It's Monday - 10

It's Monday is hosted by the lovely and talented Sheila from Book Journey.

I've taken a bit of a blogging break for most of December. I've been listening to middle books of series  and other things that I want to catch up on but don't need a review. I've also been thinking about the blog for next year and putting books on my challenge lists. It's been very productive for me, but doesn't show up as much here. This is my first It's Monday I've done in December, so a little update.

In December I read three excellent graphic novels from Minx:

The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci,
kimmie66 by Aaron Alexovich and
Re-Gifters by Mike Carey.
And best of all, I got to meet most of these authors and illustrators on twitter, an extra treat.


I listened to some great audiobooks, although some I didn't care for as much:

Envy by Gregg Olson
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin
Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner
Reversing Over Liberace by Jane Lovering

I received a fabulous Blogger Swap package from Danielle at Mercurial Musings. And I tried to help out a fellow blogger on where to start with audiobooks.

This week I'm catching up on old Dresden Files, listening to Space Captain Smith, and I found this amazing graphic novel at the library: Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword. She's an orthodox Jewish Girl who fights dragons. Perfect for Christmas! What are you reading?

Thankfully Weekend Wrap-up and It's Monday - 9

I am very thankful to Jenn for hosting the Thankfully Reading Weekend. I'm glad I got to spend so much time reading, and enjoyed myself immensely! I read a bunch of graphic novels -

Kimmy66 by Aaron Alexovich
The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci & Jim Rugg
The Guild by Felicia Day & Jim Rugg.
I also got caught up on my Guild watching. Looks like there are going to be some exciting changes in season 6. Fun!

On Saturday I went to see a local production of Hamlet and have been quoting it ever since.

I got some reviews posted, which was my real goal for the weekend -

Ghostopolis by Doug TenNapel

Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett

Amulet 3: The Cloud Searchers by Kazu Kibuishi

The Land of Laughs by Jonathan Carroll 

And the final touch, Neil himself (Neil Gaiman) re-tweeted me - twice, so I got a few extra visits to my Land of Laughs review. Hopefully everyone enjoyed it.

Before Thanksgiving I participated in my first Shaken and Not Stirred group audiobook listen and movie watch of Dr. No. I liked the book much more than the movie. I even won an audio copy of the next book, Goldfinger, from Blackstone Audio! I'm looking forward to listening to that and watching the movie in Januaray. Thanks to Jen from Literate Housewife and Tanya from Blackstone.

This week I plan to finish my graphic novel holiday leftovers, Good as Lily by Derek Kirk Kim and Jesse Ham (update- finished!) and The Drops of God, the maga about wine, by Tadashi Agi and Shu Okimoto. I'm listening to A Hat Full of Sky, the second Tiffany Aching book by Terry Pratchett (update - finished!).

This week I'm planning on participating in the Advent with Austen with Reading Fueled by Tea. The Sunday movie tweetfest is Bride and Prejudice. Since Pride and Prejudice is my favorite book, I'm sorry I missed out on the movie this Sunday. Can't wait to participate next week!

What are you reading?

It's Monday, what are you reading! - 8

It's almost Monday again. Thanks go out to Sheila from Book Journey for hosing It's Monday!

I had a great week. I listened to a lot of new books and got some reviews in that had been on the shelf.

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi - Living on the edge in a dystopian future
Immortality, Inc by Robert Sheckley - a view of 2110 from 1958
Zoo City by Lauren Bleukes - South African fantasy noir mystery
Timesplash by Graham Storrs - a new kind of time travel
Emiko Superstar by Mariko Tamaki and Steve Rolston - a great graphic novel about being your own star
Mini reviews of Snuff by Terry Pratchett, Crossed by Ally Condie, and September Society by Charles Finch - I liked the Victorian mystery September Society the best out of these three

I'm almost caught up on my reviews. I only have to post for:
Johnny and the Bomb by Terry Pratchett - his time travel children's story
Amulet series 1-3 by Kazu Kibuishi - the Star Wars references are not my imagination
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami - this one's scarred me, but hopefully I can get over it soon. I used to like the moon

This week I'm determined to finish
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch - I've tried this one twice so far, but third time's the charm!

I'm also going to participate in I am a Reader, Not a Writer's Gratitude Giveaway Hop starting on Thursday. My last hop went really well, so I hope to find a bunch of new blogs from this one, too.

What are you reading?

It's Monday What Are You Reading? 7

It's Monday! Is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. Thanks, Sheila!

This week I was traveling, so I only got my October recap posted. October was a great month.

So far November is shaping up into Time Travel month. Several of the books I've been listening to have (unknown to me when I chose them) included time travel. I'll have to keep up the theme. This week I put in a lot of listening. Reviews coming!

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami - travel between parallel- worlds Japan
Johnny and the Bomb by Terry Pratchett - kids travel to 1941 Britain
Timesplash by Graham Storhhs - Time travel in the future for fun and profit.
Immortality, Inc by Robert Sheckley - Time travel for profit, but not for fun. 1959 Hugo award nominee.
Zoo City by Lauren Beukes - Alternate-reality present day South Africa with daemon animals, like in The Golden Compass, only neo-noir.


And some non-time travel books:
Emiko Superstar by Mariko Tamaki and Steve Rolston - Great graphic novel about a girl finding her wild side.
Snuff by Terry Pratchett - no time travel, but fun Pride and Prejudice references!

What have you been reading this week?

It's Monday! Happy Halloween! 6

It's Monday is hosted by Sheila from Book Journeys.

Happy Monday everyone!

Last week I got some great Halloween reviews up.

A Discovery of Witches by Debra Harkness - Twilight for grown-ups
Ready Player One by Ernie Cline - Loved this 80's adventure!
Crossing Over by Anna Kendall - A boy talks to medieval dead
The Death Cure by James Dashner - A disappointing ending to The Maze Runner

I'm traveling this week so won't be posting nearly as much, and I'm listening to the huge 47 hour 1Q84. I'm into Hour 34, so past the halfway point! I loved this book at the beginning, but the middle sagged a bit. I'm hoping it will pick up as we near the end.

Happy Halloween! What's up with you?

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? 5

Thanks to Sheila from Book Journey for It's Monday!

I read-a-long with the 24 Hour Read-A-Thon yesterday. It was so much fun! I cheered on many bloggers and found some great new blogs. I have to thank the organizers again, especially the head cheerleaders who were so organized. Thanks!

Last week I put up reviews
Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol - So much fun! My perfect graphic novel.
I Am Legend audiobook by Robert Matheson - Such a great story. Much better than the movie.

This week I'm finishing up reviews for

Discovery of Witches by Debrah Harkness
Ready Player One by Earnest Cline

and for the Read a Thon I read

The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness
The Amulet 2 graphic novel by Kazu Kibuishi

How was your week?

It's Monday, What are You Reading? - 4

Thanks to Sheila from Book Journey for hosting It's Monday!

This week I started my first Blog Hop with Leeswammes' Literary Giveaway. I'm giving away copies of The Shadow of the Wind and The Little Stranger. Check out my post to enter and find links to other participating bloggers on the hop.

I've been reading and listening to a lot of scary stories for October.
The Passage Audio by Justin Cronin
The Little Stranger Audio by Sarah Waters
The Walking Dead Graphic Novel by Robert Kirkman
I also talked about my 5 Favorite Monsters.

Up this week is Anya's Ghost, I Am Legend, A Discovery of Witches, and I will finish Haunting of Hill House eventually.

What are you reading?

It's (almost) Monday, what are you reading? - 3

It's Monday is the brainchild of the incomparable Sheila from Book Journey.

This week I started Murder, Monsters and Mayhem at Jenn's Bookshelves, and RIP at Stainless Steel Droppings. I tackled a lot of nice and scary Halloween books and got some good recommendations for more.

I had a lot of fun with The Scorch Trials by James Dashner. The Death Cure, book 3, comes out on Tuesday, Oct 11!

I was surprised how much I enjoyed Johnny and the Dead by Terry Pratchett since I didn't care as much for the first book in the series, Only You Can Save Mankind.

The action-adventure dystopian novel Children of Paranoia was not for me, but I know many people who really enjoyed its fast pace and realistic setting. I even got into a little discussion with the author over on Goodreads.

October 7 was Ada Lovelace Day, in celebration of the amazing woman who developed first computer program in 1842 and died when she was only 36. I celebrated by reading steampunk webcomics.

I just finished The Passage by Justin Cronin on audio, and it wasn't until I was done that I realized I was listening to the abridged version. I feel like I got the gist of the story, though I might have to tackle the 37 hour unabridged version before book 2 comes out this summer.

I'm just past half way on The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters. Love Steven Vance's narration!

When I'm not listening, I'm reading The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson to get another take on living in the country and tackling the huge doorstop of The Walking Dead Compendium One.

Ooh, spooky! Feels like fall.


This week I changed my comments system. I think all the comments were saved, but it looks the links to your great avatar photos were lost. I hope your avatars show up in the comments today. They're so much fun.

It's Monday! What am I reading? - 2

What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

This week was pretty packed. I got through
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Pirate King by Laurie R King

I read a bit of How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe, but it's so depressing. This one will be hard for me to get through.

I didn't make any headway on Lies of Locke Lamora. I might have to move that one off my "currently listening" tab and move on. It's just not holding my interest.

This week is the start of Jenn's Bookshelves' Murder, Monsters and Mayhem, which I'm really excited about. I've also signed up for Stainless Steel Droppings' RIP VI. I don't read much horror, so it will be good to catch up on some titles off my shelf. Here's the list of the scary stories I hope to read.

That's it for me this week. What are you reading?

It's Monday! What am I reading? - 1

What are you reading? is from the fabulous Sheila at Book Journey. This is my first week sharing my plans.

Last week I listened to:
 The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta
 Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari

Last week I also drove a 20-hour road trip and listened to the book everyone's talking about, The Night Circus. This was a tough audio book for me. It was hard to give the story the focus it needed even when I wasn't driving. Review coming!

I'm currently listening to the latest Mary Russell from Laurie R. King, The Pirate King. This is interspersed with The Lies of Loche Lamora by Scott Lynch. Lies is another book that's a hard listen for me because of all its jumping around.

It will be mostly audio books for me this week since I have to drive the 20 hours back. On deck is The Scorch Trials by James Dashner, book two in the Maze Runner trilogy. My Maze Runner review is in the works. I liked it a lot but am having a hard time explaining why. I'm excited to read the second in the series.

If I have any time for paper reading, maybe when I stop for lunch, I brought with me How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu. Looking forward to that one.

What are you reading?