My Bout of Books 24 Post

Click the button to go to the sign-up page and join almost 100 readers so far!

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 7th and runs through Sunday, January 13th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 24 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

I like the way Jessi from Novel Heartbeat has set up her post, so I'm going to do that as well!

GOALS

5 books finished

5 books reviewed

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MY "JANUARY" TBR LIST

Bad Karma by Douglass Clegg

How the Light Gets In by Joanna Petersheim

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Ruthless by Susan Kiernan-Lewis

Stilettos & Scoundrels by Laina Turner

Tajael by Alice Wood

Who Murdered Uncle Ebeneezer? by Sarah Faith Nightingale

The Story of Mankind by Hendrik Willem van Loon

Art of a Jewish Woman by Henry Massie

Brownie Points for Murder by Christina D. Rice

Legends of the Egyptian Gods by E.A. Wallis Budge

First Frost by Liz deJesus

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DAILY RECAPS

MONDAY 7th

Today’s goals:

Currently reading:

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Books completed today:

Today’s notes:

TUESDAY 8th

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WEDNESDAY 9th

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THURSDAY 10th

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FRIDAY 11th

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SATURDAY 12th

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SUNDAY 13th

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GRAND TOTALS

Pages read:
Time spent reading:
Books Completed

*NOTE* I know the formatting is a bit wacky (different colored backgrounds, depending on from where I  copied some information and a format for the daily records.  So, I've got to go through each line that shows up here and remove the coding for the differences...and it's something of a PITA, so I'm going to do it a little at a time, because it makes my eyes hurt. :p

Why Romeo Hates Juliet by Anna Mara - #review

Why Romeo Hates Juliet by Anna Mara
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare is one of my favorite plays. (Actually, anything by Shakespeare is one of my favorites!) But while the Bard's version has the couple's families fighting, Anna Mara's version, entitled "Why Romeo Hates Juliet" (my italics), it's the couple who do all the fighting.

And they don't play well with others. Between Juliet and Romeo, there are fights, accidents, property damage, black eyes, twin arrests (his for drugs - which did not belong to him - and hers for assault). These two are dangerous for and to each other. Juliet tries to 'teach him a lesson' and winds up super-glued to Romeo, necessitating a hospital visit. And that's just the first 48, y'all.

The characters certainly change and grow during the course of the book, each of them separately as well as in relation to each other. While the individual growth takes them to a better place ... their change as a couple threatens to be the death (literally) of both of them. Petty back and forth revenge ploys turn into an immense conflagration later on.

Sarah (Juliet's sister) needed to step up her "Cher Moonstruck" treatment of the two of them, slap them both upside the head and tell them to 'Snap out of it!'

I'm not the biggest fan of 'high heat/spice' romances, but was grateful Ms. Mara kept things classy. Make no mistake, the descriptions were detailed, (I might have tugged at my collar once - or twice), she did not use crass colloquialisms for certain bits and pieces of human anatomy.

Overall, I did enjoy the story. There were a few surprises, which is always nice. And I did catch myself carrying my e-reader into the kitchen while I fixed lunch. The name "Why Romeo Hates Juliet" was definitely an attraction to me, but the book lived up to the promise and was quite enjoyable. I would both recommend this book to others and be open to read more of the author's work.

View all my reviews

(Disclaimer:  I 'purchased' this copy for free at Amazon, having received an email from deal-notification service such as Bookbub, BookRiot, eBookSoda, Freebooksy, Robin's Reads, etc.  I was under no obligation to review.)

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This book helps me fulfill the following 2019 read-a-thons and reading challenges:

#WintersRespite Read-a-thon
You Read How Many Books? RC
52 Books in 52 Weeks RC (beach read)
GoodReads RC
PWOW RC (friends section - #10 - strong family bonds);
Reading Women RC (#18 - romance or love story)
Literary Escapes RC (PEI)

My 2019 Back to the Classics RC Sign-up

The 2019 Back to the Classics Reading Challenge is hosted by Karen at her blog, Books and Chocolate.  Please click the button to go to the sign-up page at Books and Chocolate to get the full details and to sign-up!

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If you're new to the challenge, here's how it works:

• Complete six categories, and you'll get one entry in the drawing; 
• Complete nine categories, and you'll get two entries in the drawing; 
• Complete all twelve categories, and you'll get three entries in the drawing.

CATEGORIES

1.  19th Century Classic - (written between 1800 and 1899)

2.  20th Century Classic - (written between 1900 and 1969 - must be at least 50 yrs old) **hey, does that make me a classic? ROFL ***

3.  Classic by a Female Author

4.  Classic in Translation  - initially written in a language other than your native tongue.

5.  Classic Comedy

6.  Classic Tragedy

7.  Very Long Classic

8.  Classic Novella

9.  Classic from the Americas (incl Caribbean) 

10.  Classic from Africa, Asia, or Oceania (incl Australia)

11.  Classic from Somewhere You Have Lived

12.  Classic Play.

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I'll keep track of progress on this post.  Once my book choices are made I will list them with links to each book's GoodReads page.  When I have finished reading and posted a review, I'll come back and change the link from GoodReads to my review.

My 2019 13 Ways of Looking at the Lifetime Reading Plan RC Signup

The 2019 Yearly Challenge (part of the 13 Ways of Looking at the Lifetime Reading Plan Perpetual Challenge) is hosted by Michelle at the Gather Together and Read blog.  Michelle took book lists from Jane Smiley's 13 Ways of Looking at the Novel (list has 110 books) and The New Lifetime Reading Plan by Clifton Fadiman and James S. Major (list has 390 books).

If you're like me, you see 390 books?  (Note to self:  BUY MORE COFFEE!)  That's why it's a perpetual challenge with no ending date.  The yearly challenge is for committing to the books from those lists that you are going to read that year.

Anyway, click the button up there to go to the sign-up page for full details, the two book lists, and join up while you are there!

The yearly challenge features the following levels:
Novice - 1-3 books
Eager Reader - 4-8 books
Buff - 9-13 books
Devotee - 14-18 books
Diehard Reader - 19+

Part of me wants to pick the novice level because I'm doing a number of challenges already in 2019.  But then, I'm doing a number of reading challenges already in 2019, so I ought to be able to fill up the "Buff Level" of 9-13 books.  (Bit o' Trivia: holding to that level, I would need 50 more years to read all of them.  I better get going!)

1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
7. 
8. 
9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 
13. 

Book links will go to Goodreads once I figure out what classics I'll be reading this year.  Once my review goes up, the links will go to the reviews on my blog.

My 2019 PWOW Reading Challenge Sign-up

Sorry about the graphic, that was the best I could get it to come out.  *ugh*  Anyway, click on it to go to the host blog, "Putting Wings on Words," for further details and to sign up!

MY LIST

The Classics

1.  Read an award-winning book.
The Story of Mankind by Hendrik Willem van Loon (1922)

2.  Read a poetry collection from before 2000.
Sonnets from the Portuguese by Elizabeth Barrett Browning  (originally published 1850)

3.  Reread your favorite book.
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

4.  Read a book written before 1900.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813)

5.  Read a translated book.
Legends of the Egyptian Gods by E.A. Wallis Budge

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Friends

6.  Buddy-read a book.

7.  Read a Book you got as a gift.
Women Who Run with Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes

8.  Read someone else's favorite book
xxx

9.  Read a book that people keep recommending to you.
xxx

10.  Read a book with strong family bonds.
Why Romeo Hates Juliet by Anna Mara (Jan 3) DONE

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Formats

11.  Read a graphic novel
xxx

12.  'Read' an audiobook
xxx

13.  Read an illustrated book.
xxx

14.  Read a book from the library.
xxx

15.  Read a poetry collection from after 2000.
xxx

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Diversity

16.  Read a book by a woman of color.
xxx

17.  Read a book with positive representation of a disabled person - DONE
In the Midst of Winter by Danice Hope (finished Jan 1, review to post Jan 8 in a tour)

18.  Read a book by a Muslim author.
xxx

19.  Read a book with a diverse cast of characters.
xxx

20.  Read a book by a queer person of color.
xxx

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Seasons

21.  Spring:  Read a recent release.
xxx

22.  Summer: Read a book outside.
xxx

23.  Autumn:  Read a gloomy book
xxx

24.  Winter:  Read a cozy book.
xxx

25.  Read something seasonal.
xxx

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Challenge Yourself

26.  Read a book in a different language.
xxx

27.  Read a book in a genre you don't usually read.
xxx

28.  Read an indie book.
xxx

29.  Read a book you've owned a long time.but have never read
xxx

30.  Read a book aimed at an age group you don't usually read.
xxx

Best Self: Be You, Only Better by Mike Bayer - #review

Best Self: Be You, Only Better by Mike Bayer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow!

I thought carefully about what book would be my first read in 2019. I am SO PLEASED that I made it "Best Self: Be You, Only Better" by Mike Bayer. Definitely an auspicious way to begin the New Year! I started reading shortly after midnight, stopped for a nap at page 259, then read the rest of the book by 6:30 am!

Now, I'm looking forward to go back and work through the exercises, because, dang, it's 2019 and it's high time! My life has expanded and contracted in waves over the years, and has been just ... stagnant ... for some time. I finally have a map to navigate my way out of the clouds towards the life I was meant to live. And that's a GREAT feeling!

So, why am I waxing lyrical about what could be thought of as a list of directions? Because Best Self is so much more than that. Coach Mike knows and cares about his audience. You can tell it by the language he uses. It's clear, direct and finds each person where they are. He is humble, not in competition with others over who's best, just working on becoming his own Best Self, too. He knows that every person's path looks different.

It reminds me of an old dresser I refinished years ago. It had been painted a creamy white and speckled all over with black and brown paint. Someone had covered up some gorgeous wood and a marble top! No matter where you are in the 'restoration project' of your life, if you just need some polishing here and there, or you need to undo past mistakes and 'start over', I believe Best Self: Be You, Only Better by Mike Bayer can point you in the right direction.

Like many people, I love to travel and see new places. This trip I take at the start of 2019 may be my best trip e.v.e.r.!

View all my reviews

(If you like this review, or one of the others, I invite you to 'like' the review on GoodReads!)

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AUTHOR LINKS

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * YouTube

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This book helps me fulfill the following 2019 readathons and reading challenges:

2019 #Wintersrespite Readathon
2019 Monthly Motif Reading Challenge (January)
2019 PopSugar Reading Challenge (#26 published in 2019)
2019 GoodReads Reading Challenge
2019 You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge

My 2019 Reading Women RC Sign-up

The 2019 Reading Women Reading Challenge is hosted by A & K at their blog "readingwomenpodcast.com".  Click the button to go to the sign-up page for full details...and to sign-up of course!

~~~oOo~~~

I hope to have pick as many of the books for the various categories before the year starts,(not including #21, of course.  I suppose I could buy a book at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Day 2019...but I digress.  I do that a lot.

I'll keep track of my progress on this post.

1. Mystery/thriller by a WOC
Even Pretty Things Rot by Farah Ali

2.  Woman w/a mental illness
A Woman Scorned by Raven Creed

3.  Author from Nigeria or NewZealand
???

4.  About or set in Appalachia
Appalachian Serenade by Sarah Loudin Thomas

5.  Children's book
The Little Leprechaun Who Loved Yellow by Sally Huss
FINISHED JANUARY 4

6.  Multi-gen family saga
Mrs. Tuesday's Departure by Suzanne Elizabeth Anderson

7.  Featuring a woman in science
She Loves Science by Tracy Borgmeier

8.  A play
???

9.  A novella
Home to Walnut Ridge (Teacup Novellas #3) by Diane Moody

10.  About a woman athlete
???

11.  A book featuring a religion other than your own.
???

12.  A Lambda Literary Award winner
???

13.  A myth retelling
???

14.  A translated book published before 1945
???

15.  Written by a South Asian author
???

16.  By an Indigenous woman
???

17.  From the 2018 Reading Women Award shortlist.
???

18.  Romance or love story
Why Romeo Hates Juliet by Anna Mara (Jan 3) DONE

19.  About nature.
???

20.  Historical fiction book.
???

21.  Book borrowed or bought in 2019.
???

22.  Book you got because of the cover.
???

23.  Any book from a series.
???

24.  YA written by WOC
First Frost by Liz DeJesus
FINISHED JANUARY 4

BONUS CATEGORIES

- book written by Jesmyn Ward
???

- book written by Jhumpa Lahir
???
~~~oOo~~~

EDITS:
31 Dec 2018 -
added catetories 4-24 + 2 bonus categories;
added book links for #4 - 7 and 9
1 Jan 2019 - fixed problem of top graphic not being linked