Show Us Your Books December 2019

Sunday night I was sitting around with my teeth in my mouth and then was like oh shit the linkup is Tuesday. That came up quickly. Also I originally titled it "Show Us Your Books December 2017." Good start, good start. ANYWAY I've read 159 books this year and my brain is stuffed so it's taking a breather - I find myself not reading for more than 10-15 minutes at a time even when I like a book which is an indication of overload for me personally. Maybe I'll finish the rest of the magazines I've been lugging around for months. 

Happy holiday season to you all - as a gift from us hosts to you we're giving away a $25 gift certificate to the bookseller of your choice (can be big, indie, local to you, whatever...as long as we can buy the gift card online or call and get one mailed to you) and a $25 donation in your name to Read 718, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit dedicated to building strong, confident readers. 

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Here's what I've been reading since the last linkup.

Buy it links are affiliate links and buying through them supports this link up 

Engrossing Reads

The Craftsman by Sharon Bolton - It's been a while since I read a Sharon Bolton and this was just the right amount of creepy. OCNJ library hard cover     buy

The Chestnut Man by Soren Sveistrup - Creepy AF and very well written. I don't always do well with nordic translations but this was a smooth read for me. Philly library hardcover     Buy

Criminal (Will Trent #6) by Karin Slaughter - This is the best book of the series thus far by far. I loved the flashback chapters. OCNJ library hard cover     buy

Passed the Time Just Fine

Stay by Catherine Ryan Hyde - The last book I tried by her I couldn't finish so I was hoping for better and this turned out just fine. This was a super sweet story with heart and rough characters I loved even though I am not the hugest fan of books with young narrators. She also picked up on the addiction/sobriety theme I liked so much in my first read by her. She writes it well,  with frankness and compassion and I appreciate that.  Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review     buy

How to Be An Antiracist by Ibrahim X. Kendi - Just a tremendous read prompting introspection and truly holding yourself up for examination. The author models this by reflecting on himself and sharing. We should all travel this route. This wasn't a book to devour for me, more like read, set down, digest, pick up, read, set down, digest. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review     buy

Nine Elms (Kate Marshall #1) by Robert Bryndza - A new one coming out from the author of the Erika Foster series that I enjoy. I will read more of this series for sure.  Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review     buy

Not Worth It

Inside Out b y Demi Moore- I read it in a day and if I had spent more time I'd be pissed. OCNJ library hard cover

Her Revolution by Gemma Jackson - Not my type of read for about a million ways. Even though I know they exist in reality and have more compassion then I have difficulty with weak women characters men shit all over. The redemption here was great but there was a lot of unnecessarily repetitive cutting down for much of the book and that pisses me off. Free copy from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review

Did Not Finish

The Girl in the Grave (Beth Adams #1) by Helen Phifer - I got this book because I got the second in the series from Netgalley and I can't start at two when I know there's a one because do you know me? I couldn't do this, snail's pace. I told Netgalley no go on reading and reviewing the second one too. Kindle e-book

Buying Time (Legacy #1) by Paula Kay - The premise sounded good, I think? I could tell within the first five pages that I was not going to go with the flow so I stopped reading. Kindle unlimited

What have you been reading? 

Linkup Guidelines:

This link up is the second Tuesday of every month. The annual Favorite Reads of 2019 linkup is on FRIDAY, December 27. The next regular linkup is Tuesday, January 14, 2020. 

1. Visit and comment with both of your hosts, Jana & me, and check in with as many in our reading circle as you can - give some love to the later linker uppers! 
2. Link back to us in your blog post - if you want the button you can get it from that link

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

TWTW - the one with the party and the purging

Friday  Sunrise with the best friend dogs before work.

Lunch errands to the library and post office, visited my mother in law, painted my nails (Essie Blue Rhapsody and OPI Go with the Lava Flow), and a 5 pm romp on the beach to shake off the week and kick off the weekend. I went to the Ocean City Christmas parade, my first time since we bought the house in 2015. It was 20 minutes long and no one cheered except for a hilarious lady with a to go cup of something who yelled out OKAY LITTLE MISS OCEAN CITY / MRS. NEW JERSEY / FIREMAN / KIDS SINGING etc. People were hauling ass so photos were a blur. I got the impression that you could put on some holiday attire and just join the route but I could be wrong. I closed the night out reading.

Saturday I was up all night coughing so I slept in until 8:30. Showered, cleaned up a bit, took the dogs to the beach for a walk, ran errands for my mother in law, packed the car, and was on the way to Philly by 1. We popped in to my nephew's second birthday party a few weeks in advance of his second birthday and I was couch bound until Santa drove by on a truck and I forced my nephew to come outside and wave with me. I was in bed reading soon after. I felt pretty fucking terrible all day. 

Sunday Up at 6:20 which was absolutely not in the plans. I drank the coffee and changed the sheets and did the house laundry and began sorting and purging the basement for a Monday morning pickup of donations and trash. We're doing a bit of a reconfiguration in the basement because we're not using the space. If this sounds familiar it's because we've done it before LOL. The back room used to be a second living area and we made it an office that has not gotten used so now we're going to go back to a sitting area but with a desk in it. The front room was my reading room and has since been a dumping spot for shit and we're going to make that more livable like it used to be as well. The entire basement needs painting and a new floor but that's not happening now. Anyway it's a fucking disaster in progress down there and it has been since I've been working on it in dribs and drabs. The fight continues.

Weekly food prep: Breakfasts are breakfast burritos from the freezer. Snacks are power breakfast muffins. Lunches are greek bowls. Dinners are deconstructed chicken parm (used thighs instead of breasts) with a salad. When that runs out dinner is maybe quesadillas? I haven't gotten that far.

Tomorrow is Show Us Your Books with giveaways - see you back here for that. 

Thursday Thoughts - maybe I'll count the stars until dawn

Fighting a cold. Elderberry syrup made with local honey is the real MVP. I use Crunchy Betty's recipe.

Resting a lot. Rest is the best healer. All dogs are down with it.

Appreciating being able to work from home. 

Drinking medicine balls from starsucks. I’m not a Starbucks person for a lot of reasons but when they’re right they’re dead right. This cup situation at the one near my office is so not right though.

Listening to Sam Elliott on Armchair Experts. First, I’m not a podcast listener so this is news, second holy crap Sam Elliott is 75. 

Spending an unexpected night at the shore last night. I had to mobilize myself late in the day, shredding my night, so this is late. Also I did not secure my micellar water and it leaked all over my clothes but I didn't realize that until this morning so I was in the dark as to why there were patchy wet spots on all of my shit last night. 

Getting a batch of breakfast burritos made and in the freezer before I left last night. I wanted to leave the kitchen looking like who did it and ran but that’s against my nature so I cleaned that shit up.

Pulling lyrics from Hard Candy Christmas by Dolly Parton for the title. My favorite Christmas songs are not the typicals because (no surprise) I am not a Christmas music listener. I listen like two days before and the day of. 

Sharing links for your consideration: Ohio bill orders doctors to reimplant ectopic pregnancy or face murder charges (FYI reimplanting an ectopic pregnancy is many things but chief among them is impossible); your republican senators can't bring one damn bill to the floor of the 400+ that have passed the house but they sure as hell are stacking the courts with inexperienced idiots like this one who oppose fertility treatments (after these first two I seriously hope not a damn person thinks women are equal out there); your president being a buffoon on the world stage makes us less secure, which is the opposite of what all of his supporters allegedly desire.

Feeling some sort of way about people who want to cut benefits like SNAP from other citizens but have never uttered a goddamn thing about corporate welfare and how that and catering to the rich has killed the middle class over the last 50 years. Getting behind taking away things you think other citizens shouldn't have because they should work like you do instead of looking at what corporate welfare and tax % for the rich started under Regan have done to the bottom 99% is like pissing in the wind.

Hoping no one is breaking their ass to do all the things and make this the most magical month ever. Slow down. It’s still going to be good, I promise. You don't have to pull off a Christmas miracle to be a good person, parent, etc. I said more on this on Instagram.

Reminding you that happiness starts with you. Not with anyone else.

Laughing at this. Distractions, there are a few.

TTFN.

Linking up with Kristen

Gifts for booknerds

December 4. Say it with me, friends - time flies. Gift giving is not a strength of mine unless it's a Favorite Things type of gift giving where I give people things I like. Not the point, really. I'm also trying my damndest not to be a flippant consumer or buying just to buy or buying plastic shit that will end up in a landfill. All that to say these are some cool things I do love or would love as a reader, and if you have a reader in your life, they might like one of them as well.

In this gifty season, just a reminder that no one wants a gift you have to go into debt for or run to the ends of the earth to get. And if they do, get rid of them and give an extra hug to someone who is amazing in your life instead.

Amazon links are affiliate links - buying through the link costs you nothing and pennies of proceeds go to run Show Us Your Books monthly linkups and prizes to giveaways for the same.

1. Number one always is a book from their desired list if they have one. I don't buy many books anymore, but I have a list of books I keep that I can't find at the library so I'll have to buy if I want to read, a list of books I've read and want to own (small), and a list of books that are available via kindle only. If your reader is also a listy reader, inquire within.

2. If your reader is a bibliophile who collects books, a personalized embosser is an awesome idea. This one on etsy.

3. Kindle paperwhite (affiliate link) - No colored covers or fanciness, but you can 100% always read in the sun while wearing polarized sunglasses and never miss a word. Also waterproof (can verify, unfortunately for me/fortunately for you).

4. For the feminist reader: well-read woman bookmark, anonymous bookmark, badass book club tee, strong female characters tee.

5. For library lovers: a donation in their name to Friends of _________Library. Insert their local library. Library card bookmarks, library squad t-shirt, support your local library t-shirt,

6. Mugs because do you even know me? Bookish soul, Go away I'm reading, Fuck off I'm reading. I had to refrain from purchasing these three while I was pulling this together. 

7. For the person who would rather be reading than doing whatever they're doing out in public (i.e. me): I closed my book to be here t-shirt.

 8. Rechargeable booklight (affiliate link). This is the one I use. Perfect for porch reading in the summer or any time after someone else has gone to sleep. 

9. For the kids: personalized reading corner sign, personalized library tote, Readers are Leaders t-shirt.

10. A gift certificate to an independent book store. Tickets to see an author speak in person (check to see if your library or local bookstore has a series). A January date for lunch after you put a donation for the Prison Book Program together together. A donation to Room to Read.

Drop your ideas in the comments.

REMINDER! Show Us Your Books is this Tuesday, Dec 10. The Show UsYour Books Favorite Reads of 2017 is Friday, Dec 27. 

Happy birthday to my uncle Billy today!

TWTW - the one with the thanksgiving

Thursday I woke up feeling like I had slept five minutes, which is never ideal especially when you have a long day ahead. I made a homemade cranberry dish and went to Mom & Rich's for brunch.

We had two hours at home, so I packed for the weekend and painted my nails. Dinner at Mark and Sarah's, the food was so delicious I didn't even have room for pie. I packed up the car and was on the road to the shore by 8:30.

That was a long and tiring drive and I fell right into bed after turning the heaters on and walking Bruce and Ben. The last two (three?) Thanksgivings I've spent at the shore, and I was happy to at least end this one there. Bruce and Ben were too.

Friday  An exceptional Black Friday sunrise.

Dad and Carol were down before 9:30 and MFD and Gus and Mae were close behind. Ben helped Carol with her Black Friday couponing.

MFD went fishing and we went strolling downtown for the Christmas in the Downtown when Santa appears on the roof of City Hall and descends via fire truck. We love this tradition. MFD rolled in after it was over. Mae went this year and she was very popular. Thanksgiving leftovers for dinner and finally pumpkin pie.

Saturday Sunrise with Bruce & Ben. 

Dad got donuts and breakfast sandwiches. A little after 11 we headed to the boardwalk to stroll and do some small business Saturday shopping. Pizza for lunch, and skipped the line but still got a photo with Santa. MFD went off to fish and me, Dad, and Carol continued onto Asbury where we saw Santa again and Carol got me a new purse at the consignment store. Necessary since my zippers broke and more environmentally friendly than new. 

I took Bruce and Ben to the beach where MFD was fishing. Someone left behind beach art, Bruce was enamored of surfers, and I found great shells. 

When MFD went off to be in a parade in Stone Harbor we watched the Auburn/Alabama game because we're on basic cable down there. What a nail biter. I was dead asleep by 10:30. MFD was upstairs after me with Ben and Ben was daring enough to sit next to my dad (not a dog person).

Sunday I slept in until 8 and that was amazing. Dad and Carol and already left and MFD was close behind. I ran the dishwasher and packed up and was back in Philly by 10:30. I changed the sheets, ran and emptied the dishwasher, unpacked boxes, did three loads of laundry, and we had a snack plate and fried goat cheese apps for dinner a la MFD and watched The Irishman.

Weekly food prep: I didn't feel like it Sunday, but I took sausage out to make breakfast burritos to freeze and chicken thighs out so I'll bake them tonight and do a side of rice and steamed veggies. I've got some freezer stuff for lunch, I only need three days of packable lunches this week.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. I definitely did. It's one of my favorite weekends of the year. Happy December, everyone.