading: 
Not currently reading any library books. (I keep reminding myself about the #ReadMyOwnDamnBooks challenge!) 

Checked Out, TBR:
Quite an eclectic group, eh? 

1) First Degree by David Rosenfelt
This is the second in his Andy Carpenter series. While I'm anxious to get to it, I am also anxious to read the first installment of the Little House series, Little House in the Big Woods, and am anxious to read further in the Maisie Dobbs series!

2) H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald.
I have read so many bloggers' reviews, all raving about this book, and I couldn't resist and placed it on hold and it has arrived! 

3) Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
I am rather curious. The premise of this book is centered on a kissing contest. He'll need to be a really good author for me to find this engaging... We shall see! :)

Returned Unread:

None. One huge perk to serving on the Board of Trustees is that I never accumulate or owe fines! So I can keep books as long as no one else places a hold on them, with no penalty. :) However, in all fairness I have only taken advantage of this a few times over the past few years! :)

On Hold: 
I currently have none on hold. Though I know that will change with my resumption of daily commuting back and forth to work as of this coming Monday! I will need an audiobook or two, at the very least! 

What have you read from your library lately?

Especially for any young readers, I can highly recommend 

the Vet Volunteers series by Laurie Halse Anderson! 

I read the fifth installment and loved it.

October Library Checkout

October 2015

A great monthly check-in about Library reading by Shannon of River City Reading!

This has not been a good month for my reading goals! Very poor as a matter of fact, but that's okay. Life sometimes has a way of preventing you from doing as you would like every moment of the day! I feel as if I will now be able to get back into the swing of things and I'm grateful for that feeling and hope it comes to pass. :)

Books Read: 

1) Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir by Jenny Lawson

I love listening to this so much that I'm on my 3rd time! I'm truly considering purchasing the audiobook to have in my car at all times! I would issue one warning, just in case (like me) you rarely do much research prior to 'reading' or 'listening'... Language! "Bad" words bother me not at all! They're some of my favorites, actually! However, if you are bothered by them, you probably will not appreciate this one at all. I laugh and laugh!! It really helps lighten my mood! I am dictating notes into my phone to compose a review in the near future. 

2) Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Another audiobook, as with Yes Please, Woodson is the narrator. Though this is not humorous, but rather a simply told and genuinely stated autobiography that made me feel very glad for the author. She has managed to find her creative spirit in life. I plan to listen again and then will post a review.

3) Did You Ever Have a Family by Bill Clegg

Although this was not a library book that I checked out, it was a newly released book that I purchased, read, and have now donated to my local library. (Trust me--no more room in our house for books! lol) I loved it!

4) Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin 

 Read in September, but review posted in October...does that count? ;)

Currently Reading: 

1) Jam on the Vine by LaShonda K. Barnett

Reading this for a campus book club meeting in November

Checked Out, TBR:

1) Open and Shut by David Rosenfelt

A mystery and first in a series!

2) Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively

Man Booker Prize winner in 1987.

3) Andrea Martin's Lady Parts by Andrea Martin

Looked like it might be humorous and enjoyable--a break from some more intense reads.

4) Last Wool and Testament (A Haunted Yarn Shop Mystery) by Molly MacRae

I'm certain this is what most would call a "cosy." I cannot remember how I got onto this author/series/book, but I hope it will be enjoyable!

Three books I'm reviewing in preparation for the Little House Series Read-Along, cohosted by myself and Bex of An Armchair By The Sea, beginning this next January! :) I have NEVER read a Wilder book and after participating in Reeder Reads' Green Gables Read-Along last year, I decided reading one of the Wilder books per month would be a great way to read them all during 2016! Then both Bex and I posted on the Classics Club site that we planned to host the same read-along, a cohosting team was born! Stay tuned for awesome introductory posts from both of us in November! :)

5) West from Home: Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder to Almanzo Wilder, San Francisco 1915 by Laura Ingalls Wilder, edited by Roger Lea MacBride.

6) On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894 by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

7) A Wilder Rose by Susan Wittig Albert.

Returned Unread:

None. One huge perk to serving on the Board of Trustees is that I never accumulate or owe fines! So I can keep books as long as no one else places a hold on them, with no penalty. :) However, in all fairness I have only taken advantage of this a few times over the past few years! :)

On Hold: 

NONE!! Did you see that mountainous "Checked Out, TBR" list?!? 

September Library Checkout

I believe it is only fitting and proper that I participate in this monthly posting hosted by Shannon of River City Reading. There are several reasons:

1) I am currently President of our local library's Board of Trustees and should use it as much as possible! You know...set a good example! :)

2) I love the library!! Always have...always will! This was virtually my only source of reading material when young. 

3) I should know all about how our local library system and the electronic lending system network functions! Since I am technically a part of our library... :)

4) I already own way too many books and really shouldn't purchase many more... :) Well, okay, to be honest, I should never purchase ANY more books! But that just isn't going to happen! :)

5) I want this to serve as further encouragement to read more library books. Plus, I do have an "in" with our Library Director since I can recommend books for purchase! :) But all library patrons have the option to request specific titles for future purchase!

September 2015

Books Read: 

1) Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
The blog post says it all for me! Poignant, heartrending, yet in the end, hopeful! 

2) Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin 
(Only a Goodreads review posted, blog post under construction!)
A powerful and informative read! (Update--blog post finally done!!)

3) Yes Please by Amy Poehler 
(Only a Goodreads review posted, blog post under construction!)
Since I haven't watched TV in over 15 years I have never watched Amy Poehler, the comedian/actor, but I really enjoyed this audiobook during my commute back and forth to work and I like this woman! She seems to be genuine and honest. I love her description of her love for her sons--she could just eat 'em up! :)

Currently Reading: 

1) Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Another audiobook, as with Yes Please, Woodson is the narrator. I am 1/4 done and loving it. Very simple language. Heartfelt. Genuine.  

Checked Out, TBR:

1) Open and Shut by David Rosenfelt
A mystery and first in a series!

2) Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively
Man Booker Prize winner in 1987.

3) Andrea Martin's Lady Parts by Andrea Martin
Looked like it might be humorous and enjoyable--a break from some more intense reads.

Returned Unread:

None. One huge perk to serving on the Board of Trustees is that I never accumulate or owe fines! So I can keep books as long as no one else places a hold on them, with no penalty. :) However, in all fairness I have only taken advantage of this a few times over the past few years! :)

On Hold: 

1) Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir by Jenny Lawson
Another humorous one for the car during my daily commute!