Reading Goals for 2017

Shiny and new! Hot off the presses!

This year I've got 4 goals instead of 3. I know, going wild over here!

When I make these goals I have to leave myself time for other books too. At least half of what I read comes from browsing the shelves at my library (and increasingly, the deals on Kindle), and bringing home a stack of things that look good. Ninety percent of the time, those books aren't on my "to-read" list or part of a reading goal. So, I don't want to get so locked into my goals that I feel guilty for simply reading other books I may come across.

On the other hand, it is fun to push myself to seek out books that I otherwise would not, or to read toward a certain purpose. So, we'll see how it goes with my 4 goals this year.

1. Read what I've got! Or in other words, review my bookshelf.

I was almost going to make this one my one and only goal, with the idea of writing a review for every book in our home library. That proved too overwhelming, though I may do it by sections at some point. However, there are several books on my shelves (both paper and virtual) that I haven't read yet! Whether they were gifts, thrift store finds, or great deals, they have landed on my shelves and sat there.

For some reason, once I own a book, the urgency to read it usually tends to subside. Part of that is because I get so many from the library. After all, I should read the ones that have to be back in 3 weeks first, right? There's no pressure on the home library books. The only problem with that mentality is that these others continually get pushed to the bottom of the stack.

So this year, my goal is to read all of the books I own but have never gotten around to yet. Then decide if they're worth keeping or not. (I can't send them away unread!) I may have to set a specific number if I survey my shelves and find there are a whole lot more than I realized.

2. Fill-in my Newberry reading with winners and honor books from the past 5 years.

I have already read several of these, but including Honor books, that still leaves me 14 to track down. This would be more daunting, except that they're all middle grade. Also, the fact that they're award winners makes it likely that my library will have all or most of them. Totally do-able.

3. Read something new by a favorite author.

There are some of L.M. Montgomery's that I've never read, or I may dip into Lloyd Alexander's more obscure works. Other possibilities include Louisa May Alcott, Jane Austen, or any one of my favorite contemporary authors. You notice I can't seem to pin myself down to an author yet. Part of the fun will be choosing which one.

4. Complete a series.

There are a few series that I've read the first one or two books, then somehow never gotten around to the rest. I'd like to fix that this year--at least for one series!

The first to come to mind are The Montmaray Journals, by Michele Cooper. Ever since I read the first one, I've been meaning to read the rest and have never done it. I'm sure there are others. Time to choose one and get 'er done!


* * * * *
Have you set any goals for your reading this year? Do you buy books only to let them sit on your shelves for ages? Tell me everything!

Last of the 2016 Reviews: a Garden Book, a Regency Romance, and a Memoir

The last few days of the year I suddenly had brain space and time to read again! (The first trimester fog was clearing. It was a good feeling!) I managed to squeeze in a few more before the New Year rolled around, none of them related to each other at all, actually. Here they are:

In and Out of the Garden, by Sara Midda

2.5 stars: I didn't love this one as much as I had hoped to.

Full of illustrations, hand-drawn text, and garden-related lore. Many of the pictures were as charming as the cover. I enjoyed the illustrated quotations. Part of my problem stemmed from how small the text was in most of the book. Beautiful calligraphy, but I kept feeling like I needed to pull out a magnifier of some sort to read it without pulling it right up to my face. (I know! I am definitely middle-aged, but don't generally need that type of assistance, thank you!)

Anyway, I liked it, but I wanted to savor it. My lower rating accounts for this disparity in my expectations.

(Finished reading Dec. 28.)

Miss Grimsley's Oxford Career, by Carla Kelly

3 stars: Forbidden essays, clandestine love affair, oh my.

Ellen Grimsley is a sensible girl who longs for higher education, living in a family filled with drama. Her younger brother Paul is her one consolation, but he is enough younger (only 12) that she knows she will have to leave him behind someday soon. When she gets the chance to attend a girl's school in London, she can hardly believe it.

Her head fills with hopes of geometry and Latin. Instead, she gets a highly sanitized bookshelf (only works deemed suitable for young ladies, which apparently is very few of them), interminable embroidery classes, and little to no chance to challenge her intellect. It's grossly unfair that her brother Gordon is squandering away his time at Oxford--a place forbidden to women--when she would give anything to be in his place.

Then, along comes a chance to both challenge her intellect and dip her toes into the pool of knowledge at Oxford. Her brother pleads with her to write an essay for him in a comparative literature class. Though she knows she shouldn't, she does. The first time, it involves dressing as a man and attending his lecture (he was too hungover to go himself). She has to do just a bit of research at the library as well.

Unfortunately, a handsome young man she met on her way to London happens to recognize her in the library. Uh-oh. Game's up. Or is it? Miss Grimsley may have just found an accomplice to her schemes. On the other hand, if her father ever finds out, her life will basically be over. So, she'll have to work around that.

* * * * *
I liked this one and appreciated that it was clean. I didn't love it. There were a couple of plot points in particular that bothered me, making it hard to suspend my disbelief long enough to get into the story. For instance, there were several scenes where she spent one-on-one time with James, including an entire afternoon (just chatting) in his rooms at school, and no-one batted an eye. Including her! I thought basically any time alone between an unmarried man and woman was scandalous back then and caused reputations to suffer. So, not sure what was going on with that. Also, I don't think she could have gotten away with all her long absences from the girl's school for as long as she did.

Alas, by the end I wanted to shake our dear Miss Grimsley several times over and tell her to get over herself and marry the guy already!

Ms. Kelly has written many others, I may give another one a try at some point, and see if I like it any better.

(Finished reading Dec. 30.)

As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride, by Cary Elwes

3.5 stars: Fun and interesting backstory from one of my favorite movies.

Elwes first goes into his own casting as Wesley in The Princess Bride, along with most of the other major roles, then goes on to talk about production of the film. Probably the most fun to read, though, were the parts describing some of the background for several of the scenes. I learned things I never knew that will make my next viewing of the movie that much better! Speaking of which, it made me want to see the movie again!

I could have done with a bit less gushing.

(Finished reading Dec. 31.)

* * * * *



All right, let's get on with 2017!

January Bloom Day: Worth Every Penny

A cheap grocery store bouquet.

The brightest I could find.

To remind me what flowers look like

And also the sun.

I think I will buy another next week.

Six dollars doesn't seem like much

For a glimpse of summer

When all the world is white.

I'm linking up with Carol at May Dreams Gardens today.
Head over there for some outside blooms--southern gardeners, don't fail us now!

What I Didn't Do in December...and What I'll Be Doing Next Fall

I've mentioned a couple of times that December was sort of a lost month for me, in many ways. So just in case you were dying to know the extent of the damage, here you go! I've been kind of curious myself, because I keep thinking of things to add to the list! (Hoo boy.)

Things I Didn't Do In December

1. Fill up Advent calendars for the kids.

Oh, I hung them up at the end of the hallway...and that's as far as it got. In past years I've had fun activities to do or leftover Halloween candy, or a mix of both. This year? Nothing. Finally around Dec. 12 my kiddos asked if I was ever going to put something in them. Um....no. I guess not. I handed over the bags of candy saved for this very purpose and told them it was their job to fill them up this year.

2. Put up outside Christmas lights.

This is usually my job and one that I enjoy--at least the results. I don't go too crazy, but generally at least the front porch, railing, and doorframe get done. After a week of tripping over the box, I put it back downstairs in the storage room. Sorry kids. Not this year.

3. Baking or treat making. At all.

[This was last year's Bake-a-Palooza. Fun times.]

Nothing for in-town friends or neighbors. Heck, nothing for us to munch on in the name of holiday indulgences. Nada.

4. Fill up my bird feeders. Poor birds.

5. Wrap presents.

You think I'm kidding. I wrapped the bare minimum for stockings on Christmas Eve, and didn't get the rest done until the night we came back. Literally last minute. (We had 2nd Christmas the next morning, since we didn't bring any presents with us on our trip.)

6. Exercise. Just didn't happen.

7. Blog...much. I put in some effort, but it wasn't much.

8. Volunteer at my kids' schools.  Supposed to happen weekly. Didn't happen at all in December.

9. READ.

You've got to know something's going on, when I could not even make myself sit down and read a book. I did manage to read Christmas picture books to the kids. One saving grace! But for myself--in the 3 weeks before Christmas I read ONE middle grade novel, and it was 3rd in a series that I was already interested in (post on that next month!) The last 2 books in the series were only available on e-audio from the library. Actually, that worked out well. I couldn't bring myself to pay attention to a book, (!) but lying in bed in the dark while someone else read to me? That was about my speed for December.

10. Go grocery shopping.

My husband went instead--bless him!--and I was so grateful I almost cried. Okay, I totally cried. A little.

11. Cook...much.

I managed to keep my people fed, with the help of frozen pizza, cold cereal, and lots of sandwiches. Thanksgiving leftovers helped a lot. My husband and kids helped where they could, too.

With everything that didn't happen this year, there is one very important thing that I managed to do in December--and I'm not talking about getting my Christmas cards sent out (though I am proud of that, considering.)

I survived the 1st trimester of my 4th pregnancy!!

Survived would be a good word for it. That was the most morning sickness I've had so far.
(Still not debilitating, mind you. Thank goodness.)

Which brings me to...

Part 2: What I Will Be Doing Next Fall

Ever since school started this year, I've been thinking about what I will do to fill my time next fall. You see, my youngest will be starting kindergarten and around here it's full-day. I've thought about everything from getting a part-time job, to writing a novel, to planning out my flower farm, to sitting on my couch and reading the day away. Well friends, I guess now I know what I'll be doing!

Actually, it sounds quite heavenly. Snuggling with a new baby in a quiet house? Yes, please! In some ways it will be like having my first again, except this time I will be able to completely enjoy it, without all the first-time mom fears getting in the way.

So, baby #4 will be joining our family at the very end of June. We can hardly wait!

(p.s. The kids are super excited, too!)

Winterizing Your Mind, courtesy of Vivian Swift

I'm going to admit it straight out: January is my least favorite month. The excitement of Christmas is over, and the sudden stillness left in its wake feels deafening. It always feels to me like the year picks up speed from the start of the school year on through to Christmas, then it just stops. I am mostly an introvert, and you would think I would find it peaceful to have some downtime after all the hoopla. I do...for a couple of days. I take down all the Christmas decorations and feel like I can breathe in my living room again. Clear surfaces! Space!

Then I start drumming my fingers. I look outside. Same as before: deep snow and building tops. I read [another] book. I send my children to school and pick them up again. Only 5 1/2 more months to go before school gets out. I usually love school--when I was in it, and now that my kids are in it. Except in January. It just feels like a long, long, road from here to summer, is all I'm saying.

(For some reason, in Fall Semester it seems that we hardly ever have a full month of school, what with all the breaks. In comparison, Spring Semester is just relentless. It's 2 months longer to begin with, and you get very few breaks. Oh sure, there's a 3-day weekend here and there, but other than that, get that nose to the grindstone and good luck.)

I make my resolutions and goals, I put on multiple sweaters, I make soup. I put laminated snowflakes up on all the windows, just to give us all (me) something pretty and interesting to look at. Somehow I get through it every year, but not very gracefully. More like stoically.

So when I encountered this idea of "winterizing your mind" in Vivian Swift's book, I latched on to it. THIS is what I need in January! I'm going to try it. I may even report back at the end of the month. (Scroll down if you don't want to hear about the book first!) It's from her book: When Wanderers Cease to Roam: A Traveler's Journal of Staying Put.

It was one of my Christmas presents, and I was so happy to see it! This is one that has been on my list ever since I happened upon another of hers: Gardens of Awe and Folly.  Like that one, it is all hand-lettered words, with sketches, watercolor paintings, and asides throughout.

So this one--as the title suggests--reads like a journal. It's divided up into months. Each month's section has a timeline page, of sorts, listing various weather events or outings. Then each one also includes little tidbits here and there about enjoying the month you're in, random asides about clothing or neighbors or cats, memories from her travels, important keepsakes, etc. It's just a lot of fun. I sat right down on Second Christmas afternoon and read it cover to cover.

[Um...Second Christmas? Let me sum up: we went to Utah and Idaho for Christmas this year, but we only brought along stockings, because trying to bring everything else would have made us all (okay, mostly my husband and I) crazy. Plus, no room in the van. That meant the day after we got back home again was Second Christmas! Ho ho ho! Opened all the presents and had a "proper breakfast," per my daughter's requirement, although she agreed cereal and scrambled eggs qualified.]

It's quirky, and probably not everybody's cup of tea, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.


So for all of us enduring January rather than enjoying it, I quote from page 5:

How To Winterize Your Mind:

One: See the sun rise and set every day.
The average night is 13 1/2 hours long. We spend most of January in the dark. Don't miss a minute of daylight.

Two: Learn how to draw a tree.
Now is the best time to see what a tree REALLY looks like. Draw one a day.

Three: Put something beautiful in your room so that it's the first thing that you see when you wake up. (She has a list of possibilities. I'm thinking of my own.)

Four: Mend something with your hands.
Sew it, glue it, nail it, FIX IT.

Five: Seahorses, ladybugs, wooly bear caterpillars, and dragonflies do it--HIBERNATE.
Life is but a winter dream.

Today's sunset was worth a very cold moment on the porch with the camera.

What do you do to get through January?

2 Potential Read-Alouds: Nancy & Plum, and The Magic Half

I read both of these as a preview to reading them out loud to my kids. Then December happened, the books became due (despite multiple renewals), and back they went before we ever sat down and read them together.

At least now I know what they're all about. There's always next time!

Nancy and Plum, by Betty MacDonald

3 stars: Two orphaned sisters take matters into their own hands.

Nancy and Plum are two orphans who live at Mrs. Monday's Boarding School. Life is not rosy for these sisters, as they are Mrs. Monday's favorite scapegoats whenever anything goes wrong. They live by their wits most of the time, with a bit of sass thrown in. They're definitely not afraid to tell Mrs. Monday what's what, which as you can imagine, does not do much to further her good graces. They do have an under-the-radar champion: Old Tom, Mrs. Monday's brother, the resident handyman and animal caretaker.

One fateful day they discover that they haven't been as forgotten by their extended family as they had supposed. They find an empty doll box addressed to them, the contents of which they have recently seen in the arms of Mrs. Monday's niece Marybell. That is the last straw. They decide they simply MUST get away from The Boarding School. So begins their adventure.

* * * * *
I think my kids would really enjoy this one. Nancy and Plum are a good balance for each other: Plum being the more impulsive, reckless (or brave, depending on your point of view) one, and Nancy a bit more timid but still willing to jump into any scheme.

The ending is warm and happy, but with enough obstacles along the way to cast into doubt a time or two.

(Finished reading Nov. 18.)

The Magic Half, by Annie Barrows

3 stars: A time-travel friendship, twins, and trouble.

Miri is unique. Well, her whole family is unique. There are 2 sets of twins with her in the middle: brothers older, sisters younger. The only sibling without a built-in partner, Miri often feels unnoticed, left out, or unimportant. When the family moves to an old farmhouse she gets her own room, for better or worse.

One day she discovers a way to travel back in time to 1935. Same house. There she finds another girl her same age named Molly. Molly's life is much worse than Miri's. Molly has an abusive adoptive family to put up with. Her older brother, in particular, is cruel and takes delight in terrorizing Molly. Miri wants to help Molly, but can't figure out how to make the magic work the way she wants it to. Before anything gets resolved, Miri finds herself back in her own time, but now she has a purpose: finding out more about Molly and trying to figure out how to save her.

* * * * *
Another one by Annie Barrows! I enjoyed this one, but I don't think I'm going to read it out loud to my kids. I think it would be too much for my daughter and youngest son, for sure. From what I can remember, Molly's physical abuse happens offscreen, but Miri overhears verbal abuse. Molly has bruises to show for her brother's treatment of her and truly fears for her life (with good reason, as it turns out.)

The resolution to Molly's perilous situation was well-done and satisfying, and the ending for both girls was truly magical. I just don't know that all the ending stuff would overcome the creeping anxiety from the middle part of the book. At least not for my younger two, and I don't know that my oldest son would be interested.

I will keep it in my for later on down the road, though. I found out on Amazon just now there is a sequel to this one as well, titled Magic in the Mix.

(Finished reading Nov. 25.)


* * * * *
What potential read-alouds have you come across lately?

2 LDS Fiction Titles: A Heart Revealed & Lord Fenton's Folly, by Josi Kilpack

Every so often I enjoy dipping into the world of Regency romances, particularly when I've got a lot going on in real life demanding thought, careful planning, or loads of time. They're totally candy reads, and at times, they are exactly what I want.

Incidentally, though these two are sold through the LDS (Mormon) market, they don't have any mention or hint of Mormonism in them. (That would be very awkward and unlikely, anyway, given the time period and setting, but thought I would mention it in case you were curious.) What I like about reading romances through LDS publishers is that I can pick them up, knowing they will be clean.

There was a handful of overlapping characters between the two.

A Heart Revealed, by Josi S. Kilpack

3 stars: Unique plot.

In a society where what matters most is physical beauty, Amber is on top and means to stay there. She has her pick of men at the balls and is almost set to make a very advantageous match. Then she experiences a devastating event--for some reason, her hair begins to fall out and thin. It's not long before her prospects follow suit, and one devastating ball crushes all her hopes.

Instead of earning her mother's approval (finally), she is now officially the family embarrassment, and gets packed off to a tiny cottage far from the reaches of society and any further chances to ruin her parent's reputation. All of a sudden, she must find out if there is more to herself than what was on the outside.

* * * * *
This was fascinating to me on a medical level. I've read one other book about a child's experience with alopecia areata--an autoimmune diseasing where your body destroys your own hair follicles, causing patchy or overall hair loss--but this was the first featuring an adult protagonist. Then to set it in the Regency era, with its intense focus on outer image made it all the more interesting. I thought Kilpack did a good job imagining how such a thing would be received--or not--back then.

I was lukewarm about Amber herself, although I suppose to show significant growth she had to start pretty low. Likewise, the romance didn't draw me in very much. Amber's maid was the true heroine of the story: honest, loyal, and self-sacrificing.

(Finished reading Nov. 19)

Lord Fenton's Folly, by Josi S. Kilpack

3 stars: A mismatch that may over time become true love.

Lord Fenton lives to get under his father's skin, which means the more outrageously he dresses, flirts, and spends money, the better. What he doesn't expect is a comeuppance. After all, Father still holds the reins. Unless he wants to be disinherited completely, Lord Fenton must clean up his act and begin behaving responsibly. As much as it galls him, he decides to do it for the sake of his mother. Unfortunately, there is one other condition to his reprieve: he must get married. It's an item on an infuriating checklist, and he takes his mother's first suggestion without batting an eye.

Meanwhile, Alice has known Lord Fenton since he was boy, and has always had a crush on him. When he proposes, she can hardly believe it! However, as time goes on, it becomes more and more apparent that his heart is not in their relationship. As in, he is actively avoiding her. When she discovers the truth--that he proposed simply to fulfill a requirement--her heart is broken, but her resolve is not. She will not be made the fool of, even if means packing away her fondest hopes and trading them for a marriage of convenience and insults.

* * * * *
Lord Fenton's complete lack of respect for his father translates into lack of respect for himself and others, unfortunately. Not until his engagement to Alice does he begin to see beyond himself and his issues a bit, but it takes quite some time. In fact, it doesn't happen at all in London--it takes removal to one of the family's country estates, where shocking family secrets come to light.

As you might infer here, I didn't like the leading man all that much. He was selfish and immature through most of the book. Alice was slightly better. At least her bitterness and resulting actions were covering up a genuinely broken heart. It was satisfying to see them both make some needed changes and growth towards the end.

(Finished reading Nov. 22)

* * * * *
Almost caught up with last year's books! More reviews coming soon!