Reading Goal LEVEL UNLOCKED!

Guys, I finished my reading goal for the year four and a half months early! I can barely believe it myself.

Things I have learned this year:
1) I am reading more diverse books and authors this year than ever before and I love it
2) I am SICK AND TIRED of reading books with the following themes:
     - Rich people behaving badly
     - Sad moms who had crappy childhoods and treat their kids bad
     - Married couples who don't like each other anymore
     - Fatal illness YA romance
3) If I am not "into" a book, I don't feel bad AT ALL about not finishing it
4) MORE WOMEN AUTHORS PLEASE!
5) Young adult books are (mostly) really amazing and highly recommended.
6) Lucas & I are burning through all the kids audio books at the library! Our favourite series are The Ranger's Apprentice & ALL the Deltora series.

This doesn't mean I stop reading for the rest of the year, no sirree! I keep filling up my holds list at the library, and I promise to finish & return the books I borrowed from Jessica, Ginger and Shaughan! I am going to go back through some of my TBR lists and see if I can't clear them out a bit, and create a curated list for 2017.

I promised myself a nice summary post for my 2016 books, so I am going to get started on that now with the hopes that it will be done before the year is out.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
sigh...

xo

#lisareads2016 - Non-Fiction Goal Met!

March was the month for non-fiction apparently! I finished two, returned one to the library unfinished (ran out of time), and I've got another sitting on my nightstand floor waiting to go.

Here's a quick re-cap/review.

Fire Season by Phillip Connor. This book is the musings and observations from a man who works in a fire lookout tower in the SW United States over the summer. It is filled with interesting facts and history about the US Forest Service, and how their attitude towards fighting fire has changed over the decades. But mostly, it is a story about a man who lives half his year away from people, watching for fire. There are so many amazing reflections on time, and solitude, and nature in here. A real treat for someone who enjoys being alone out in the wilderness, even just for a moment. I think anyone who has ever sat in a park, or on a mountain can find connection with this book. Plus, this is one of BFF's dream jobs, so I really felt even more connected to him as I read it.

How To Win Friends And Influence People by Dale Carnegie was recommended on some book site or forum for people on the autism spectrum, for assistance or insight into interacting with neurotypicals. While I don't consider myself to fall on the Autism spectrum, I have similar difficulties that this poster referenced, and definitely don't consider myself neurotypical! It's strange that a "self-help" book that was written 70+ years ago can still find relevance today. Most of the references are out of date - sending letters and telegrams for example - but the advice was spot on. Lots of "real life" examples from his seminars, and plain speak. Easy to follow and understand, and he summarized his main points after each section with a handy list!

I did have some issues with how he actually wrote about neurodivergent folks and this whole page on "insanity" that I was not cool with, but overall I was impressed. Definitely changed my whole attitude, and I have seen major improvements in my work and my interactions with coworkers and friends lately. Did NOT expect that at all.

Next In The Queue...
I have been reading some heavy books lately. Not in weight, but in content. So I needed a palate cleanser, and I like to turn to books I know and love when that happens. So I have been re-reading Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next Series. These never fail to disappoint, and I can breeze through them in a couple of evenings.

I just started reading the memoir that was sitting on my floor. It was due back at the library yesterday...so..... It's titled Iceberg and in it Marion Coutts is recounting the moments in her family's life after her husband got a major health diagnosis (and then passed away, if I remember correctly). I am only a few pages in, but already it is reading like no other memoir I have ever seen before, and I am sufficiently hooked. I only hope that no one else has put a hold on it, so I can renew this bad boy!

Also, my buddy loaned me some of her faves. I can't remember the titles off hand, but I believe one had the word "bitch" in it, so I am already a fan.

On Hold...
I've got two books "in transit" for me at my local library. Good old Idylwylde. Yes, there are a lot of Ys. Both were featured on a recent (or not so recent) episode of "All the Books".
1. Alibis: Essays on Elsewhere by Andre Aciman. Another non-fiction, and my first dip into the latest "trend" of essay collections.
2. Lizard Radio by Pat Schmatz (a rhyming name!). This one sounds absolutely bonkers, so what better way to lighten the mood!

UPDATED: Just checked epl.ca and I have FIVE books in transit for me right now. Fuck-balls. It looks like there are a couple of YA in there though, so that's my saving grace for keeping my head above the water this month. If March was all heavy, let's make April as light as coloured marshmallows. Or something. Metaphor!

I have an essay writing, MLS-related query. How do I properly document the name of a podcast in my writing? Italics? Underlined? Quotation marks? The last time I wrote an essay, there was no such thing as podcasts. Hmm.

What are you reading friends?
xo

Trendy McTrenderson

Another book review for you! You lucky readers, you.

Actually, I felt the last one was getting slightly (totally...omg just shuttup Lisa) out of hand, so I thought I would break this entry out.

Last month I read Jane Slayre by Charlotte Bronte & Sherri Browning Erwin. And I really just need to talk about it.

I bought this second hand at Macleod's Books in Vancouver, because I LOVE this new trend of blending classics with horror.

Jane Slayre starts out kind of slow, and plodding, and it feels like the horror elements are really forced. Jane's Aunt who was forced to take her in after her parents and uncle died (spoiler alert....because of vampires!), who hates her guts (foreshadowing...), is actually (wait for it....) a vampire! Yawn. She sends Jane away to a boarding school for incorrigible girls, because she doesn't want her children tempted to drink her commoner blood. And this is where the story starts to pick up, just as in the original book, as I remember.

In a fabulous play on words, the benefactor (Brocklehurst in the original) is now named Mr. Bokorhurst... A bokor is a voodoo sorcerer, who creates zombies! Essentially, he has made a tidy profit turning the girls from the school who have succumb to one of the many illnesses seen in such places into zombies and then placing them as ladies' maids! It's actually kind of clever.

Jane finds out she is actually descended from a long line of vampire hunters, and trains with the headmistress of the school before heading off to be the governess to Mr. Rochester's ward. Meeting more vampires along the way, falling in love with Mr. Rochester, and dealing with the...secret.....in the attic.

I don't want to spoil too much of the story so I'm going to stop there, but I was very impressed with the combination of the horror elements with the original story! Some of it definitely felt strained and forced, but overall it was quite good. Jane Eyre itself is an amazing story, and this just adds a fun element to it.

#recommendedreading

*****

I own a bunch of the books in this genre, and I thought I had a handle on it, but a recent Google search told me that I am a person who lives under a rock.

There are LOADS of horror+classic novels out there! Some of which seem to really be forcing the connection. I mean, check out some of these titles: The War of the World Plus Blood, Guts & Zombies, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and the Undead, I am Scrooge: A Zombie Story for Christmas. I think that the person who wrote the article in which I found these titles, invested in some photo shop time and just made them up.

Titles in this genre that I can actually recommend:
Sense & Sensibility & Sea Monsters
Jane Slayre
Android Karenina
Dawn of the Dreadfuls (a continuation of the Pride & Prejudice story)

*****

Funny story that totally relates to this post I promise: At a recent Sunday dinner, my middle brother was sharing his disbelief in the trailer for the new movie based on the book Pride & Prejudice & Zombies. He expressed that the movie industry was really getting out of hand, just mashing up unrelated topics seemingly at random to make a buck. And that's when I told him that it's actually based on a book that came out many years ago. And it's a whole genre! Surprise!

It's too bad that the Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter movie was such shit. I still remember watching it with BFF at our first BFF Xmas Party, and laughing so damn hard at pretty much every ludicrous moment. The book was stellar, but it really flopped for me as a movie. I am hoping that whoever did Pride & Prejudice & Zombies stays true to to Jane Austen's voice, because this could be a really great film.

*****

And because I love you and want you to be happy, please enjoy this "official international trailer" for the Pride & Prejudice & Zombies movie. And don't watch the "official US trailer" because it is a pile of horseshit. You're welcome.
 

xo

#lisareads2016 - February Book Review!

I am on a reading kick! So many books in my bag, and in my bed and in my queue. And I love it! I am sensing a "theme" with some of my more recent finds, and I talk a little bit about that in my reviews below.

Guys, book reviews are hard. I mean, ugh! I read all these books and now I'm going to talk about them too?! With words, and typing, and (hopefully) coherent thoughts?!

These are by no means all the books I have read in the past month or so, but they are the ones that I enjoyed and recommend. Or whatever. Ugh! So hard!

Yes Please by Amy Poehler. I was very hesitant to pick up this book. Remember how I am not a fan of memoirs/biographies? Also, this book tends to get recommended if you like Cait Moran's work, and I DO NOT! Ugh, no thanks. But I am happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised. Amy was something of a trailblazer for women in comedy, and she continues to be. And also she's flipping hilarious, and it shows up so well in her writing. She covers a lot of ground in this book, writing about many things women struggle with in general - being a mom (not being a mom), aging, parents, being a women in a man's world (in general, and in comedy specifically) - and I was definitely nodding along with a lot of her anecdotes.

Can We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast. Recommended to me by a very lovely lady, this is a graphic novel memoir that relates the author's changing relationship with her aging parents as they reach the ends of their lives, and she has to "deal with it". The author spoke a lot about how her identity as it relates to her parents and to her changing life and circumstances, and it really impacted me and how I see myself as a daughter and an adult. I am not in the same situation with my parents yet, but I can already see these conversations and feelings seeping into my current reality.

Astray by Emma Donahue. Another book I am reluctant to read is Room by the same author. Something about all the hype-hype-hype it's been getting. I am not into hype #itsnotmyjam. But I like short stories, and I like lady authors, so this was an easy pick for me. This book delves into the identity of "traveler", and all the ways that can manifest itself. And I remember zero things about the stories in this book. But I know I liked it. Told you book reviews are hard. [Trigger warning for rape as a war crime]

The Island of Excess Love by Francesca Lia Block. This is book #2 in a YA fantasy trilogy, and I thoroughly enjoyed book #1. The author has crafted a beautifully imaginative, and cruel future, taking hints from classic mythology (Odyssey, Aeineid) to populate it. There are five main characters who traverse this world: a bisexual girl, a trans boy, two gay cis boys (one of whom has suffered sexual abuse, one of whom has lost his twin brother), and the girl's brother. I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first one in the trilogy. It seemed even more jolting. Like, something would end abruptly with no rhyme or reason. I like foreshadowing more than I thought apparently. But I continue to gravitate towards unique perspectives and diverse characters, and this book definitely hit on that.

The Water Knife by Paolo Baciglupi. You know, I really thought I was going to love this book. Dystopian that is based on events happening right now. I did not have to suspend my disbelief very much to see how today could turn into this book in a generation or so. Essentially, it follows three individuals who live in the southwest US that has been plaqued with drought for decades. States are emptying out, separating from the country, and fighting over what remains of the lakes and rivers. Texans are hated refugees (liked that little piece of irony), the poor live in camps where the UN doles out daily rations of water, and the rich live in massive Arcologies. There are major players that are playing each other, cutting off each other's water by blowing up damns and water treatment plants, and using lawyers and paperwork to prove they own the oldest water rights. There is a journalist living in Phoenix, which is on the brink of collapse, a young refugee who is leaving behind the optimism that doomed her family, and "The Water Knife", a hired gun essentially who does the dirty work of Vegas' water queen. Sounds so interesting doesn't it?! But for whatever reason, it just wasn't my thing. Can't quite put my finger on why. But if you like dystopian fiction, I recommend picking this book up...at least at the library! [Trigger warnings for violence causing bodily harm, torture]

That's it for the review portion of this post. Let's move to the "future reading" portion.

On My TBR Pile...
Lucky Girls by Nell Freudenberger | Because it had a "short stories" sticker on it, and it has a lady author...#itsmyjam (note: I finished this book before posting this, and it turns out #itsnotmyjam.)
The Family Album by Kerry Kelly | Because see above PLUS the author is Canadian #itstotesmyjam
Fire Season by Phillip Connors | Because this is one of BFF's dream jobs and I like finding things out in the world that remind me of him
Seconds by Bryan Lee O'Malley | A graphic novel palette cleanser
The Plague of Doves by Louise Erdich | For a book club I may or may not attend, because gosh darnit I want to be in a book club!
As If! The Oral History of Clueless | because it remains one of the Best Movies AND Best Movie Adaptation of a Jane Austen novel, like, ever.
How To Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie | Recommended by a book-reviewer on the autistic spectrum for being an excellent book for learning how to converse with humans
The Invaders by Karolina Waclawiak | Featured on "All The Books"

I have been listening to old recordings of "All the Books" so I have a hope in hell of finding their new releases (from last year) on the library shelves. I haven't totally given up on listening to their current shows, but those books are either all "on order" or have holds lists a kilometre long!

I have also retained my focus on reading books by diverse authors. These stories speak to me, and are way more interesting and varied than your standard cis straight white male authors, and I will never apologize for thinking that.

Oh man...I got a little carried away with my "Placing Holds" and "Randomly Pulling Books Off Shelves" behaviour this month. That's cool. No pressure. What's that? Another email from EPL telling me I have another hold to pick up? hahahahahahahhahahajustshootme

Speaking of a kilometre long, before this post gets fully away from me, I will sign off.

How do you find books to read and to love? How do they find you?
xo

#lisareads2016 - Life Changing Book

This book changed something in me. It opened something up in my heart and in my mind.

As soon as I finished this book, I went online to a local bookseller's website and bought it.

And I read some reviews and they are a mixed bag to say the least. And I get that. This book isn't for everyone. I read this book and find myself nodding at every page. Does everyone share my world view? Hell no! And what fun would that be anyway?!

Does this book challenge you to step away from your worldview? I think so.

Is this the "perfect book for everyone"? Definitely not.

I have been looking for books that challenge me, and open me up to new experiences, new authors, and POVs that are different than what I am used to. But I have also been searching for a voice that sounds like me. I want to see myself represented in the books I read (and the movies & TV I watch). And for me, right now, this book fulfills that.

And for that I am grateful.

This book is why I shake my head at people who say art, pop culture, books, movies, media, don't matter. That these things don't effect people, or effect change, or allow people to grow and change and become better humans. People who say that these things don't mean anything more than what they provide for entertainment. That is a lie. And if someone is trying to sell you that line, then please look for their ulterior motives (are they a cis white man whose entire life and worldview has been portrayed as the "default" since time immemorial? And they always get to see themselves represented in media and in the world? And they don't want that privilege challenged or questioned? cause that's usually my first thought...that's a whole other blog post)

This book.

People, this book....

I just got an email from Audrey's Books that my order is ready for pick up! As I read through it again, and make all the notes in the margins I need to make, I will be posting more here. RE: my thoughts, feelings, perspectives, and if they change on further reading.

What book changed your life?

Feels good doesn't it?

New Favourite - Graphic Memoirs

I didn't realize that this was a legit and historical genre, until I finished reading a second book that seemed to fit the description. And so it goes that once something hits your radar, you start seeing it pop up in your life more and more. Articles you were reading for some other reason, mention a graphic memoir, or a couple show up on a book list of "recommended titles" from a site you frequent.

And then you Google the damn thing because the snippets and sneaks you have been catching fill your brain and your imagination and you want more!

Here is what my Google search turned up:
Brian & Mary Talbot's Top 10 Graphic Memoirs
13 Graphic Novels every memoir lover should read
TIME Magazine's Top 10

The strange thing is, I hate novel-based memoirs. I think I have muddled through less than 5 in my life. I think they are boring, and full of themselves. But the graphic memoir is a different thing entirely!

If you like memoirs, try reading a graphic memoir.
If you hate memoirs, try reading a graphic memoir.
If you enjoy comics and graphic novels, but not regular novels, try reading a graphic memoir.

The second "graphic memoir" that I read, that clued me into the genre is the one pictured below.

This book really resonated with me. It accounts the author's young life, during which she wanted to be a boy. She dressed "like a boy", played with typical boy toys and boy games, hung out with boys, and was bullied for it. It still stings for me when I remember the lady in the grocery store who asked my younger sister how old her brother was...we didn't have brothers at the time. This wasn't the first or last time I was mistaken for a boy. And as you grow up, this inevitably comes with questions about your sexuality. That is, if you look like a girl trying to look like a boy, people tend to assume you must be a lesbian. She writes about the friends she made over the years and how they helped - and hurt - her sense of self. She discusses the role models she found who helped her figure out why she wanted to be a boy, and eventually helped her discover her passions and how to be cool with who she is.

I think this book would be so amazing for a young adult audience, which is one of the things I love about graphic memoirs. The subject matter can tackle any facet of life - growing up, love, identity, relationships - and be very deep or very funny, and the medium makes it so accessible for any age and any reading level! I loved Liz's doodles of herself and her friends, and I found that they helped me visualize her story and find relatable components in my own life so much easier.

Thanks to my Google search, and a quick epl.ca visit, I am looking forward to reading the following graphic memoirs!
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. Accounts her life growing up in Iran in the midst of the Islamic Revolution.

Dragonslippers by Rosalind B. Penfold accounts her marriage to an abusive husband.

In Fun Home, Alison Bechdel recounts her struggle with her father's suicide, and the mention of this book in an article I was reading about envy and creative work got me started down the rabbit hole.

Make Me A Woman by Vanessa Davis is about the tiny moments in life that combine to make you whole.

xo

#lisareads2016 - Subscription Boxes

I am (overall) not a fan of subscription boxes. We as a society are already really good at consuming things, I don't think we need the extra help of a box of extra crap conveniently mailed to our homes every month. But I think I might have to alter my tune slightly, because I have discovered Book Subscriptions.

Landfall Freight is a graphic novel subscription box, created especially for ladies! I have been watching their contents for most of the year, and they are always spot on with their selections. This is one that I would definitely consider signing up for.

I've already written about my love for the Book Riot website, and am keeping my eyes on the Book Riot box for future consideration.

The Book Drop is run by an independent brick&mortar bookstore, which is cool in and of itself. They  offer a couple of different options, based on your preferred genre, and they also have a subscription for kids & YA books.

Uppercase Box is a monthly service for fans of Young Adult fiction. I am an only an occasional lover of YA, so a book a month is too much for me.

Another monthly YA themed box, Owl Crate plays on the mail delivery system as described in Harry Potter. Y'know. With owls. Adorable. Sounds like there might be a discussion forum out there for books in the box, but I couldn't find anything specific.

Watch out for bookish-sounding Subscription Boxes that don't actually have any books in them. A "fashion & beauty" box with a book theme is still just a "fashion & beauty" box. I'm looking at you "Bookish". Sigh.

Disclaimer: I haven't actually subscribed to a Book Box yet, so please do not treat the above list as an endorsement of any of the services listed. This is just me thinking out loud. Also, I am still not a lover of subscription boxes as a whole, and I am far more inclined to borrow books from the library or purchase secondhand books from the thrift store. If there is one thing I don't need more of in my life, it's stuff, especially a new box of stuff that comes every month. *Shudder* But, I would like to expand my reading horizons, and this is definitely one way to do that.

Wouldn't it be fun if there was such a thing as a Used-Book Subscription Box?! Like, every month you could send an old book to someone, maybe with a little note or review, and they could either keep that book for their library or send it along to someone else. A book penpal club?!?! I would totally sign up for that.

Anyone out there with a book subscription? Any recommendations or places to steer clear from? Anybody want to be my book penpal? ;-)

xo

#lisareads2016 - Book Riot

I can't remember how I found Book Riot, but boy howdy am I ever glad that I did! They are a one-stop shop on the Internet for everything literary, as far as I am concerned. They post great reviews, monthly wrap-ups, gift guides, and more, so there is always something going on. And the contributors to the site come from a variety of backgrounds, and enjoy a variety of genres, so there is literally something for everyone here, which I find very refreshing and enjoying. I like to read reviews and get recommendations for more books in a genre I already enjoy, but I am also open to recommendations in other genres, and this site definitely encourages that.

Some of my favourite recent posts:
A List of Lists

No, I Do Not Carry Elf On The Shelf

6 Months Without Books, As Told Through GIFs

They also have a Podcast with reviews, and great book discussions. I am really getting into Podcasts this past month or so, and am loving hearing other people talk about books they love (or don't love)! Next best thing to being in an actual book club?

They run a great online store filled with cool book-themed clothing, accessories, and future Christmas gifts for my sister, or perhaps your sister.

And most importantly, they run a (regular + YA) subscription box. I think subscriptions boxes are mostly just ridiculous, but awesome books delivered to your house every few months? I'm saving up!

More links...
Website
Tumblr

Also, Happy New Year!! Hopefully when this post goes live I will still be sleeping off my kid-friendly NYE party, but I will probably be up with the sun and the Dude that lives in my home will be (loudly) busy with his new Lego, which is just fine as well.

xo

Link Roundup - Book Edition

A dude read books by women for a whole year. I think he kind of missed the point of the exercise, but he made an effort at least. (Watch for my post about reading only women author's in 2015...coming soon!)

Speaking of lady authors...25 Books by Female Authors to Put on Your Bucket List. I have read 12 of them, and already have a bunch more on my holds list. Really nice to see some WOC among the selections.

11 Reading Hacks Every Book Lover Should Know [moving GIFs at link]. For helping you make it through that reading challenge!

Hungry for the Gaimanesque? If you love Neil Gaiman (yes!), but want to expand your reading horizons. I have read only a few of these authors, but I definitely will always recommend Ursula K. Le Guin, Octavia Butler, Naomi Novik, and Terry Pratchett.

I love that this time of year we are treated to all the LISTS of books! This one hits all my reading points: science fiction, lady authors, short stories. 100 Great Science Fiction Stories by Women

Speaking of amazing ladies, 4 out of the top 5 books on this list are written by women! 100 Greatest British Novels. As soon as I found this, I put Middlemarch on hold at the library. And it's damn good.

This TV series is based on a book series that George RR Martin dubbed "a really kickass space opera". And while I hate Game of Thrones, I have read one of his short stories that was an absolute joy, so I'll listen to his recommendation this one time, Watch the entire first episode here!


xo

#lisareads2016 - Let's Get Started!

It's that time of year again...time to start a new Book List, and wrap up the current year's list.

An Explanation: I have been keeping track of my reading lists on this blog since 2011. It's a good way not only to keep track of the books I read, enjoyed (or hated), and see how my preferences and reading habits have changed (or remained the same) over the years. That was the year I started setting a numerical goal of books to read for the year. This is not a hard-and-fast rule, by any means. More of a gentle guideline, and reminder. How I get to that number has changed over the years, but it's always been 52. And it is one goal that I set for myself that I can be confident in completing!

Most of the books I read are IRL copies from the library (88% last year), but this year I would like to add more audiobooks and e-books to the list. When I started this list, I had a separate goal for # of library books read, and # secondhand/borrowed books read. I have eliminated those categories this year.

If a book is marked with two asterisks ** this means "I Recommended You Read This". In the past I have marked library books as such, and if the title was YA ("young adult") or a graphic novel (the latter not counting towards my total). This year, I might include a reference to the genre, but I kind of like keeping this page as clean as possible. Perhaps a link to the Goodreads page would be helpful? I am terrible at writing book reviews, and had to give those blog posts up awhile back, but I can at least give you a little bit more info!

Here is a link to my Goodreads page, in case you're interested in seeing what I've rated each book, and which titles I have on my "To Read" list. I've got 335 books in my "Read" list, and there are lots of great titles there that are not included in the lists I've made for the blog. Also, I have started a "To Read" shelf for books set to be released in 2016. I will continue to add to it as I find more titles.

This past March I decided to read only lady-authors for the remainder of the year. And it was the best decision I've made in a long time. I plan to continue reading mostly female/women authors, but I already have a few male/men authors on my "2016 Release" list that I am really looking forward to! I highly recommend this "challenge" to any reader, but especially women. I didn't realize what I was missing out on...perhaps I should do a proper post on this topic.

Here are my lists from past years:
2011 Book-Learning (total read = 53)
2012 Book-Learning (total read = 71)
2013 Book-Learning (total read = 54)
2014 Book List (total read = 55)
2015 Book List (total read = 57)

I post photos of the books on Instagram, and you can follow my progress there with the #lisareads2016

My 2016 Book List lives in the sidebar. Yes, I realize that the tab still reads "Book List 2014" but I haven't had a chance to tackle the much-needed blog updates, so you'll have to just roll with it.

One of my 2016 Goals is to get back into Blogging, and one of my Blogging goals is to create a place here where I can better share what I am reading, how I find new books, bookish podcasts about, etc. We'll see what happens there. At the very least, I need to update that damn sidebar button.

Did any of you create reading goals for yourself this year? Any of you planning on creating a reading challenge for yourself next year? Any "must reads" from your list that you'd like to share with the group?

xo