Owlowiscious Girls

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies for "a book from a genre/subgenre that you've never heard of"- in this case this is a subgenre called Manner Punk.  I wasn't exactly sure what to expect but it was entertaining and I enjoyed it.  The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto for "a book that takes place over a character's lifespan"- I finally finished this.  I had read at least 80-90 percent of it last year but I had to return it to the library and it is actually a pretty big book (over 500 pages).  I like it but one also another reason I had to stop was it started become less and less believable.  Glad I could finish it and count it for the challenge.  Candle in the Darkness for "a book I got at a used book sale"- technically bought at the used bookstore but it was around the time of the sale day so I am counting it.  I love Lynn Austin so I knew this was going to be awesome I just wish I had time to read the rest of the series. ...

I am working hard to finish my Popsugar Reading Challenge as this is probably the most ambitious reading goal I have ever set for myself.  I worked it out so that I need to read at least 2 books a week to meet the goal I set by the end of the year.  I can't get bogged down in looking for the "right" book and I don't want to "cheat" with too many children's books so it is even more challenging then I had first imagined.  Here is where I am at as of today:  32/40 & 7/12= 39/52  I have 13 more books to read by the end of 2017.  I have 66 days or 9 weeks to complete it.  I estimate having to read at least 3-4 hours a day (I am not a fast reader and I love spending my time soaking up the book) to complete the books I have picked out.  I am a little nervous, but also excited to see if I will make it.  *1. A book recommended by a librarian:   Angle of Repose  by Wallace Stegner- DONE *2. A book that's been on your TBR list for way t...

This week I finished 2 books, both had elements of Russian fairy tales, I enjoyed both: The Door by the Staircase by Katherine Marsh:  I read this book for the Oregon Battle of the Books to my children (in case they ever want to participate) and I used it for my prompt "book with a cat on the cover".  I originally had been using Emily of New Moon for a book with a cat on the cover, but since I still need to fill a few prompts by the end of the year I did some rearranging.  This was a sweet book, it had its slow moments but it had a very nice ending.  The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden- whoa I just realized both books were authored by women named Katherine- any way, this book I read for the prompt "a book involving a mythical creature".  This book had many more than one mythical creature, it was interesting and I had mixed feelings over the whole message but in the end I loved the main character too much to fault it.  So far...

It has been awhile.  I am terribly behind on my reading challenge and can't wait to give you an update but right now I am just in super speed catch up mode and have no idea when I will get close to where I want to be.  With Lucy in school and with her saying how she doesn't like reading (sad day) it has been a little challenging to get her reading time for school in and get pictures I actually enjoy reading.  I had unintentionally had a little owl theme going this week.  Lucy loves drawing much more than reading so here is some of her Owlowiscious appropriate art work based on some books we read. based on Little Owl's Day   based on Little Owl's Orange Scarf based on Owl Babies    All us girls busted open an old Girls Can! Crate (because summer was too busy to do the activities) and played a game based on the Nancy Roman box.  She was an astronomer and one of the first female executives for NASA...

Finally back from vacation and didn't get a whole lot of reading done, but that's okay.  It never fails that I bring so many books with me because of my irrational fear of running out of things to read- even with my new Kindle.  I could have got a little more reading done if I wasn't filled with nervous, anxiety about 75% of the time.  I was nervous that the car wouldn't make it.  I was anxious about what we were doing on the missions trip.  I was nervous about seeing my family after such a long time.  I was anxious about how they would act.  I was big bundle of stress most of the time.  Don't get me wrong though, I had a great time and I didn't have to cook.  I don't think I was ever hungry the entire trip- a big plus in my books.  You can see my post about my trip on my other blog.  But reading challenge took a bit of a hit so we will see where it puts me.  Recently finished: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Hav...

I didn't have much time to read this week so I don't have much to say.  I did start a new book though that seemed fun The Invisible Library .  It was originally for the prompt "an espionage thriller"  but it seems a lot more appropriate for the "steampunk" prompt.  I am only about 80 pages in though.  And if you know me I love eating and cooking as much as reading and it started raining very hard today so I paired today's reading with potato soup and a delicious homemade bread.  Well I can't wait to tell you what I think about this book and hopefully I will be done tomorrow!

I only read one book this week but it was pretty long- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. This book was engaging, sad, and full of humanities worst and greatest moments.  I got into the book right away and then it felt slightly dragging during the last quarter of it.  Lisel steals books.  In the end, it saves her.  Books and words become her life.  I sadly felt she was a little flat on her own.  It was only because of her relationships did I feel her fully.  It seemed when she was alone she was very rough and hard to take.  Her relationship with her foster father- Hans Hubermann is not short of amazing and touching.  Rudy is her school friend who is crazy and fun.  Max is the Jew the family hides in their basement and gives her books he writes himself as gifts.  Let me not forget Rosa and Ilsa- her foster mama and the woman who lets her "steal" books from her. These characters are all about to suffer.  You can tell bec...