Update On My Reading goals for 2017: MustReadIn2017 & Others

Carrie Gelson at There's a Book for That, hosts #MustRead. If you have a "want to read" list on Goodreads (or somewhere else) that goes on forever, then you might be interested in joining for 2018. All you have to do is choose any number of specific books on that list, and do your best to read them all.  My original lists for this year are here. This is my final update for 2017.


In 2016, I managed to read all the books on my must read list. Alas, this is not the case for 2017. In fact, since the last checkin, I finished a mere three books from my fiction list. I read nothing from my nonfiction list. I might have finished more of these but was too sick to read or even listen to books throughout the month of December.

This is what I finished since our last update.

Murder, Magic, and What We Wore by Kelly Jones

This book was pure fun. It’s set in the Regency period in England. When Annis’ father is killed in France, he leaves her and her Aunt Cassie nearly destitute. Annis soon figures out that her father was a spy and is determined that she will become one to avenge his death. When she is rejected, their new maid, Millicent, helps disguise Annis so she can use her dressmaking magic to earn a living. The book is full of twists and turns and clever humour. Although this book didn’t wow me like Jones' Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer, (a book that is truly exceptional) I’ll read a sequel if she writes one.

The Empty Grave by Jonathan Stroud & Emily Bevan (Narrator)

Lockwood, Lucy, George, Holly, and Quill Kipps discover the cause of 'The Problem.' The how and why ghosts are invading our realm is caused by an individual with a lot of political clout. This puts the crew in peril as the perpetrators decide to retaliate by murdering them all.
As satisfying and wonderful as this book is, I can't bear to think that it is the last in the series. I'm just not ready to say goodbye to these fabulous characters. Since this fictional world isn't really completely cleaned up, I'm not giving up hope that there might be at least one more to come.
Perhaps the rumoured TV series will be enough, but I doubt it.

I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo

This is a sweet coming of age romantic fiction that follows the formula set out in romantic Korean dramas. Teen romance is not my favourite genre, but I ended up enjoying this anyway. Thankfully there isn't excessive amounts of angst or heavy breathing. The diverse collection of characters is endearing in spite of, or perhaps because of their flaws. The only somewhat snarky relationship ends up getting resolved positively. I adored the relationships between Desi Lee and her father, and you will too.

I started but abandoned Last Night I Sang to the Monster by Benjamin Alire Sáenz. I didn't hate it. The font was just so tiny. I even tried it on my device but whatever the format was, I couldn't increase the size.

In spite of not completing all the books on this list, I don't consider it a failure. Once I started reading from my nonfiction list, I became interested in reading more nonfiction and ended up reading at least 15 adult information books last year. Ideally I had hoped to read at least one a month, and even though I didn't get to all the ones on my list, I still read more adult nonfiction than I did the year before. That's a win, right?

The fiction titles from my list were mostly fabulous.

Not only is The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas the best book on the list, it's probably one of the top three books I've read all year. I loved it so much that I purchased a copy since I know I will reread it at least one more time.

Other books that I thought highly of include (in no particular order)

The Empty Grave by Jonathan Stroud
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese
Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel
The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Falling Over Sideways by Jordan Sonnenblick

My favourite nonfiction title was When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanith. I also enjoyed Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Ann Lamott and Spin: How Politics Has the Power to Turn Marketing on Its Head by Clive Veroni.

Other Reading Goals:



I had plans to read 50 Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors to celebrate 150+ years of Canada but only finished 34. There were many wonderful picture books on the list. I ended up purchasing two copies of We Sang You Home by by Richard Van Camp & Julie Flett; one for each of my grandbabies. The best part of this personal challenge was discovering some stunning writers. I highly recommend Nobody Cries at Bingo by Dawn Dumont. (Upon finishing it, I read just about everything else she has published.) The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline was dark and profound. Medicine Walk and Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese were stellar reads. The Break by Katherena Vermette is another dark and memorable read. I know that one of my reading goals for next year will be to read at least another 25 adult titles from this category.

I finished all the Chocolate Lily titles for which I was a juror. I appreciated this opportunity to read many different kinds of books by local writers.

Finally, I challenged myself to read at least 333 books this year. I ended up reading 398. I think this indicates that while I didn't finish everything on my lists, I still managed to get in a lot of reading this year!

#IMWAYR November 27, 2017


#IMWAYR time again, when readers share what they have been reading and find out what others have been up to in the past week. Kathryn hosts the adult version of this meme at Book Date. Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers host the kidlit rendition. Whatever you are looking forward to in your next great read, these are fabulous places to start your search.

I'm having problems with Goodreads keeping track of my read dates. I need this fixed so that I remember all the books I read in a week. It has been over two weeks and I really hope it is fixed soon. It's driving me crazy!

There is less than one month to Christmas. I am realizing that it is highly unlikely that I will achieve all my reading goals this year. I don't want to even think about Netgalley. 

Here is a picture of my two grandbabies hanging out together this week. They had a lot of fun, and we enjoyed watching them. 



BOOKS FOR BABIES

5 stars
Hello Lamb by Jane Cabrera

Ada (my 5 month old granddaughter) and I have been reading this book a lot this week. As soon as she sees the face on the cover she gets excited. She reaches out and wants to get as close as possible to the images and turns to look at me weirdly when I get into the animal sounds while reading. We are both enjoying this series!

3 stars
What's On My Head? by Margaret Miller

I thought Ada would love this one, and while it is ok, it isn't either of our favourite reads this week. Perhaps it is because many of the faces are cropped so that not all of it is showing. I have to work really hard to keep her entertained with this one.

4 stars
Moo, Baa, La La La! by Sandra Boynton

Ada and I have been reading this book a lot too. It's not her favourite but it's ok. I like the rhyming text, and she seems to appreciate it also, but Ada is more into faces these days. She does seems to get a big kick out of the cats saying meow!

GRAPHIC

4 stars
All's Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson

I enjoyed this coming of age graphic novel. Imogene, whose family are involved with a medieval faire, decides to give up being homeschooled and go to middle school. Once there she has to learn to navigate the social minefield and figure out who she wants to be.
This book would be great paired up with Real Friends by Shannon Hale.

MIDDLE GRADE NOVELS

4 stars
The Exact Location of Home by Kate Messner

This is an important book. Zig and his mother are in trouble ever since his missing father has stopped his support payments. They end up homeless and living in a shelter. His mother won't tell him why his father can't help them out. Zig starts out geocaching, certain that Senior Searcher is his father, since Zig is known as Zig Jr and his father was Zig Sr.
I love how Kate Messner shows us that all is not as it seems behind the faces of the people we see. It is especially significant for teachers to read this and understand that our students have secret lives we can't begin to imagine.

YA & ADULT NOVELS

4 stars
Murder, Magic, and What We Wore by Kelly Jones

Well, this was fun. It’s set in the Regency period in England. When Annis’ father is killed in France, he leaves her and her Aunt Cassie nearly destitute. Annis soon figures out that her father was a spy and is determined that she will become one to avenge his death. When she is rejected, their new maid, Millicent, helps disguise Annis so she can use her dressmaking magic to earn a living. The book is full of twists and turns and clever humour. Although this book didn’t wow me like her Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer, (a book that is truly exceptional) I’ll read a sequel if Kelly Jones writes one.

4 stars
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn & Saskia Maarleveld (Narrator)

This novel is based on the true story of a spy network created by Louise de Bettingnies (code name Alice Dubois) during WW1. It is told alternatively through the voices of Lily, Alice's preferred name, and a young American, Charlie St. Clair, who in 1947, has come in search for her missing French cousin. Her research has taken her to Lily. The two discover they have a similar enemy. At over fifteen hours, this was a very long listen. It was also very intense, so I had take regular listening breaks. There was one very horrific section that I skipped completely. Thankfully the ending, however schmaltzy and expected, made up for it.

4 stars
A Legacy of Spies by John le Carré & Tom Hollander (Narrator)

I am a hard core le Carré fan so when this became available, I just had to listen. It isn't as intense as the previous spy novel, or as some other le Carré spy novels, but it was delightful to be back in that world. I would have been happier with more of George Smiley, but I am still content.

CURRENTLY

I'm listening to Shanghai Girls by Lisa See. I'm in the middle of Boundless by Jillian Tamaki and have started reading #NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American Women.

UP NEXT

I will read You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins, and hope to get to Lost Girl Found by Leah Bassoff, a book on my must read list. I'm trying to see if anything on my must read list is available in audiobook format from my local library.

PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS

#MUSTREADIN2017 26/36

#MUSTREADNFIN2017 7/12

50 Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors 32/50

Chocolate Lily (CL) 51/51

Big Book Challenge 4/6

Goodreads Reading Challenge 393/333


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#IMWAYR November 20, 2017


#IMWAYR time again, when readers share what they have been reading and find out what others have been up to in the past week. Kathryn hosts the adult version of this meme at Book Date. Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers host the kidlit rendition. Whatever you are looking forward to in your next great read, these are fabulous places to start your search.

I'm beginning the ‘making things for Christmas frenzy,’ finishing up quilts, knitting sweaters and working a couple of days a week. Then I'm busy with my granddaughter so her mother can work. My reading life is seriously limited, but I am catching up on my netflix watching. 

The best part of last week was finally sewing the binding on this quilt. It was started by my mother, Evylin Weichel, a number of years before her accident. She continued working on it even after her brain injury. It wasn’t easy. Many friends and family members contributed squares to help her out. My sister and I helped her out near the end. I finished piecing the top just before she died. It was beautifully quilted by my friend Lorna Penner Kelly.




BOOKS FOR BABIES

5 stars
I Love Frogs by Amanda Miller & Sandra Mayer

I was excited to find this nonfiction board book while on a visit to my local library with my granddaughter. She seemed to be excited about it too, although she seems to be enthused by any book with bright illustrations these days, especially if there is any kind of face. This book has that in spades. It doesn't show the life cycle, but the beautiful photographs show frogs in all their glory.

4 stars
We All Count: A Book of Cree Numbers by Julie Flett

It's written and illustrated by Julie Flett so you know the images will be amazing, and they are. Each two page spread has the numeral and the Cree word for the number. Small print provides a pronunciation guide.

The images portray different aspects of Cree culture. My favourite is the three aunties laughing. There is so much joy in that picture. 

I also love the double meaning for ‘we all count.’





PICTURE BOOKS

5 stars
Nerdy Birdy Tweets by Aaron Reynolds & Matt Davies (Illustrations)

I'm so glad that Nerdy Birdy and Vulture are back again. Just like the first in the series, this one sends an important message about friendship and bullying, only this time, in the digital world. Matt Davies' illustrations accent this message with sweet humour. I appreciate that this time Aaron Reynolds shows that silly things that are ok between friends are not necessarily appropriate for a wider audience. He also shows how important it is to get permission from others before posting anything about them. When I was working in schools, and aware of the kinds of social pressure that can be put on students, I took this lesson a step further and said it wasn't appropriate to post any picture that showed someone in any kind of unflattering situation.

5 stars
Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter by Kenard Pak

Drop dead gorgeous illustrations are paired with a call and response kind of text to highlight the changes that happen when autumn gives way to winter.
I loved this so much I went through it a few times just to fully appreciate it.

4 stars
Crow Call by Lois Lowry & Bagram Ibatoulline (Illustrator)

I'm wowed by Bagram Ibatoulline's gorgeous illustrations in this book. Lois Lowry tells the story of an oversized hunting shirt her father purchased for her before he went to war and their getting to know one another when he returns home. Their day in the woods in late autumn is a celebration of this.
It's a sweet and gentle story for all children whose parents leave and come back from places of conflict.

GRAPHIC NOVELS

5 stars                             4 stars
Sunny Side Up (Sunny #1) Swing it, Sunny (Sunny #2) by Jennifer L. Holm Matthew Holm (Illustrations) & Lark Pien (Colorist)

I enjoyed both of these books a lot. The first, when Sunny goes to stay with her Grandfather in a senior home while her parents try to get her older brother under control, has more humour. The second, while still dealing with the now absent brother, focuses more on ordinary life in that era. Having experienced the 70's first hand, I connected to many of the cultural references, but it is Dale's drug issues that resonate most profoundly for me. After graduating from high school in 1971, I lost a number of friends to addiction. I appreciate that the Holms address this with such sensitivity and honesty. While the people I knew were not family, watching them spiral downwards while feeling helpless to support them, was heartbreaking. And while this is set in the 70's, given the current issues with fentanyl and other drugs today, it seems profoundly timely.


5 stars
Little Fox in the Forest by Stephanie Graegin

At first I wasn't sure about this wordless graphic picture book. The monochrome illustrations are interesting, but slightly off putting. Still the story engaged me enough to continue.
A class is invited to bring something old and treasured to show and tell the next day. A young girl brings her stuffed fox. When she is on the playground, a young fox absconds with it. When her best friend realizes what is happening, he goes chasing after it with her.
This is where the story gets really interesting visually since the fox cub is the only other colour in this monochrome world. While the two friends are chasing through the forest, we see a bird in a tree who is notable because it is also in colour. As the two children journey through the forest, this spot of colour identifies places where they stop to ask some kind of animal if they have seen the fox.
Meanwhile, the little fox has his own adventures when a badger tries to steal the stuffie from him.

When the two friends finally enter into the animals wonderland, the world is revealed in a blaze of colour. They go in search of the pilfering fox, and when they finally find it, the ending is delightfully satisfying.

MIDDLE GRADE AND YA NOVELS

5 stars
The Empty Grave by Jonathan Stroud & Emily Bevan (Narrator)

As satisfying and wonderful as this book is, I can't bear to think that it is the last in the series. I'm just not ready to say goodbye to these fabulous characters. Since this fictional world isn't really completely cleaned up, I'm not giving up hope that there might be at least one more to come. Please Mr. Jonathan Stroud.
Perhaps the rumoured TV series will take its place.

CURRENTLY

I'm listening to The Alice Network by Kate Quinn. It is intense. I'm almost finished The Exact Location of Home by Kate Messner. I need to get back to The Only Road by Alexandra Diaz, but it isn't due back at the library for a while.

UP NEXT

Murder, Magic, and What We Wore by Kelly Jones has to go back to the library soon so I will get to that in the next couple of days.

PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS

#MUSTREADIN2017 25/36

#MUSTREADNFIN2017 7/12

50 Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors 33/50

Chocolate Lily (CL) 51/51

Big Book Challenge 4/6

Goodreads Reading Challenge 384/333