tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27295546481745180422024-03-13T13:48:51.276-04:00 Lisa's Library: Where The Dancing Bookworms Live A friendly place to talk about books and dancingLisa Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01661062020777123490noreply@blogger.comBlogger381125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729554648174518042.post-12480745628676708942018-10-16T08:21:00.000-04:002018-10-16T08:21:38.325-04:00Book Review: Homegoing, by Yaa Gyasi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1448108591l/27071490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1448108591l/27071490.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Historical fiction<br />
<b>Date Published:</b> June 2016<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Alfred A. Knopf<br />
<b># Of Pages/Listening Time:</b> 320 pgs/13 hours<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27071490-homegoing">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Homegoing-Audiobook/B01D22WLC2?qid=1539692256&sr=sr_1_1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=AQFEHFDKE7TNG8TM6CBB&">Audible</a></b><br />
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<b>Synopsis:</b> <i>A novel of breathtaking sweep and emotional power that traces three hundred years in Ghana and along the way also becomes a truly great American novel. Extraordinary for its exquisite language, its implacable sorrow, its soaring beauty, and for its monumental portrait of the forces that shape families and nations, Homegoing heralds the arrival of a major new voice in contemporary fiction.
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Two half-sisters, Effia and Esi, are born into different villages in eighteenth-century Ghana. Effia is married off to an Englishman and lives in comfort in the palatial rooms of Cape Coast Castle. Unbeknownst to Effia, her sister, Esi, is imprisoned beneath her in the castle's dungeons, sold with thousands of others into the Gold Coast's booming slave trade, and shipped off to America, where her children and grandchildren will be raised in slavery. One thread of Homegoing follows Effia's descendants through centuries of warfare in Ghana, as the Fante and Asante nations wrestle with the slave trade and British colonization. The other thread follows Esi and her children into America. From the plantations of the South to the Civil War and the Great Migration, from the coal mines of Pratt City, Alabama, to the jazz clubs and dope houses of twentieth-century Harlem, right up through the present day, Homegoing makes history visceral, and captures, with singular and stunning immediacy, how the memory of captivity came to be inscribed in the soul of a nation.
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Generation after generation, Yaa Gyasi's magisterial first novel sets the fate of the individual against the obliterating movements of time, delivering unforgettable characters whose lives were shaped by historical forces beyond their control. Homegoing is a tremendous reading experience, not to be missed, by an astonishingly gifted young writer. </i></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> ★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">.....For being a very good debut novel!</span></b></div>
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I read this for a book club and I'm now really looking forward to the discussion.
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This was a very ambitious and interesting debut novel. A lot of reviews are saying the same thing, so I'm not being all that original here, but you have to admit, 300 years in 300 pages is a pretty incredible. To top it off, you're following the P.O.V. of 14 different people in different locations in the U.S. and Ghana. There's so much packed in to a relatively short book, that you have to admit, this is an impressive piece of literature, made even more so because this is Yaa Gyasi's first novel.
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I won't say it's perfect, because it's not. It's a very busy novel that tries to target many different aspects of the slave trade and racism throughout the ages, so it's difficult to become personally invested, but it's still a very good story. I did enjoy following each subsequent generation as they tried to go through their normal daily lives, and I enjoyed reading about Ghana's history in the slave trade and it's war against the British afterwards (although "enjoyed" isn't exactly the right word to use; more like I found it interesting and sad).
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Overall, this is a great book for book clubs and for high schoolers. I'm interested in seeing more by Yaa Gyasi, that's for sure.Lisa Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01661062020777123490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729554648174518042.post-16940876123834457522018-10-09T13:19:00.002-04:002018-10-09T13:19:50.817-04:00Book Review: Mr. Mercedes (Bill Hodges Trilogy #1), by Stephen King<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1468705326l/18775247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1468705326l/18775247.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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<b>Genre:</b> detective suspense/thriller<br />
<b>Date Published:</b> June 2014<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Scribner<br />
<b># Of Pages/Listening Time:</b> 436 pgs/14.5 hours<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18775247-mr-mercedes">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mr-Mercedes-Audiobook/B00J8VK1WY?qid=1539105490&sr=sr_1_1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=JA9C7ZVM66Y4PNA7RK7E&">Audible</a></b><br />
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<b>Synopsis:</b> <i>In the frigid pre-dawn hours, in a distressed Midwestern city, desperate unemployed folks are lined up for a spot at a job fair. Without warning, a lone driver plows through the crowd in a stolen Mercedes, running over the innocent, backing up, and charging again. Eight people are killed; fifteen are wounded. The killer escapes.
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In another part of town, months later, a retired cop named Bill Hodges is still haunted by the unsolved crime. When he gets a crazed letter from someone who self-identifies as the “perk” and threatens an even more diabolical attack, Hodges wakes up from his depressed and vacant retirement, hell-bent on preventing another tragedy.
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Brady Hartsfield lives with his alcoholic mother in the house where he was born. He loved the feel of death under the wheels of the Mercedes, and he wants that rush again. Only Bill Hodges, with two new, unusual allies, can apprehend the killer before he strikes again. And they have no time to lose, because Brady’s next mission, if it succeeds, will kill or maim thousands.
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Mr. Mercedes is a war between good and evil, from the master of suspense whose insight into the mind of this obsessed, insane killer is chilling and unforgettable.</i></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Rating:</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> ★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★ 1/2</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">.....For being a good King novel</span></b></div>
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Ok, this is one of Stephen King's better ones, I think. It's not the greatest, but it's still pretty good and worth a look.
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It's not a paranormal horror (King's specialty), but it's a good thriller. It's one of those stories where you can envision the movie they'd make out of this (and to answer your next question, no, I have not actually seen the TV show yet). It had Stephen King's characteristic slow build in the first chapter, followed by a good, building pace, and ending with a fast and interesting climax.
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Honestly, this story was one of King's better written works, I think. It's not one of his masterpieces, but it's one of his better-written ones. I liked the characters and the story. The audiobook rendition was also pretty good, although I had a little trouble getting into it at first, because I wasn't expecting different character perspectives and became a little disoriented with the beginning.
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Overall, worth a read if you enjoy good thrillers. Recommended.Lisa Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01661062020777123490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729554648174518042.post-5476195843830900102018-10-09T13:13:00.001-04:002018-10-09T13:13:09.459-04:00Book Review: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (Inheritance Trilogy #1), by N.K. Jemisin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1303143211l/6437061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="309" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1303143211l/6437061.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Fantasy<br />
<b>Date Published:</b> February 2010<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Hatchet Book Group Orbit<br />
<b># Of Pages:</b> 427 pgs/<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6437061-the-hundred-thousand-kingdoms">Goodreads</a></b><br />
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<b>Synopsis:</b> <i>Yeine Darr is an outcast from the barbarian north. But when her mother dies under mysterious circumstances, she is summoned to the majestic city of Sky. There, to her shock, Yeine is named an heiress to the king. But the throne of the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is not easily won, and Yeine is thrust into a vicious power struggle.</i></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Rating:</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> ★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★ 1/2</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">.....For being unique</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Thoughts:</span></b></div>
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Ok, this is one of those reads where I think I came in with higher expectations than I should have. Because of that, I had trouble getting into the story and enjoying it to its fullest potential.
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With that being said, I did enjoy this book. It was different from other fantasy reads. Some of the fantasy fundamentals were there, but N.K. Jemisin did different things with the writing, and the overall feel of the story was more mythological than fantastical. What I mean is, you know how Greek mythology stories contain certain elements that make them recognizable as Greek mythology stories? Well, Jemisin created a fantasy world with it's own unique mythology and told a story that felt reminiscent of a mythological tale.
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This is a book I want to read again in the future. I have a hunch I'll enjoy it more at a later point. As for the other books in this trilogy, I'll read them eventually. Maybe not during what's left of this year, but eventually.
Lisa Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01661062020777123490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729554648174518042.post-31091505347707121192018-10-02T10:00:00.000-04:002018-10-03T11:39:34.673-04:00Happy October! A Recap On Life And My Upcoming Reading Goals<div style="text-align: center;">
Yes, yes I know. I'm late posting this, but it's been a busy weekend.</div>
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But hey! It's October now! 6 more weeks baby! Yeah!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTiBlZwzth5V5-8cCguHu0rT3OYT1ZibY6EcIKpyKG8ZaMsQRahEqj50s9ZYEX57BXB73cTqGux-7ZorGrLQqEK2RJBir8M96zOTJcRjHf0Pi04E04quaPDIHToqy5zz8nKHxHCnXEn2l/s1600/bumpie_week_34_flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTiBlZwzth5V5-8cCguHu0rT3OYT1ZibY6EcIKpyKG8ZaMsQRahEqj50s9ZYEX57BXB73cTqGux-7ZorGrLQqEK2RJBir8M96zOTJcRjHf0Pi04E04quaPDIHToqy5zz8nKHxHCnXEn2l/s320/bumpie_week_34_flag.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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....Can you tell I'm getting excited about my upcoming due date?</div>
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I seriously can't wait for Jack to be born! And it's not just because I'm sick and tired of being pregnant and I want my body back (seriously, if you were in my shoes....well first, you'd notice that the shoes don't really fit anymore, and then you'd notice that the simplest tasks are difficult to do around the big round belly that slowly seems to be swallowing you whole). Getting my body back will be amazing, but I really just can't wait to meet Jack face to face! He kicks all the time, he has the hiccups, but I want to know more! Will he prefer sleeping to classical music or rock 'n roll music? Will the cat get used to him? What the heck will he look like?????? I just can't wait!</div>
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Is it also weird that I'm starting to look forward to the actual delivery itself?</div>
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Okay, so yeah, maybe it's a little weird that I'm getting excited about what is probably going to be the most painful day in my life, but hear me out. Something really amazing is going to happen on that day; a new person is going to enter the world, and I'm going to be a part of it. It's going to be a brand new experience, something that's been on my bucket list since I was a teenager.</div>
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Delivery day also seems less scary because I now have more information about it. Dave and I finally got to take the childbirth class that I signed up for two months ago, and we got quite a lot of information on how that day is going to go.</div>
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It was a surprisingly fun class. The instructor was pretty funny, and she a knack for explaining things in ways that were easy to understand. A big part of the class involved trying different positions that I could use during the active stage of labor, as well as a couple of breathing techniques to help focus and relax through the contractions. I now feel like I understand what's going to happen to me and when I can anticipate the worst of the pain. It's made me feel more confident about the upcoming experience.</div>
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Best of all, this childbirth class was through Middlesex Hospital, where I'm planning on having my baby. The instructor was able to describe how the hospital preferred to do things, which perfectly coincided with what I had in mind (aim for a natural birth first, then offer various methods of pain medications to aid in labor when it seems like the pain is overwhelming, then finally resort to an epidural as a last resort. A C-section is a last course of action if the natural birth is clearly not going the way it needs to).</div>
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I've always known that I want a natural, medication-free birth. I'm definitely the type of person who prefers to be in control of what's happening to her, so while I know it's going to hurt, I'd rather be able to feel the pain and work with it, than not feel anything at all and wonder what's going on. The fact that Middlesex Hospital offers nitrous oxide and the analgesic shot as pain medication alternatives is great; that way, I can reduce the pain without going completely numb. In a weird way, I'm actually getting pretty curious about exactly how painful it'll be, and how well I'll be able to handle it.</div>
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To practice handling the pain, I'm going to work on the breathing techniques I learned, and research a few new ones to try out. I'm also getting into the habit of practicing these techniques when I accidently hurt myself (ie, stubbing my toe, banging my shin, etc., fortunately there are many pregnancy-related clumsy moments that I can use), so that I learn to relax through the pain. So far, so good!</div>
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In the meantime, Dave and I are slowly trying to get ready for Jack's arrival, and our weekends are becoming packed with things to do. The childbirth class was one thing that we did, but we've done some other things as well, just for the fun of it!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZAgsdDdu9MeNMOAAKuy5qjqLaWUDR8dBS3yp5VBhpqaZ_smjRgaZR623gJqZQNM4PAqfFdG54PYRjUyrnzytTyRUP9gjLA07dZ2WAq2f88vI9h84FSxPdEAkvGPSTo6Xekgp7vB6Zq_7/s1600/CT+Renaissance+Faire+2018+September+22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="960" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZAgsdDdu9MeNMOAAKuy5qjqLaWUDR8dBS3yp5VBhpqaZ_smjRgaZR623gJqZQNM4PAqfFdG54PYRjUyrnzytTyRUP9gjLA07dZ2WAq2f88vI9h84FSxPdEAkvGPSTo6Xekgp7vB6Zq_7/s320/CT+Renaissance+Faire+2018+September+22.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep, I'm a nerd. A big big nerd.</td></tr>
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Take the past couple of Saturdays for example. We went to the Connecticut Renaissance Faire twice this month. Yup, twice.<br />
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The first time was for me. The theme that weekend was wizards and magic, so of course I went dressed as a Harry Potter character! Dave and I went as James and Lily Potter, and our unborn son went as "The Boy Who Lived".<br />
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What fun that all was! I was super shy at first. All the other visitors exiting the parking lot weren't wearing costumes and I felt very exposed and almost took the costume off, but Dave kept up a steady stream of encouragement and we entered the fair with our costumes intact.<br />
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It turned out to be a lot of fun! The event staff loved the costumes, and while we didn't win the costume contest, we still got a lot of compliments. Plus, the Renaissance Fair is just plain entertaining!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfD0_9fBhUGvsvDjsnGzwrKCSYw-kDtY7kbZyqjhBMjjE1wk7MDE1UDjQxWnGh2JyIhl8dX_hrs0AZdJjPoVSFxn4t7zh7qDRUHx2eYMqy6iY4Gk3BQRNzvKtLZH5qtbJD1CmxfmAvaP8/s1600/IMG958792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfD0_9fBhUGvsvDjsnGzwrKCSYw-kDtY7kbZyqjhBMjjE1wk7MDE1UDjQxWnGh2JyIhl8dX_hrs0AZdJjPoVSFxn4t7zh7qDRUHx2eYMqy6iY4Gk3BQRNzvKtLZH5qtbJD1CmxfmAvaP8/s320/IMG958792.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone got a bee sting but me :(<br />...At least I got my mac n' cheese!</td></tr>
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The following weekend, we took our friends to the same exact fair. It turned out to be a huge success; we took them around the fair, and because we had already gone the previous week, we were able to guide them to the best events without any hiccups. The guys were able to enjoy the alcoholic cocktail they sell (called a "Bee Sting"--basically mead and hard cider), while I pigged out on all the fair food (such as pulled pork mac n' cheese, ice cream sundaes, deep fried oreos......hey don't judge me, I'm pregnant!)<br />
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There were so many shows to watch, and contests to participate in, but we managed to see and participate in some really good ones. There was the ax throwing contest (yep, that's right, people get to try a throw an ax at a wooden board and try to hit a painted target), and an archery contest. For obvious reasons, I didn't participate in either contest (I think I would have scared some people with the ax throwing contest 😄), but I had fun watching my husband and our group give these contests a try. The event staff for these contests are absolutely hilarious; they tease/roast the participants a little bit while the contest is going on, and keep things running smoothly and quickly despite the number of people who show up to try this stuff.<br />
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(By the way, no one in our group made it past the entry round. Ah well, at least we tried!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VprpY3zrlL7z1dBcUz_t-Ee9FiKsk22jvOmWQBcmqnpiF13K7HvFbe4PZpjL7yJJgFsjxHmTtnIMOAz4MGN13nbaKaNBHAkVaR5foF2PUIApsf5zx6_kM1vJlmvHHntlw90V12WGQMfJ/s1600/Resized95.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VprpY3zrlL7z1dBcUz_t-Ee9FiKsk22jvOmWQBcmqnpiF13K7HvFbe4PZpjL7yJJgFsjxHmTtnIMOAz4MGN13nbaKaNBHAkVaR5foF2PUIApsf5zx6_kM1vJlmvHHntlw90V12WGQMfJ/s320/Resized95.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The juggling knives came a little later.<br />Go honey!</td></tr>
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For me, the best part of the day was when Dave became a participant in an acrobat's show! Yup, that's right, you can see it in the picture here: the acrobat, Shelli Buttons, stood on Dave's shoulders and juggled knives! It was already a funny and entertaining show, and Dave's part was especially entertaining.<br />
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Overall, the Renaissance Faire was tons of fun, both times. It's nice when you can do something entertaining despite the fact that you need to sit down and rest every hour, and you're dealing with a gigantic ball of a belly.<br />
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Speaking of that gigantic ball, hats off to my Tuesday students! They held a surprise baby shower for me in between the lessons, which was so sweet of them. We had cupcakes, I opened a whole bunch of wonderful gifts, it was an overall great time. Thank you guys!<br />
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Finally, happy birthday to my wonderful husband! You're a wonderful man Dave, and you're going to be a wonderful dad very soon!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Reading Recap</span></b></div>
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Haha! I did it again! My goal was 8 books, so I read 8 books. And I stuck to the books I had intended to read. Boo ya! (Hey, what did you expect? I'm a pregnant nerd with a lot of rest time on her hands. And TV gets really boring really fast.)<br />
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Below are the books I finished this month. 7 of those 8 I completed during the last couple of weeks; 3 were re-reads, and 4 were BOTMs.<br />
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<b>Title:</b> The Bear And The Nightingale (Winternight Trilogy #1)<br />
<b>Author:</b> Katherine Arden<br />
<b>Date Finished:</b> September 12<br />
<b>Rating: </b><b>★★★ 1/2</b><br />
<b>Quick Review:</b> A pleasant surprise, considering I got this book for free at a renaissance fair this past June (we did a lot of renaissance fairs this year)<br />
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<b><a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2018/09/book-review-bear-and-nightingale.html" target="_blank">Full Review</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25489134-the-bear-and-the-nightingale" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Bear-and-the-Nightingale-Audiobook/B01N2PF84R?qid=1538140623&sr=sr_1_1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=MX12WYEQ3RCF91W74SA6&" target="_blank">Audible</a></b>
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1390886502l/7664041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1390886502l/7664041.jpg" width="135" /></a></div>
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<b>Title:</b> Inheritance (Inheritance Series #4)<br />
<b>Author:</b> Christopher Paolini<br />
<b>Date Finished:</b> September 16<br />
<b>Rating: </b><b>★★</b><b>★★</b><br />
<b>Quick Review:</b> Re-read to see if it could be a favorite. A good ending to a creative series that matured and grew with the author<br />
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<b><a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2018/09/book-review-inheritance-inheritance-4.html" target="_blank">Full Review</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7664041-inheritance" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Inheritance-Audiobook/B005ZWA2P6?qid=1538140646&sr=sr_1_1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=042ST0ZXQV73EP775HNY&" target="_blank">Audible</a></b>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1461629239l/30007916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1461629239l/30007916.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
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<b>Title:</b> A Gentleman In Moscow<br />
<b>Author:</b> Amor Towles<br />
<b>Date Finished:</b> September 16<br />
<b>Rating: </b><b>★★</b><b>★★</b><br />
<b>Quick Review:</b> A BOTM and a wonderful story that shows a different side of Russian history<br />
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<b><a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2018/09/book-review-gentleman-in-moscow-by-amor.html" target="_blank">Full Review</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30007916-a-gentleman-in-moscow" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/A-Gentleman-in-Moscow-Audiobook/B01E08EG84?qid=1538140670&sr=sr_1_1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=C5E4MHF2EYMBKCABN44Y&" target="_blank">Audible</a></b>
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1497098563l/15783514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="311" height="200" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1497098563l/15783514.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
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<blockquote style="background: #CEE3F6; border-radius: 10px; border: 5px solid currentColor; padding: 10px;">
<b>Title:</b> The Ocean At The End Of The Lane<br />
<b>Author:</b> Neil Gaiman<br />
<b>Date Finished:</b> September 18<br />
<b>Rating: </b><b>★★</b><b>★★</b><br />
<b>Quick Review:</b> Another BOTM and a good quiet story with the usual Neil Gaiman weirdness<br />
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<b><a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2018/09/book-review-ocean-at-end-of-lane-by.html" target="_blank">Full Review</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15783514-the-ocean-at-the-end-of-the-lane" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Ocean-at-the-End-of-the-Lane-Audiobook/B00CRKR77U?qid=1538140694&sr=sr_1_1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=Z8ZPPX9B5JB3BVWPP54Z&" target="_blank">Audible</a></b>
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1506026635l/35133922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="200" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1506026635l/35133922.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
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<blockquote style="background: #CEE3F6; border-radius: 10px; border: 5px solid currentColor; padding: 10px;">
<b>Title:</b> Educated: A Memoir<br />
<b>Author:</b> Tara Westover<br />
<b>Date Finished:</b> September 20<br />
<b>Rating: </b><b>★★</b><b>★★ 1/2</b><br />
<b>Quick Review:</b> Another BOTM and an excellent, thought-provoking debut memoir<br />
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<b><a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2018/09/book-review-educated-by-tara-westover.html" target="_blank">Full Review</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35133922-educated" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Educated-Audiobook/B075F8MBMQ?qid=1538140716&sr=sr_1_1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=DA0ZGKPM68RW2Z2QGMBJ&" target="_blank">Audible</a></b>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1405259930l/18774964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="309" height="200" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1405259930l/18774964.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
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<blockquote style="background: #CEE3F6; border-radius: 10px; border: 5px solid currentColor; padding: 10px;">
<b>Title:</b> A Man Called Ove<br />
<b>Author:</b> Fredrik Backman<br />
<b>Date Finished:</b> September 21<br />
<b>Rating: </b><b>★★</b><b>★ 1/2</b><br />
<b>Quick Review:</b> A funny BOTM read that made me laugh aloud, but I wasn't convinced by Ove's age<br />
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<b><a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2018/09/book-review-man-called-ove-by-fredrik.html" target="_blank">Full Review</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18774964-a-man-called-ove" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/A-Man-Called-Ove-Audiobook/B00MEL8VSG?qid=1538140743&sr=sr_1_1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=A6QS31SZRBYCXKG964G3&" target="_blank">Audible</a></b>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1309285027l/11387515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="197" height="200" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1309285027l/11387515.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
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<blockquote style="background: #CEE3F6; border-radius: 10px; border: 5px solid currentColor; padding: 10px;">
<b>Title:</b> Wonder<br />
<b>Author:</b> R.J. Palacio<br />
<b>Date Finished:</b> September 23<br />
<b>Rating: </b><b>★</b><b>★</b><b>★</b><b>★</b><b>★</b><br />
<b>Quick Review:</b> A re-read for fun and an absolute favorite of mine!<br />
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<b><a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2018/09/book-review-wonder-by-rj-palacio.html" target="_blank">Full Review</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11387515-wonder" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Wonder-Audiobook/B0074O9UF6?qid=1538140764&sr=sr_1_2&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_2&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=JPRX0JB1D96GGZR24WGZ&" target="_blank">Audible</a></b>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1365592796l/10589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="278" height="200" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1365592796l/10589.jpg" width="120" /></a></div>
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<blockquote style="background: #CEE3F6; border-radius: 10px; border: 5px solid currentColor; padding: 10px;">
<b>Title:</b> Bag Of Bones<br />
<b>Author:</b> Stephen King<br />
<b>Date Finished:</b> September 28<br />
<b>Rating: </b><b>★</b><b>★</b><b>★</b><b>★</b><br />
<b>Quick Review:</b> A re-read that is a good ghost story, almost as good as <i>The Shining</i>, but I think I messed up the experience by partially listening to it on audiobook<br />
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<b><a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2018/10/book-review-bag-of-bones-by-stephen-king.html" target="_blank">Full Review</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10589.Bag_of_Bones?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Bag-of-Bones-Audiobook/B002UZZ1DE?qid=1538140788&sr=sr_1_1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=8SNAMXE56RZ1KE82BR7S&" target="_blank">Audible</a></b></blockquote>
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Not bad, eh?<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Goals</span></b></div>
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Well, this month the goals are simple. I've got maternity leave coming up, and since I'm self-employed, I'm responsible for my own funds while I'm away. So I need to pinch the pennies as much as I can this month in order to save up enough to last me through November and December. Fingers crossed that I can manage it!</div>
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As for reading, I definitely have plenty of time on my hands (especially once the baby room is completely set up; we've got a lot of presents to sort through and organize, and Dave and I have to clean up and repaint my old dresser). My goal this month is to complete another 8 books, as well as another part of <i>Les Miserables</i> (I'm making good progress on this book--it's wonderfully done).<br />
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Here's my reading list this month:<br />
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<ul>
<li><b>October 1-30: Les Miserables (Part II, "Cosette")</b>, by Victor Hugo <i>(my long-term reading project, only reading the second part of the book this month)</i></li>
<li><b>October 1-6: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6437061.The_Hundred_Thousand_Kingdoms__Inheritance___1_" target="_blank">The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms</a></b>, by N.K. Jemisin <i>(for fun)</i></li>
<li><b>October 1-9: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18775247.Mr__Mercedes__Bill_Hodges_Trilogy___1_" target="_blank">Mr. Mercedes</a></b>, by Stephen King <i>(A BOTM on audiobook)</i></li>
<li><b>October 6-11: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34050917.The_Girl_in_the_Tower__Winternight_Trilogy___2_" target="_blank">The Girl In The Tower (Winternight Trilogy #2)</a></b>, by Katherine Arden <i>(A sequel to read for fun)</i></li>
<li><b>October 9-20: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6101718-the-magicians" target="_blank">The Magicians (Magicians Trilogy #1)</a></b>, by Lev Grossman <i>(re-reading this trilogy on audiobook because I never never read the final book) </i></li>
<li><b>October 11-15: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27071490.Homegoing" target="_blank">Homegoing</a></b>, by Yaa Gyasi <i>(A BOTM for the library book club)</i></li>
<li><b>October 15-24: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28170940.Lethal_White__Cormoran_Strike___4_" target="_blank">Lethal White (Cormoran Strike #4)</a></b>, by Robert Galbraith aka J.K. Rowling <i>(newly released, can't wait to read it!)</i></li>
<li><b>October 20-31: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7973.Enchantment" target="_blank">Enchantment</a></b>, by Orson Scott Card <i>(re-reading this one on audiobook to see if it's a favorite)</i></li>
<li><b>October 24-31:<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/234225.Dune__Dune_Chronicles___1_" target="_blank"> Dune</a></b>, by Frank Herbert<i> (re-reading this one as well to see if this one's a favorite)</i></li>
</ul>
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There you go, 8 books. I'm finding that scheduling when I read each book helps me keep my goals on track, hence the dates.<br />
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I also set up a new reading challenge for myself, one that I feel I can probably manage, even with a new baby taking up my time.<br />
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I've tried this before and didn't succeed because I made it too big and therefore too difficult to complete. This time it's only 57 books, and it shouldn't be too hard to work with. I call it "The Pyramid Challenge", and I've decided to have it go from September 1st of this year to August 31st of next year, so that I already have a good headstart on it before Jack enters the picture.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Pyramid Challenge</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Start Date:</b> September 1, 2018</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>End Date:</b> August 31, 2019</span></div>
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(Note: I've already added some of the books I've read to this challenge. The ones in italics are books that are planned.)</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">1. One Series Or Trilogy </span></b><br />
<i>Read an entire series or trilogy from start to finish</i><br />
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<ul>
<li><i><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/50834-the-magicians" target="_blank">The Magicians Trilogy </a>(The Magicians, The Magician King, The Magician's Land)</b>, by Lev Grossman</i></li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">2. Two Non-Fiction Reads </span></b><br />
<i>Read two books that are non-fiction, any subject will do</i><br />
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<ul>
<li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36247169.Educated_A_Memoir" target="_blank">Educated: A Memoir</a></b>, by Tara Westover</li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">3. Three Books Friends Liked </span></b><br />
<i>Read three books that were recommended by a family member or friend</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">4. Four Books By New-To-You Authors </span></b><br />
<i>Read four books by four different authors that you've never read before</i><br />
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<ul>
<li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29430012.A_Gentleman_in_Moscow" target="_blank">A Gentleman In Moscow</a></b>, by Amor Towles</li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25489134.The_Bear_and_the_Nightingale__Winternight_Trilogy___1_" target="_blank">The Bear And The Nightingale</a></b>, by Katherine Arden</li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>5. Five Books By Foreign Authors </b></span><br />
<i>Read five books that were written by five different authors from another country</i><br />
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<ul>
<li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18774964.A_Man_Called_Ove" target="_blank">A Man Called Ove</a></b>, by Fredrik Backman (Sweden)</li>
<li><i><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28170940.Lethal_White__Cormoran_Strike___4_" target="_blank">Lethal White</a></b>, by Robert Galbraith/J.K. Rowling (England)</i></li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">6. Six Books From Six Different Genres </span></b><br />
<i>Read six books that belong in different genres (Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction, etc.) or different sub-genres (Chick Lit, Magical Realism, Horror, etc.)</i><br />
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<ul>
<li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7664041.Inheritance__The_Inheritance_Cycle___4_" target="_blank">Inheritance</a></b>, by Christopher Paolini (Young Adult Fantasy)</li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11387515.Wonder__Wonder___1_" target="_blank">Wonder</a></b>, by R.J. Palacio (Children's Fiction)</li>
<li><i><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/234225.Dune__Dune_Chronicles___1_" target="_blank">Dune</a></b>, by Frank Herbert (Science Fiction)</i></li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">7. Seven Books Of Seven Different Lengths </span></b><br />
<i>Read seven books that correspond with a certain number of pages (100 pages long, 200 pages long, 300 pages long, etc. up to 700 pages long)</i><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>100+ pages:</b> <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15783514.The_Ocean_at_the_End_of_the_Lane" target="_blank">The Ocean At The End Of The Lane</a></b>, by Neil Gaiman (181 pgs)</li>
<li><b>200+ pages:</b></li>
<li><i><b>300+ pages:</b> <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7973.Enchantment" target="_blank">Enchantment</a></b>, by Orson Scott Card (387 pgs)</i></li>
<li><b>400+ pages:</b></li>
<li><b>500+ pages:</b> <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/727690.Bag_of_Bones" target="_blank">Bag Of Bones</a></b>, by Stephen King (529 pgs)</li>
<li><b>600+ pages:</b></li>
<li><b>700+ pages:</b></li>
</ul>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>8. Eight Books For Book Clubs (or Eight Books That Were Made Into Movies) </b></span><br />
<i>Read eight books that were assigned by book clubs, both online and face-to-face (if this doesn't work, then I'm going to try to read 8 books that were made into films)</i><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><i><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27071490.Homegoing" target="_blank">Homegoing</a></b>, by Yaa Gyasi (The Early Birds Library Book Club)</i></li>
<li><i><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18775247.Mr__Mercedes__Bill_Hodges_Trilogy___1_" target="_blank">Mr. Mercedes</a></b>, by Stephen King (Goodread's Coffee&Books Book Club)</i></li>
</ul>
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<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">9. Nine Books By Female Authors </span></b><br />
<i>Read nine books by nine different female authors</i><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><i><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34050917.The_Girl_in_the_Tower__Winternight_Trilogy___2_" target="_blank">The Girl In The Tower</a></b>, by Katherine Arden</i></li>
<li><i><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6437061.The_Hundred_Thousand_Kingdoms__Inheritance___1_" target="_blank">The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms</a></b>, by N.K. Jemisin</i></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>10. Ten Books From Your TBR </b></span><br />
<i>Read ten books that you've been meaning to read for a while, either from your physical stash, or from your online reading list.</i><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><i><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24280.Les_Mis_rables" target="_blank">Les Miserables</a></b>, by Victor Hugo</i></li>
</ul>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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Not too bad, right? I'm hoping I'll be able to complete it this time. For any of you book lovers out there, feel free to give this challenge a try! Just tag me or my blog so I can see how many are trying it out, okay? And while I'm planning to avoid any overlap, if over 50 books seems too difficult, then a book can count for more than one category.</div>
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Anyway, time to amuse myself with free entertainment: reading! Since I have a couple of private lessons today, I think I might take my reading to the library, and maybe pack a lunch that I can eat outside while the day is so nice. Enjoy the day everyone!</div>
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-Lisa The Dancing Bookworm</div>
Lisa Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01661062020777123490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729554648174518042.post-83678009983055101452018-10-01T08:02:00.001-04:002018-10-01T08:02:52.042-04:00Book Review: Bag Of Bones, by Stephen King<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1387699817l/727690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1387699817l/727690.jpg" width="219" /></a></div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Horror<br />
<b>Date Published:</b> September 1998<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Scribner<br />
<b># Of Pages/Listening Time:</b> 529 pages/21.3 hours<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/727690.Bag_of_Bones">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Bag-of-Bones-Audiobook/B002UZZ1DE?qid=1538395224&sr=sr_1_1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=JYCN54FE1YCZYFXDZMVX&">Audible</a></b><br />
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<b>Synopsis:</b> <i>Stephen King's most gripping and unforgettable novel, Bag of Bones, is a story of grief and a lost love's enduring bonds, of a new love haunted by the secrets of the past, of an innocent child caught in a terrible crossfire.
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Set in the Maine territory King has made mythic, Bag of Bones recounts the plight of forty-year-old bestselling novelist Mike Noonan, who is unable to stop grieving even four years after the sudden death of his wife, Jo, and who can no longer bear to face the blank screen of his word processor.
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Now his nights are plagued by vivid nightmares of the house by the lake. Despite these dreams, or perhaps because of them, Mike finally returns to Sara Laughs, the Noonans' isolated summer home.
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He finds his beloved Yankee town familiar on its surface, but much changed underneath -- held in the grip of a powerful millionaire, Max Devore, who twists the very fabric of the community to his purpose: to take his three-year-old granddaughter away from her widowed young mother. As Mike is drawn into their struggle, as he falls in love with both of them, he is also drawn into the mystery of Sara Laughs, now the site of ghostly visitations, ever-escalating nightmares, and the sudden recovery of his writing ability. What are the forces that have been unleashed here -- and what do they want of Mike Noonan?
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As vivid and enthralling as King's most enduring works, Bag of Bones resonates with what Amy Tan calls "the witty and obsessive voice of King's powerful imagination." It's no secret that King is our most mesmerizing storyteller. In Bag of Bones -- described by Gloria Naylor as "a love story about the dark places within us all" -- he proves to be one of our most moving.</i></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Rating:</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> ★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">.....For being a good ghost story</span></b></div>
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Ok, so I read this a second time to see if I could officially declare this a favorite or not. This was the first Stephen King novel I ever read and it scared the crap out of me back then, so I wanted to see if I would be just as scared this time around (like when I read The Shining).
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Well, it was still a great ghost story. I still really enjoyed it; the storyline was interesting, the ghosts were pretty scary, and it was a pretty quick read.
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I think I messed up though. I combined listening to this on audiobook and reading the hardcopy. I think the mixed media made this book a little difficult to follow. I should have just read this book, rather than listened to it. Frankly, I'm not a huge fan of Stephen King's voice; there's something about it that makes the story feel a little flat. I appreciate that an author would best know how the story should be narrated, but I don't think King was able to accurately portray the intensity of some of the scenes. The added music and background noises were pretty cool though.
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Overall, this is a good horror story. I wouldn't say that it's as good as The Shining, but it's still pretty good. Definitely a story King should be proud of.Lisa Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01661062020777123490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729554648174518042.post-65164106137448682272018-09-26T07:30:00.000-04:002018-09-26T07:30:34.515-04:00Book Review: Wonder, by R.J. Palacio<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1412358842l/23302416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="312" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1412358842l/23302416.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Children's Contemporary Fiction<br />
<b>Date Published:</b> February 2012<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Knopf<br />
<b># Of Pages/Listening Time:</b> 316 pgs/8 hours<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11387515-wonder">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Wonder-Audiobook/B0074O9UF6?qid=1537960972&sr=sr_1_1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=7ZNP3RK2W5ZGZCETF8ZR&">Audible</a></b><br />
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<b>Synopsis:</b> <i>I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.
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August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. WONDER, now a #1 New York Times bestseller and included on the Texas Bluebonnet Award master list, begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance.</i></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Rating:</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> ★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">.....For being a sweet, wonderful story</span></b></div>
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Third time reading this and I still love it.
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I know there are parts of this story that would be considered a bit of a stretch (such as the ending), but it is, after all, a children's book. It was written for 10-year-olds, and 10-year-olds would get a whole lot out of this story for sure.
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This book is very well-written (once again, especially considering the target audience), and I feel the characters are very well-developed. Both of these qualities are what I think makes this book great. This story would have failed if you couldn't relate to any of the characters easily, or at least recognize them in people you went to school with. It would have also failed if R.J. Palacio didn't sell these characters properly with her writing.
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This book is a very quick read for grown-ups. Every time I've read this story, it's only taken me two days to finish it. I would have done it again this time around if I had an extra hour.
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Overall, I love this book. It's definitely a favorite that I'm looking forward to introducing to my son when he's old enough to read this story (funnily enough, one of the protagonist's name is also Jack, who also has parents who are a teacher and social worker. Cool beans!) For grown-ups, this makes for a good, quick read that you can easily finish while on vacation. For kids, this is a great book that will help them understand the meaning of being "kinder than necessary". Enjoy!Lisa Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01661062020777123490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729554648174518042.post-68547911979072389012018-09-26T07:20:00.000-04:002018-09-26T07:20:10.905-04:00Book Review: A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1405259930l/18774964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="309" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1405259930l/18774964.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Contemporary Fiction/Humor<br />
<b>Date Published:</b> August 2012<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Atria Books<br />
<b># Of Pages/Listening Time:</b> 337 pages/ 9 hours<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18774964-a-man-called-ove">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/A-Man-Called-Ove-Audiobook/B00MEL8VSG?qid=1537960630&sr=sr_1_1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=EZ2HQ87KQZGA4JHSG868&">Audible</a></b><br />
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<b>Synopsis:</b> <i>A grumpy yet loveable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door.
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Meet Ove. He's a curmudgeon, the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him the bitter neighbor from hell, but must Ove be bitter just because he doesn't walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time?
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Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove's mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents' association to their very foundations. </i></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Rating:</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> ★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★ 1/2</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">.....For making me chuckle out loud</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Thoughts:</span></b></div>
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Well this one was pretty cute, I gotta say. It made me chuckle out loud a number of times (maybe not the best thing to do when you're listening to this on audiobook with your headphones on, but what the heck). And it had a fun, grouchy main character that you easily end up loving, despite all of his antics.
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As much as it made me laugh, however, I can't say I totally loved it. The story was a bit predictable, and I found myself drifting off a little bit from time to time, and having to backtrack to re-listen to what I missed.
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I also wasn't totally convinced by the age of Ove. In the book, he's supposed to be 59 years old, which seems a bit too young. In my opinion, he reads like an older guy, like closer to 70/75 years old (the cranky types that I've personally met were around that age).
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Anyway, overall this is a fun quick read, but not an amazing piece of literature. A good vacation read.
Lisa Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01661062020777123490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729554648174518042.post-11010578118507796152018-09-24T16:58:00.003-04:002018-09-24T16:58:51.952-04:00Book Review: Educated, by Tara Westover<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1506026635l/35133922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1506026635l/35133922.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Non-fiction memoir<br />
<b>Date Published:</b> February 2018<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Random House<br />
<b># Of Pages/Listening Time:</b> 334 pgs/12 hours<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35133922-educated">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Educated-Audiobook/B075F8MBMQ?qid=1537822108&sr=sr_1_1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=JSSBDKSRYP3W4CZ6EP4A&">Audible</a></b><br />
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<b>Synopsis:</b> <i>Tara Westover was 17 the first time she set foot in a classroom. Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, she prepared for the end of the world by stockpiling home-canned peaches and sleeping with her "head-for-the-hills bag". In the summer she stewed herbs for her mother, a midwife and healer, and in the winter she salvaged in her father's junkyard.
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Her father forbade hospitals, so Tara never saw a doctor or nurse. Gashes and concussions, even burns from explosions, were all treated at home with herbalism. The family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education and no one to intervene when one of Tara's older brothers became violent.
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Then, lacking any formal education, Tara began to educate herself. She taught herself enough mathematics and grammar to be admitted to Brigham Young University, where she studied history, learning for the first time about important world events like the Holocaust and the civil rights movement. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge. Only then would she wonder if she'd traveled too far, if there was still a way home.
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Educated is an account of the struggle for self-invention. It is a tale of fierce family loyalty and of the grief that comes with severing the closest of ties. With the acute insight that distinguishes all great writers, Westover has crafted a universal coming-of-age story that gets to the heart of what an education is and what it offers: the perspective to see one's life through new eyes and the will to change it.</i></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Rating:</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> ★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★ 1/2</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">.....For capturing my interest from the beginning</span></b></div>
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I'm not a huge fan of non-fiction. I tend to avoid it, and while I've enjoyed some non-fiction reads in the past, I rarely love these books.
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This is one of those exceptional times where I find myself loving a non-fiction book.
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This woman's life was incredible. Well, okay, it's not her life that was incredible; I think what is incredible is how different her childhood was compared to the life she chose for herself. I think that it's incredible how she was able to choose a path so different from her family's and be able to stick with it. Her struggles are just a huge reminder of how difficult it is for someone to escape an unhealthy and damaging situation when it's been a part of your life for so long.
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It's hard to make another person understand why you make certain decisions instead of others, but I feel that Tara Westover did a great job describing her choices and what she was thinking at the time, in a way that allowed a reader, who's never had these experiences herself, to understand.
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I found Tara's story to be an interesting look into a world that I've never encountered before, to see what it was like to be a part of a family where the father seems to have an undiagnosed mental disorder, where the family is almost completely off the grid, and where the children don't go to school and have to decide for themselves whether they want to continue their education, despite their father's wishes. I kept comparing Tara's childhood with my own; it was just so different in the extreme! The opinions and views between her parents and mine are polar opposites, along with their ways of raising their children and making money, to name a few things.
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The trauma Tara suffered was also very thought-provoking. Even if only a portion of this story is true (and I think it's all true), it's still amazing that Tara was able to make the extremely difficult decision to leave a dangerous situation and live apart from those negative elements of her life. And I think I can understand how hard that must have been, because my social worker husband frequently encounters this problem in his work and tells me about it; it really isn't easy at all. I found it fascinating to read about this difficulty from the perspective of the victim rather than from the perspective of the social worker who's trying to help the person make the change. For me, it was extremely enlightening.
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Overall, this was a very engaging story. The writing pulls you in, and keeps you captivated. I meant to take my time and finish this book on September 24. However, I got so enthralled by the story that I ended up finishing this book four days early. It's an impressive debut novel, and I definitely recommend this read.
Lisa Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01661062020777123490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729554648174518042.post-29111633762390129702018-09-19T08:20:00.002-04:002018-09-19T08:20:30.632-04:00Book Review: The Ocean At The End Of The Lane, by Neil Gaiman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1497098563l/15783514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1497098563l/15783514.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Magical Realism<br />
<b>Date Published:</b> June 2013<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> William Morrow Books<br />
<b># Of Pages/Listening Time:</b> 181 pages/5 hours 45 minutes<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15783514-the-ocean-at-the-end-of-the-lane">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Ocean-at-the-End-of-the-Lane-Audiobook/B00CRKR77U?qid=1537359391&sr=sr_1_1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=PY503QJ4VHB0DJWN893G&">Audible</a></b><br />
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<b>Synopsis:</b> <i>Sussex, England. A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.
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Forty years earlier, a man committed suicide in a stolen car at this farm at the end of the road. Like a fuse on a firework, his death lit a touchpaper and resonated in unimaginable ways. The darkness was unleashed, something scary and thoroughly incomprehensible to a little boy. And Lettie—magical, comforting, wise beyond her years—promised to protect him, no matter what.
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A groundbreaking work from a master, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is told with a rare understanding of all that makes us human, and shows the power of stories to reveal and shelter us from the darkness inside and out. It is a stirring, terrifying, and elegiac fable as delicate as a butterfly's wing and as menacing as a knife in the dark. </i></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> ★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">.....For being an enchanting read</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Thoughts:</span></b></div>
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This was a...quiet story, I guess you could say. It felt like a children's story without being a children's story. Everything is from the point of view of a seven-year-old boy, so while it's all supposed to be terrifying, it feels less scary because everything's been filtered through the lens of a child's perspective.
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I loved the writing in this book. Neil Gaiman has a talent for writing in a such a way that brings the magic of the story to life. You accept everything he says as a fact of life because how could it be any other way? Of course the duck pond is actually an ocean in disguise! It makes perfect sense!
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What I was most impressed with was how successfully Gaiman managed to depict the youthful innocence of a young child. In my opinion, it was the most convincing part of the whole story.
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Overall, this story was quick and somehow lovely in a weird, Neil Gaiman sort of way. If you're already a fan of this author, you'll definitely enjoy this story. If you've never read him before (how on Earth having you been reading all this time without trying one of his books?!), this is a good story to try first.Lisa Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01661062020777123490noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729554648174518042.post-4453556458757649372018-09-18T09:02:00.001-04:002018-09-18T09:02:38.383-04:00Book Review: Inheritance (Inheritance #4), by Christopher Paolini<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Genre:</b> Young Adult Epic Fantasy<br />
<b>Date Published:</b> November 2011<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Alfred A. Knopf<br />
<b># Of Pages/Listening Time:</b> 849 pages/31 hours<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7664041-inheritance">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Inheritance-Audiobook/B005ZWA2P6?qid=1537275379&sr=sr_1_1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=CW8PKXS10M0GE5D7C9NJ&">Audible</a></b><br />
<br />
<b>Synopsis:</b> <i>It began with Eragon... It ends with Inheritance.
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Not so very long ago, Eragon — Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider — was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders.
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Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chance.
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The Rider and his dragon have come further than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaësia? And if so, at what cost?
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This is the spellbinding conclusion to Christopher Paolini's worldwide bestselling Inheritance cycle.
</i></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Rating:</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> ★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">.....For being a good conclusion(?) to an epic series.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Thoughts:</span></b></div>
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Well, that was a pretty good conclusion to this series, although now I'm trying to figure out whether there's really going to be a fifth book or not.<br />
<br />
It's funny: I can't bring myself to give this book 5 stars, yet I still consider this series overall a favorite. In my opinion, this installment's storyline was well done, and was very creative, but I think the pace was just a little slow.<br />
<br />
That being said, the character development was good, and there's a lot going on in this book that makes you want to continue reading this book to the end. It definitely is a good YA novel; I would certainly recommend it to YA fantasy lovers for sure, and I know I'm probably going to read this whole series again in a few years.<br />
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Overall, I like this series. Christopher Paolini really grew and matured with each book he wrote. I can't say it's the most amazing fantasy ever, but it deserves some praise, and if there is going to be a fifth book, I will certainly read it when it comes out.
Lisa Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01661062020777123490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729554648174518042.post-8879994753788698112018-09-18T08:54:00.005-04:002018-09-18T08:54:51.586-04:00Book Review: A Gentleman In Moscow, by Amor Towles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1461629239l/30007916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1461629239l/30007916.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Historical fiction<br />
<b>Date Published:</b> September 2106<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Viking<br />
<b># Of Pages/Listening Time:</b> 462 pages/18 hours<br />
<br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30007916-a-gentleman-in-moscow">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/A-Gentleman-in-Moscow-Audiobook/B01E08EG84?qid=1537275168&sr=sr_1_1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=X7FBWTY2AW0HSQVSA2K4&">Audible</a></b><br />
<br />
<b>Synopsis:</b> <i>He can’t leave his hotel. You won’t want to.
<br />
From the New York Times bestselling author of Rules of Civility—a transporting novel about a man who is ordered to spend the rest of his life inside a luxury hotel.
<br />
In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, and is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin. Rostov, an indomitable man of erudition and wit, has never worked a day in his life, and must now live in an attic room while some of the most tumultuous decades in Russian history are unfolding outside the hotel’s doors. Unexpectedly, his reduced circumstances provide him entry into a much larger world of emotional discovery.
<br />
Brimming with humor, a glittering cast of characters, and one beautifully rendered scene after another, this singular novel casts a spell as it relates the count’s endeavor to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a man of purpose.</i></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Rating:</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> ★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">.....For warming my heart.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Thoughts:</span></b></div>
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I've been meaning to read this for ages, and now I'm glad I did. The writing was well done, and I liked the story; it showed a part of Russian history I knew very little about.<br />
<br />
When I learned about Russia in my high school history, my teachers would talk about the Russian Revolution, and a tiny bit about the tumultuous period afterwards, but then they would switch over to the U.S. perspective of the Cold War, and you stopped learning about what was happening to the Russian people.<br />
<br />
It never occurred to me that certain people were put under permanent house arrest after the Revolution. This interesting little fact made for a great story, allowing us to see Moscow in a new light, despite the fact that we never really got a peek outside of the hotel the Count lived in.
I love the Count; he's a great character. He's smart, resourceful, and above all he's a man you can like. I also loved all the people who work in the hotel, excepting the Bishop of course (you have to have a physical villain in a book, and the Bishop was perfect for the role).
Overall, this was a very good novel. It definitely deserves the attention it's been getting from all the book clubs in the area. There's a lot to discuss with this book and it's worth every minute of it. Highly recommended.Lisa Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01661062020777123490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729554648174518042.post-49488309943811201982018-09-15T10:00:00.000-04:002018-09-15T10:03:39.606-04:00The Midway Recap: What's Been Going On And What I'm PlanningOkay, halfway through September! 8 weeks left to go!<br />
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<br />
<b>Life Recap</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTi7UaUkh2fbQk9Cy7-H8KMT1icE-MWfIRG1dGf-YsYNsziL4G-I6FhsVHMhmnP3PopDrrdCkTIFJN6pRDhZ7Q0zyT1G5_-R9mIjbYXY4sHip2Aw2s7AoLUy7fHiMH4oLfHgZr6Baah54/s1600/bumpie_week_31_flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTi7UaUkh2fbQk9Cy7-H8KMT1icE-MWfIRG1dGf-YsYNsziL4G-I6FhsVHMhmnP3PopDrrdCkTIFJN6pRDhZ7Q0zyT1G5_-R9mIjbYXY4sHip2Aw2s7AoLUy7fHiMH4oLfHgZr6Baah54/s320/bumpie_week_31_flag.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I think this is the first time I'm glad that summer is ending. The end of this pregnancy is coming and I'm impatient for it to end! Not only will I finally start getting my body back, I'll also have a son. I've been feeling him kick all this time; how he kicks when the cat lays down on top of him, how he seems to like rock 'n roll music....I've been learning so much about him all this time, and I just can't wait to meet him in person!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Lately, it seems that I've been getting a mixture of extremely busy days (for a pregnant lady), and lovely days off (this is rare for a self-employed individual, by the way). Over the past couple of weeks there were times that I was working at least five hours in a row, and staying on my feet and dancing for most of it. Pre-pregnancy-me would have just shrugged this off, but when you have a bun in the oven, those five hours are exhausting and I end up limping back home because my feet, back, and hips are all killing me!</div>
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Fortunately, however, those busy days were frequently followed by a day off. A wonderful, lovely, <i>glorious</i> day off. And I've been milking those days for all they're worth!</div>
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<div>
My days off usually go like this:</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>wake up as early as I can (so the day off is nice and long) and have breakfast while I catch up on Goodreads and watch the news</li>
<li>catch up on a few chores around the house, eat a snack</li>
<li>go to LA Fitness and swim</li>
<li>have lunch</li>
<li>go to a library or bookstore and read for hours</li>
<li>come home and read some more!</li>
<li>watch <i>Sons Of Anarchy </i>with Dave while eating dinner</li>
<li>read in bed so I can get a little drowsy and fall asleep.</li>
</ol>
<div>
Yup, that's how I roll! (almost literally, my belly looks a giant beach ball!)</div>
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In other news, the baby room is finally done! Dave and I decided to use a free weekend to just Get. It. Done. 3 days of teamwork painting (I focused on the edging with the paintbrush while Dave did everything involving the roller brush), and now Jack's room is a nice happy shade of green!</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Before:</b></div>
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(I really didn't like this shade of green!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfo65aOQP_zezwILa5KQb86s7RW81GgezR44FFqNz7Ykia-PME6RYTd_IA90dmh11Rk9PHhZpyCM87IwliS0W_ecMp7_hcoZnvvGuFIAz5hdmcNwmHapYYp1QWRDHylDr21Vlf2GM4pDw/s1600/20180831_203943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgij_qdbQ1l9thiKuRSHcaltjXf73edT5_caAIWmDKgmxv0JIIt8TJCGROekt1tVqypMgyoCLqQvSVaPDLybQDW-EcM77S3rgDxm3SrkvpDRfbWLJeoPryC-jKM52YBFxFQPhrslDeZK5Du/s1600/20180901_101811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgij_qdbQ1l9thiKuRSHcaltjXf73edT5_caAIWmDKgmxv0JIIt8TJCGROekt1tVqypMgyoCLqQvSVaPDLybQDW-EcM77S3rgDxm3SrkvpDRfbWLJeoPryC-jKM52YBFxFQPhrslDeZK5Du/s320/20180901_101811.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfo65aOQP_zezwILa5KQb86s7RW81GgezR44FFqNz7Ykia-PME6RYTd_IA90dmh11Rk9PHhZpyCM87IwliS0W_ecMp7_hcoZnvvGuFIAz5hdmcNwmHapYYp1QWRDHylDr21Vlf2GM4pDw/s1600/20180831_203943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfo65aOQP_zezwILa5KQb86s7RW81GgezR44FFqNz7Ykia-PME6RYTd_IA90dmh11Rk9PHhZpyCM87IwliS0W_ecMp7_hcoZnvvGuFIAz5hdmcNwmHapYYp1QWRDHylDr21Vlf2GM4pDw/s320/20180831_203943.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b>After:</b></div>
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(Now it's so much lighter!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZg0IhDMO0APh8glPUJhPRe3JUyHwdg_AN1mXi54yIfAMWN1MliXItv-sNeReh2_p9oA_9Ei746rXWqoetiZPnDxxZiADPEZ8K1qskm6XzwMTfMlaXq-H0qwa5610_ONUqhvyyxk0qLhrd/s1600/20180912_183920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZg0IhDMO0APh8glPUJhPRe3JUyHwdg_AN1mXi54yIfAMWN1MliXItv-sNeReh2_p9oA_9Ei746rXWqoetiZPnDxxZiADPEZ8K1qskm6XzwMTfMlaXq-H0qwa5610_ONUqhvyyxk0qLhrd/s320/20180912_183920.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLX07naNZQx0aF5o6Cf1CO_ysdmKFijedupj_L5CGQg6Vb3pMXO6J2K1ZZA9Eeh5m-stID1Mq23fgRjABCYRR62KQUZI3pnxGhuU7J-myjG5huk_DKV91A07zX8TuEll3f1-8cF2GTHoQa/s1600/20180912_183906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLX07naNZQx0aF5o6Cf1CO_ysdmKFijedupj_L5CGQg6Vb3pMXO6J2K1ZZA9Eeh5m-stID1Mq23fgRjABCYRR62KQUZI3pnxGhuU7J-myjG5huk_DKV91A07zX8TuEll3f1-8cF2GTHoQa/s320/20180912_183906.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>With Some Furniture:</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDikiHIIeftWIJygX2Q1CzfcGC8Kmh4pH923nFLaccULLyMgLVwEzJB9NJL_DQP02vuJ0bCK0A_cgUBq9lZeekDR7NAnv-AvReS1yQlribaI_wFAyrHwHMlFMcTpAV5jcd8fkgF7DetP3d/s1600/20180913_115341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDikiHIIeftWIJygX2Q1CzfcGC8Kmh4pH923nFLaccULLyMgLVwEzJB9NJL_DQP02vuJ0bCK0A_cgUBq9lZeekDR7NAnv-AvReS1yQlribaI_wFAyrHwHMlFMcTpAV5jcd8fkgF7DetP3d/s320/20180913_115341.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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My brother's first reaction was "wow, that's bright!" Well, yeah, it's a baby room. And we didn't want to do the stereotypical blue either, so a light happy green was perfect!<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
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We also have some pictures to put up in that room. Dave found an awesome coupon for the Muse Paintbar and we decided to take advantage of it and paint something we could hang in Jack's room. We chose a day where they were going to have us do this painting of a little kid by a tree during a blustery autumn evening. Excellent!<br />
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Our renditions of this painting look....well, ok, let's just say the kid doesn't look like a kid in either of our paintings, and those background splotches were surprisingly difficult. But we had fun painting this scene, and they'll still look pretty good in the baby room, I think, especially since they were made with love by Jack's mommy and daddy :)<br />
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<br />
<b>Reading Recap</b><br />
Okay, so I didn't finish a whole lot of books yet. In my defense, I started out the month trying to read 4 books at once, which turned out to be a rather difficult endeavor. I don't know why I do this to myself! I'm able to read 4 at once, but it's really slow going. I'm better off sticking with only 2 or 3 at a time (remember this for later Lisa!)<br />
<br />
So, so far, I've managed to finish 1 book. Yup, just the one. Here it is:<br />
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<b>Title:</b> The Bear And The Nightingale (Winternight #1)<br />
<b>Author:</b> Katherine Arden<br />
<b>Date Finished:</b> September 12<br />
<b>My Rating: </b><b>★★★ 1/2</b><br />
<b>Quick Review:</b> Pleasantly surprised by this story!<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2018/09/book-review-bear-and-nightingale.html">Full Review</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25489134-the-bear-and-the-nightingale">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Bear-and-the-Nightingale-Audiobook/B01N2PF84R?qid=1536934962&sr=sr_1_1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=X7WJ3S1SB0MX37RCWJ9C&">Audible</a></b></blockquote>
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Goals</b><br />
So, I'm still determined to finish 8 books this month. I've got a reading schedule all figured out (so I'm super organized, so sue me), and I'm pretty happy with my current plans. Here's what I'm hoping to finish by the end of this month (the ones marked with a ☊ are ones I'll be listening to on audiobook)<br />
<ul>
<li><b>☊ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7664041-inheritance" target="_blank">Inheritance (Inheritance #4)</a>, by Christopher Paolini</b> (September 1-15)</li>
<ul>
<li><i>I should have finished this yesterday, but I was too busy</i></li>
</ul>
<li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24280.Les_Mis_rables" target="_blank">Les Miserables Volume I "Fantine"</a>, by Victor Hugo</b> (September 1-30) </li>
<ul>
<li><i>my long-term reading project. So far so good!</i></li>
</ul>
<li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29430012.A_Gentleman_in_Moscow" target="_blank">A Gentleman In Moscow</a>, by Amor Towles</b> (September 1-17)</li>
<ul>
<li><i>almost done and really enjoying it so far</i></li>
</ul>
<li><b>☊ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15783514.The_Ocean_at_the_End_of_the_Lane" target="_blank">The Ocean At The End Of The Lane</a>, by Neil Gaiman</b> (September 15-17)</li>
<ul>
<li><i>A BOTM that I've been meaning to read for ages</i></li>
</ul>
<li><b>☊ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18774964.A_Man_Called_Ove" target="_blank">A Man Called Ove</a>, by Fredrik Backman </b>(September 17-21)</li>
<ul>
<li><i>Another BOTM that's been on my list for a while.</i></li>
</ul>
<li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35133922.Educated_A_Memoir" target="_blank">Educated: A Memoir</a>, by Tara Westover</b> (September 17-24)</li>
<ul>
<li><i>Yet another BOTM that seems to be rather popular right now</i></li>
</ul>
<li><b>☊ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10589.Bag_of_Bones" target="_blank">Bag Of Bones</a>, by Stephen King</b> (September 21-30)</li>
<ul>
<li><i>A book I've been meaning to re-read and see if it's a favorite</i></li>
</ul>
<li><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11387515.Wonder__Wonder___1_" target="_blank">Wonder</a>, by R.J. Palacio</b> (September 24-30)</li>
<ul>
<li><i>A re-read just for fun!</i></li>
</ul>
</ul>
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I have to say I'm pretty proud of this list. A lot of these books are ones I've been meaning to read for ages, including a couple of reads that I meant to read again to see if they could be a favorite (I don't declare a book a favorite unless it's passed the re-read test). After a summer full of comfort reads, I feel like I'm finally making progress on my reading list and reading a wide variety of books, rather than a limited selection that I've already read before.</div>
<div>
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<div>
Anyway, it's another day off today, so you know what that means! It means lots reading of course! So I'm going to hang out with my hubby and a book. </div>
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Happy reading everyone!</div>
<div>
-Lisa the Dancing Bookworm</div>
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Lisa Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01661062020777123490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729554648174518042.post-84861748817856666982018-09-13T10:07:00.000-04:002018-09-13T10:07:13.948-04:00Book Review: The Bear And The Nightingale (Winternight Trilogy #1), by Katherine Arden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1470731420l/25489134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1470731420l/25489134.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Russian Historical Fantasy<br />
<b>Date Published:</b> January 2017<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Del Rey<br />
<b># Of Pages/Listening Time:</b> 323 pages/11 hours 50 minutes<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25489134-the-bear-and-the-nightingale">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Bear-and-the-Nightingale-Audiobook/B01N2PF84R?qid=1536847180&sr=sr_1_1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=GXMRT4ARM0WVFCB2Y4SE&">Audible</a></b><br />
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<b>Synopsis:</b> <i>A magical debut novel for readers of Naomi Novik's Uprooted, Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus, and Neil Gaiman's myth-rich fantasies, The Bear and the Nightingale spins an irresistible spell as it announces the arrival of a singular talent with a gorgeous voice.
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At the edge of the Russian wilderness, winter lasts most of the year and the snowdrifts grow taller than houses. But Vasilisa doesn't mind--she spends the winter nights huddled around the embers of a fire with her beloved siblings, listening to her nurse's fairy tales. Above all, she loves the chilling story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon, who appears in the frigid night to claim unwary souls. Wise Russians fear him, her nurse says, and honor the spirits of house and yard and forest that protect their homes from evil.
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After Vasilisa's mother dies, her father goes to Moscow and brings home a new wife. Fiercely devout, city-bred, Vasilisa's new stepmother forbids her family from honoring the household spirits. The family acquiesces, but Vasilisa is frightened, sensing that more hinges upon their rituals than anyone knows.
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And indeed, crops begin to fail, evil creatures of the forest creep nearer, and misfortune stalks the village. All the while, Vasilisa's stepmother grows ever harsher in her determination to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for either marriage or confinement in a convent.
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As danger circles, Vasilisa must defy even the people she loves and call on dangerous gifts she has long concealed--this, in order to protect her family from a threat that seems to have stepped from her nurse's most frightening tales.</i></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Rating:</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> ★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★ 1/2</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">.....For being a pleasant surprise</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Thoughts:</span></b></div>
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Funny story around my reading this book. I never would have picked up this read if it hadn't been for a Renaissance Fair my husband and I visited in Vermont back in June. We bought tickets and drove up there from Connecticut as a fun little weekend trip for our 5-year wedding anniversary. Apparently, as a bonus, they were handing out free copies of two different books at the entrance, and this book was one of them! I figured "why not? It might be good"
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Turns out it was pretty good! I was surprised by how much I liked it; I guess I was coming in with low expectations because I had never heard of the author and the other free book was a Star Wars novel. But the book surprised me, and I found myself having fun reading this Russian-based historical fantasy. I really liked the inclusion of 13th-century fairy tale folklore; for myself, I always enjoy learning something new and interesting while I'm reading a story, and this novel had plenty of information about this one part of the world that I know very little about.
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I also enjoyed the story. It had a nice slow build that maintained my interest. I wouldn't say it was the most exciting fantasy novel, but this book benefited from a slower pace and quieter build, because it maintained that fairy tale quality.
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I also liked the female protagonist; she is frequently described as "ugly", with a strong will and plenty of courage. She doesn't let people walk all over her, nor does she change her habits or behavior to make people like her more. Of course, Katherine Arden had to make sure that her main character could still fit in the culture and society that she was using for her novel, but Vasilisa's strength is still very present.
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Overall, this is a good historical fantasy. I enjoyed it, and I'm thinking of actually purchasing a copy of this novel as well as its sequel at Barnes & Noble (the author is a Vermont resident, so why not support a local author?)
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If you're looking for a fairy tale story, this one definitely qualifies. Enjoy!Lisa Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01661062020777123490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729554648174518042.post-24677733862190386452018-09-03T12:00:00.000-04:002018-09-03T12:00:07.105-04:00Happy September! A Monthly Recap And My Upcoming Plans<div style="text-align: center;">
Woohoo September! Two and a half months to go before Jack arrives!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5pQo_bgncFl-jfJm4A5HXTodYi28XrItgTSNcaW6uhOrpuT8k9gyqpdjAoFetbBAOksfq8kzfmjLxKviH0okZpURrjvn1X1VNFo05M-OecuvO3xXDhxq_cYp09fFUKpgaWtpxmYEXEoQ/s1600/IMG_2627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5pQo_bgncFl-jfJm4A5HXTodYi28XrItgTSNcaW6uhOrpuT8k9gyqpdjAoFetbBAOksfq8kzfmjLxKviH0okZpURrjvn1X1VNFo05M-OecuvO3xXDhxq_cYp09fFUKpgaWtpxmYEXEoQ/s320/IMG_2627.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Life Recap</span></b></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQ_68wmnAXJ6Fay5vYmhsARptow2PX1IW4Lp12p5_Ksz8LSM4gYL9g9Xi7fuFi3D8w3d3suN8u-Tj4VizmDu09K-q_eY01COEP7jYYDCkFay3m00pQquQif9fwGWHEzO-UhB6ruNinx_S/s1600/bumpie_week_29_flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQ_68wmnAXJ6Fay5vYmhsARptow2PX1IW4Lp12p5_Ksz8LSM4gYL9g9Xi7fuFi3D8w3d3suN8u-Tj4VizmDu09K-q_eY01COEP7jYYDCkFay3m00pQquQif9fwGWHEzO-UhB6ruNinx_S/s320/bumpie_week_29_flag.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Yeah, so I've kind of reached the point in the pregnancy where I'd really like to be at the tail end of it. I feel like a lumbering walrus (getting out of bed is now an absolute chore), and I can't do more than a couple hours of dancing at a time anymore, because my hips start to get tired and painful by the end <span style="text-align: center;">of the day (posterior pelvic pain instead of back pain. Yay.)</span><br />
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I also had to do the dreaded glucose screen test. Twice.<br />
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For those of you who are wondering what this test is, pregnant women have to do a blood test to check and see if they have gestational diabetes. You have to avoid eating foods with sugar (fruit, bread, etc.) right before the test. And then you have to drink this disgustingly super sugary drink that they give you, wait in their waiting room for an hour without eating or drinking <i>anything</i>, then get your blood drawn.<br />
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If there is high content of sugar in your blood, then you have to go back at a later date for a <i>3-hour</i> test. This one is essentially the same (sugary drink, don't eat or drink anything while you're in the waiting room, etc), but now you're supposed to <i>fast </i>beforehand, and you have to get your blood drawn 4 times instead of just the one.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZR3Uq2NgbFBjvHQmDCbmxrHbH4sMnI3BgksR1OSoeQm6w2LtGBa79zIyBCRHWElXQA9YMUTqE6-X_tvkhUgXncJlMogtvfe0HflE5ljHJrWYT1VZjCY0altTma4ZjTSg4yIcqYwCrCIZA/s1600/20180826_130236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZR3Uq2NgbFBjvHQmDCbmxrHbH4sMnI3BgksR1OSoeQm6w2LtGBa79zIyBCRHWElXQA9YMUTqE6-X_tvkhUgXncJlMogtvfe0HflE5ljHJrWYT1VZjCY0altTma4ZjTSg4yIcqYwCrCIZA/s320/20180826_130236.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cat and hubby working on the garden together :)</td></tr>
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So <i>of course</i> there was sugar in my blood the first time around, so I had to do the 3-hour test as well. Pregnancy and fasting really don't mix; I was super cranky and hungry by the end of it all, and extremely eager to pig out with a lot of food. It was definitely a good day to satisfy my craving for doughnuts!<br />
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(By the way, I went through all of that testing only to rediscover what I already knew: I don't have gestational diabetes, or any other issues that would make this a high-risk pregnancy)<br />
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In other news, I've been using my gym membership and going to the pool on a fairly regular basis, although I've been also taking advantage of the cooler sunny days to go for short walks around the neighborhood (please, please, please! No more heat waves!) I'm also doing prenatal yoga at the hospital, so my exercise routine has become rather diverse.<br />
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Honestly, despite my complaining, I'm feeling pretty proud of the fact that my pregnancy is so normal and healthy. It's a huge difference from my first pregnancy (it's been a year since I miscarried, can you believe it?!) and despite the occasional pains, I honestly feel fine. I'm feeling fat and heavy, of course, but otherwise normal, which makes it extremely amusing when I start getting all energetic during my group classes. Every once in a while, one of my students will freak out and think I'm doing too much (I've noticed it's mostly men who think that way). What they forget is that I was already pretty active before I got pregnant, and that I spent over two decades of my life dancing. My sense of balance is excellent, and I feel fine. I move when I feel energetic, and I rest when I feel I need to. And despite the nagging trepidation that I have in the back of my mind about the actual giving birth part and then becoming a mom for the rest of my life, I'm feeling pretty relaxed with this pregnancy.<br />
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In other news, I got to hang out with my best friend for the first time in months. Yay! She has two little boys, so scheduling a get-together is always super tricky, but we always have a blast when we manage it. This time around, it was a simple hang-out-at-the-mall-then-eat-a-burger sort of hang-out. It was lovely; we window-shopped, ate delicious burgers, and spent all that time chit-chatting about everything going on in our lives, and how insanely different my life is going to be in a few months. Good times, good times.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Reading Recap</b></span></div>
Well, I didn't achieve the 10-book goal I had for myself this month (I blame <i>Main Street</i>: it took me all month to read it), but I did manage 8 reads so I'm happy.<br />
Here are all the books I read this month:<br />
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<b>Title:</b> Eragon (Inheritance #1)<br />
<b>Author:</b> Christopher Paolini<br />
<b>Date Finished:</b> August 6<br />
<b>My Rating: </b><b>★★★★★</b><br />
<b>Quick Review: </b>A fun YA epic read<br />
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<b><a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2018/08/book-review-eragon-inheritance-1-by.html" target="_blank">Full Review</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/113436.Eragon" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Eragon-Audiobook/B002UZKL7A?qid=1535205519&sr=sr_1_1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=AE82QJ6EX99X40JRDN5B&" target="_blank">Audible</a></b></blockquote>
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327868566l/2429135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="302" height="200" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327868566l/2429135.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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<b>Title:</b> The Girl With Dragon Tattoo (Millennium #1)<br />
<b>Author:</b> Stieg Larsson<br />
<b>Date Finished:</b> August 8<br />
<b>My Rating: </b><b>★★★★</b><b>★</b><br />
<b>Quick Review:</b> Loved re-reading this one again!<br />
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<b><a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2018/08/book-review-girl-with-dragon-tattoo.html" target="_blank">Full Review</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2429135.The_Girl_with_the_Dragon_Tattoo" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Girl-with-the-Dragon-Tattoo-Audiobook/B002UZMWNG?qid=1535205633&sr=sr_1_8&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_8&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=ZYCQ6S3DEP320GZYG8TP&" target="_blank">Audible</a></b></blockquote>
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1351778881l/5060378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="268" height="200" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1351778881l/5060378.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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<b>Title:</b> The Girl Who Played With Fire (Millennium #2)<br />
<b>Author:</b> Stieg Larsson<br />
<b>Date Finished:</b> August 10<br />
<b>My Rating: </b><b>★★★★</b><b>★</b><br />
<b>Quick Review:</b> The exciting sequel in one of my favorite trilogies!<br />
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<b><a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2018/08/book-review-girl-who-played-with-fire.html" target="_blank">Full Review</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5060378-the-girl-who-played-with-fire" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Girl-Who-Played-with-Fire-Audiobook/B002V8LF30?qid=1535205633&sr=sr_1_2&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_2&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=ZYCQ6S3DEP320GZYG8TP&" target="_blank">Audible</a></b></blockquote>
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327708260l/6892870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327708260l/6892870.jpg" width="135" /></a></div>
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<b>Title:</b> The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest (Millennium #3)<br />
<b>Author:</b> Stieg Larsson<br />
<b>Date Finished:</b> August 14<br />
<b>My Rating: </b><b>★★★★</b><b>★</b><br />
<b>Quick Review:</b> The courtroom scene at the end....awesome!<br />
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<b><a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2018/08/book-review-girl-who-kicked-hornets.html" target="_blank">Full Review</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6892870-the-girl-who-kicked-the-hornet-s-nest" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Girl-Who-Kicked-the-Hornets-Nest-Audiobook/B003ILGSFE?qid=1535205633&sr=sr_1_4&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_4&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=ZYCQ6S3DEP320GZYG8TP&" target="_blank">Audible</a></b></blockquote>
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1494055413l/33151805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="200" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1494055413l/33151805.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
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<b>Title:</b> Into The Water<br />
<b>Author:</b> Paula Hawkins<br />
<b>Date Finished:</b> August 16<br />
<b>My Rating: </b><b>★★★</b><br />
<b>Quick Review:</b> Not bad, but a few too many characters and backstories to keep track of<br />
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<b><a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2018/08/book-review-into-water-by-paula-hawkins.html" target="_blank">Full Review </a>| <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33151805-into-the-water" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>| Audible</b></blockquote>
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1334263665l/311512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" height="200" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1334263665l/311512.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
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<b>Title:</b> Eldest (Inheritance #2)<br />
<b>Author:</b> Christopher Paolini<br />
<b>Date Finished:</b> August 23<br />
<b>My Rating: </b><b>★</b><b>★</b><b>★</b><b>★</b><br />
<b>Quick Review:</b> A good continuation of an epic fantasy story<br />
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<b><a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2018/08/book-review-eldest-inheritance-2-by.html" target="_blank">Full Review</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/311512.Eldest" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Eldest-The-Inheritance-Cycle-Book-2-Audiobook/B003WVNWU4?qid=1535205519&sr=sr_1_3&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_3&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=AE82QJ6EX99X40JRDN5B&" target="_blank">Audible</a></b></blockquote>
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<b>Title:</b> Main Street<br />
<b>Author:</b> Sinclair Lewis<br />
<b>Date Finished: </b>August 27<br />
<b>My Rating: </b><b>★</b><b>★</b><b>★</b><br />
<b>Quick Review:</b> A good classic, but I had trouble getting into it.<br />
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<b><a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2018/08/book-review-main-street-by-sinclair.html" target="_blank">Full Review</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11376.Main_Street" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/search?keywords=main%20street%20by%20sinclair%20lewis&ref=a_search_t1_hdrSrc" target="_blank">Audible</a></b></blockquote>
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<b>Title:</b> Brisingr (Inheritance #3)<br />
<b>Author:</b> Christopher Paolini<br />
<b>Date Finished:</b> August 31<br />
<b>My Rating: </b><b>★</b><b>★</b><b>★</b><b>★ 1/2</b><br />
<b>Quick Review:</b> Another good installment in a great YA fantasy series<br />
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<b><a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2018/09/book-review-brinsingr-inheritance-3-by.html" target="_blank">Full Review</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2248573.Brisingr" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Brisingr-Audiobook/B002V0A444?qid=1535205519&sr=sr_1_2&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_2&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=AE82QJ6EX99X40JRDN5B&" target="_blank">Audible</a></b></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Blog Recap</span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwQz1Rks1vAL_zWxUOA2yUu4B-_oFZzdBwcZxCyFWYNsTswM9jfZ6fVbie8fZcnfT2FJjj4DMjsAwBqHl4xcBD7UsMsHbqx2aGwImoA2E7SzK_peoemVwc6uFEPyEiYbPQFur0KOvuHry/s1600/20180826_134059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwQz1Rks1vAL_zWxUOA2yUu4B-_oFZzdBwcZxCyFWYNsTswM9jfZ6fVbie8fZcnfT2FJjj4DMjsAwBqHl4xcBD7UsMsHbqx2aGwImoA2E7SzK_peoemVwc6uFEPyEiYbPQFur0KOvuHry/s320/20180826_134059.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally wrote about my favorite classic!</td></tr>
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Well, I managed to post more than just book reviews and semi-monthly recaps this time around. Yay! I wrote a post about how I'm doing a year after having a miscarriage (I felt I should mark the 1-year anniversary somehow, and speaking up about it again seemed appropriate). I also finally wrote a Favorite Spotlight post for the first time in <i>years.</i><br />
For those of you who are wondering what that is, years ago when I first started this blog, I tried to do several blog memes to make my blog as interesting as possible. I made what I called a "Favorite Spotlight" meme where I wrote a post discussing a favorite book or book series. It was a really good idea (all of my meme ideas were good), but I took on too much at and couldn't keep up (let's face it, my life is too busy for me to spend hours writing multiple blog posts).<br />
Now that my blogging goals are considerably more reasonable and achievable, I've decided to try revamping the Favorite Spotlight meme, but making it a monthly meme rather than a weekly meme. So far, this seems to be working!<br />
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Here are the links to the posts I wrote:<br />
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<b><a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2018/08/favorite-spotlight-pride-and-prejudice.html" target="_blank">Favorite Spotlight: Pride And Prejudice, by Jane Austen</a></b><br />
<b><a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2018/08/one-year-after-my-miscarriage-how-im.html" target="_blank">One-Year Anniversary Of My Miscarriage</a></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Reading Goals</span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZ-Vb8tdUDdv4uEeg0LkGENQDB7D7vFM9PTI068A4SHK-nFxfFlG_aNq6kg0ecZ3ucEB7QTUgGTgXmJ9tHA3GAbwBc0L7CiobLdgNp1YCMcaBBpIX9KY1FS1BGjTx5Fh8pjVxSEej_HE1/s1600/20180830_145722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZ-Vb8tdUDdv4uEeg0LkGENQDB7D7vFM9PTI068A4SHK-nFxfFlG_aNq6kg0ecZ3ucEB7QTUgGTgXmJ9tHA3GAbwBc0L7CiobLdgNp1YCMcaBBpIX9KY1FS1BGjTx5Fh8pjVxSEej_HE1/s400/20180830_145722.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Library overseer keeping watch over the books</td></tr>
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Okay, so goals for reading this month. I think 8 books is a happy number, so I'm going to try and do 8 again this month. I'm feeling like doing some BOTM's (Books Of The Month) for various book clubs, and maybe a couple of re-reads for fun.<br />
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I also really want to read <i>Les Miserables</i>. It's been on my reading list for ages, but I never tried it because reading it would be such a huge commitment. So, instead of trying to read the whole thing all at once, I'm going to try and read only one section at a time. There are 5 sections that make up this whole book: "Fantine", "Cosette", "Marius", "St. Denis", and "Jean Valjean". I'm planning on only one section a month, so I only have to read a few pages a day.<br />
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So here's the loose plan for this month (titles marked with a ☊ means I plan on listening to it on audiobook):<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">BOTM's</span></b><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29430012-a-gentleman-in-moscow" target="_blank">A Gentleman In Moscow, by Amor Towles</a> (currently reading)</b><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15783514.The_Ocean_at_the_End_of_the_Lane" target="_blank">The Ocean At The End Of The Lane, by Neil Gaiman</a> ☊</b><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18774964.A_Man_Called_Ove" target="_blank">A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman</a></b><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32148570.Before_We_Were_Yours" target="_blank">Before We Were Yours, by Lisa Wingate</a></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">For Fun</span></b><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7664041-inheritance" target="_blank">Inheritance (Inheritance #4), by Christopher Paolini</a> ☊ (currently reading)</b><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10589.Bag_of_Bones" target="_blank">Bag Of Bones, by Stephen King</a></b><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25489134-the-bear-and-the-nightingale" target="_blank">The Bear And The Nightingale</a> (currently reading)</b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Long Term Project</span></b><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24281.Les_Mis_rables" target="_blank">Les Miserables</a> (currently reading volume I "Fantine")</b><br />
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Okay, I'm done blogging now. I have the rest of the morning and afternoon off, so I'm going to go read :)<br />
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Happy reading everyone!<br />
-Lisa The Dancing BookwormLisa Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01661062020777123490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729554648174518042.post-66445275986594417972018-09-03T09:29:00.001-04:002018-09-03T09:29:16.539-04:00Book Review: Brinsingr (Inheritance #3), by Christopher Paolini<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Genre:</b> Young Adult Epic Fantasy<br />
<b>Date Published:</b> September 2008<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Alfred A. Knopf<br />
<b># Of Pages/Listening Time:</b> 748 pages/29 hours and 40 minutes<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2248573.Brisingr">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Brisingr-Audiobook/B002V0A444?qid=1535981025&sr=sr_1_1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=Y0NDZTMC1F27ZZKFHDM6&">Audible</a></b><br />
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<b>Synopsis:</b> <i>Oaths sworn... loyalties tested... forces collide.
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It's been only months since Eragon first uttered "brisingr", an ancient language term for fire. Since then, he's not only learned to create magic with words — he's been challenged to his very core. Following the colossal battle against the Empires warriors on the Burning Plains, Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have narrowly escaped with their lives. Still, there is more adventure at hand for the Rider and his dragon, as Eragon finds himself bound by a tangle of promises he may not be able to keep.
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First is Eragon's oath to his cousin, Roran: to help rescue Roran's beloved from King Galbatorix's clutches. But Eragon owes his loyalty to others, too. The Varden are in desperate need of his talents and strength — as are the elves and dwarves. When unrest claims the rebels and danger strikes from every corner, Eragon must make choices — choices that will take him across the Empire and beyond, choices that may lead to unimagined sacrifice.
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Eragon is the greatest hope to rid the land of tyranny. Can this once simple farm boy unite the rebel forces and defeat the king?
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Rating:</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> ★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★ 1/2</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">.....For showing how much the author's writing has matured since the first installment.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Thoughts:</span></b></div>
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Well, it's clear that Christopher Paolini's writing has matured considerably since his first novel.
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I really enjoyed this book. Paolini went into more detail with war politics, and you can tell he did a whole bunch of research on medieval weapons and gear, because there's considerably more detail when he writes about swords and men equipping themselves for war.
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I have to say I really love reading about Nasuada and Roran. It's nice to read about people who don't have special powers like Eragon or Arya, just their own brains and determination. It creates a good balance in the storytelling, and gives you more opportunities to relate to the characters you're reading about.
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I also like how Paolini is diversifying the Varden; there are elves, humans, dwarves, and urgals, all fighting on the same team. And they're not mixing all that well, particularly the urgals. This diversification is giving the Varden, as well as each race, a lot more depth.
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Overall, this is a good installment. I can't say this is the best fantasy that I've ever read, but it is still a very good fantasy story, and, unlike the previous two books, the plot stands alone from other stories. The previous two had similarities to Lord Of The Rings and Star Wars, but this one doesn't seem to be borrowing from anywhere else; it's standing on it's unique storyline, and that is why I still like to re-read this series.
Lisa Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01661062020777123490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729554648174518042.post-30516041027998784572018-08-31T06:00:00.000-04:002018-09-03T09:03:58.938-04:00Favorite Spotlight: Pride And Prejudice, by Jane Austen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4g5WEQwfzBNKViexvOXi1Uv1J3K8hLvQNCLSYg1k-kWQ5Asi94I5Wiw1d825iku9IM0GleKOcokb5YKKsjTPt7PmG3whTlkbUtTXWTkUk2c9Ka77RZmzqAsF5dG3po5e8DNdGS_QYGpH6/s1600/Favorite+spotlight+button+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="179" data-original-width="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4g5WEQwfzBNKViexvOXi1Uv1J3K8hLvQNCLSYg1k-kWQ5Asi94I5Wiw1d825iku9IM0GleKOcokb5YKKsjTPt7PmG3whTlkbUtTXWTkUk2c9Ka77RZmzqAsF5dG3po5e8DNdGS_QYGpH6/s1600/Favorite+spotlight+button+%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Well, it's been a while since I've put a spotlight on a favorite book of mine. Might as well do one now on one of my all-time favorite classics!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Pride And Prejudice</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">By Jane Austen</span></b></div>
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<b>Genre: </b>Classic Literature, Romance</div>
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<b>Words To Describe This Book:</b> Witty, romantic, satirical, feminist, informative, thought-provoking</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My battered old copy</td></tr>
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I've read this book several times now and I never get tired of it. I first read this as part of a British Literature class back in college (probably in 2008?); it was a great, informative class overall, but this was the book that stuck with me for years after.<br />
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I can't remember the name of the professor who taught the class (I only remember she was pregnant and looked ready to give birth at any second when the semester was over), but it's thanks to her that I have an excellent edition of this book: she had us purchase <i>The Longman Cultural Edition</i>, which not only has excellent explanatory footnotes, but also contains a great introduction, and plenty of extremely useful background information in the Appendix. I have a suspicion that I would not have appreciated this story quite so much if I didn't have this particular edition to help explain the cultural and historical aspects of this story.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Historical Context</span></b></div>
Personally, when it comes to classics, I feel that you need the extra background information. After <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Author</td></tr>
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all, the book was written in a different time period; the culture, politics, and targeted audience were all different back then. In Austen's time, for example, women were essentially considered to be of inferior intelligence to men; many were still of the opinion that women were supposed to be completely driven by their need to make babies and become mothers.<br />
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In this society during the Georgian/Regency period, women were essentially the property of men and were thoroughly financially dependent on their husbands and male relations; the men were the ones who owned property, controlled the money, and took over the wife's dowry when they became wed. This was why unmarried ladies were so focused on finding the optimal man to wed; it was either get married, or else depend on your father or brothers for financial aid. Or worse, become part of the poor working class where you make barely anything doing such work as child-rearing, cleaning, sewing, or being a companion for a wealthier woman.<br />
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Finding a husband was a bit like trying to get accepted into college or find a job today; you wanted to get the best possible offer by a man who could either maintain or improve your financial and social standing. Women needed to learn various talents in order to "build up their resume" and make themselves look like a suitable candidate for marriage. Men of the middle and upper classes sought ladies who would be a social asset to them; they needed an obedient women who would do well in societal functions in addition to being able to properly manage a household and raise children. So, women learned basic things such as reading, writing, arithmetic, sewing and languages, but also learned extras such as needlework, painting, and music that they could display at social gatherings. Marriage wasn't about finding love; it was a market created by a male-dominated society.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Book Analysis (Warning! Contains Spoilers)</span></b></div>
Austen knew all about the marriage market, of course, but she certainly didn't like it. In fact, this whole novel is a social criticism on seeking marriage during the late 18th/early 19th centuries. Throughout this story she pokes fun at the need for women to be "accomplished" in order to find a decent husband, and condemns the idea of marrying someone simply based on their social position or financial status.<br />
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Austen does this by providing the reader with different married couples to look at and analyze. In <i>Pride And Prejudice</i> we witness the marriage of four different women; one was the example of the ideal marriage expectation, another was the actual reality. The third was the example of the worst marriage you could get yourself into, and finally, there was Jane Austen's idea of a good and healthy marriage.<br />
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Jane Bennet and Mr. Bingley (the expectation): You find a handsome, wealthy man who is extremely sweet and kind, that you can be faithful to and love. Your social standing goes up and you have more money, and therefore can relax and not worry about anything.<br />
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Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins (the reality): You have to settle for what you can get. A women is foolish if she doesn't jump on the first proposal she receives because it could be the only one. You're expected to be obedient and subservient to your husband, whether you really love him or not.<br />
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Lydia Bennet and Mr. Wickham (the worst situation): You have to marry someone to prevent a scandal and family exile. The guy won't be faithful to you and won't provide for you; instead you'll end up poor and destitute thanks to his recklessness<br />
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Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy (the best situation): You find someone who actually loves you for you, and not for your accomplishments and social standing. You are able to refuse a proposal because you don't love the man who asked, and you can choose to marry for love rather than societal gain (the money was just an added bonus, a way for people of that time to view Mr. Darcy as an ideal suitor)<br />
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<b><b><span style="font-size: large;">What About The Rest Of The Book (Plot, Characters, Etc.)? </span></b></b></div>
The social critique on the marriage market isn't the main reason I love this book so much. The plot is very well paced and keeps you riveted, despite the fact that it's only about women seeking husbands. I will say again, my <i>Longman Cultural Edition</i> copy was incredibly useful in helping me see how satirical some of the characters were, and how monumental some of the revelations were.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pompous Mr. Collins</td></tr>
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Thanks to the footnotes I was really able to appreciate what Jane Austen did character-wise. She <br />
created some really ridiculous ones. Mrs. Bennet is one such character; she is a silly and shallow person whose only concern is that her daughters all get married. Mr. Collins is another such character. He's an idiot who thinks a little too highly of his position, and is too easily amenable to the opinions of a more affluent person. His monologues, as well as the letters he wrote, make you want to drop your jaw in disbelief and wonder "what made him think that that was not an insulting thing to say?!" I admit, I love reading the scenes with Mr. Collins, because he's just so ridiculous in his pomposity.<br />
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Lydia is a third character that was extremely well done; she is a warning to others as to what happens if you don't properly educate your daughters. Lydia is a wild, foolish young girl whose ignorance made it too easy for Mr. Wickham to take advantage of her. I can't confirm that this is true, but someone mentioned that Lydia was allowing Mr. Wickham (and maybe others) to touch her inappropriately by cutting a slit in her skirt for easier access (this tear in the dress is mentioned in her letter that she left behind when she ran away).<br />
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The scandal behind her running away with a man is also a huge event in the book; it was the most exciting part of the whole story. The timing was perfect; because you already felt so invested in the Bennet's hopes that the daughters would all successfully marry, it made Lydia's foolish actions all the more devastating.<br />
Running away with a man without getting married first was literally one of the worst things a woman could do to her family in that day and age. Nowadays, it would be upsetting but not nearly as scandalous, just viewed as foolish. But back then, it was the type of thing that would ruin a whole family's reputation and social standing, and make every member of that family a social outcast.<br />
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Think of this scandal in this modern context:<br />
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The Bennets are a small but well-run business with a good social reputation and with several outposts in various locations. But they're struggling to make a profit so they're trying to make partnerships with other, more successful companies so as to reach many more customers and thus improve their finances.<br />
Lydia is one of the higher-ups in this business and she teams up with an outsider (Mr. Wickham) to con a huge number of clients, and run off with the cash (Once they were far enough away, Mr. Wickham was going to take all the money and leave Lydia in the dust somewhere).<br />
Lydia actions not only ruin the finances of the Bennet business when they were already struggling, but they will also taint the reputation of the business when it all becomes public knowledge, to the point where no one will want to buy their product or partner with them, and they will have to shut down the business. So, either the Bennets have to publicly denounce a family member/company manager, or they have to declare bankruptcy. Either way, they're ruined.<br />
Mr. Darcy ends up becoming a huge lifesaver by secretly swooping in and coming to the rescue with his cash to appease the angry clients before they go public (and stopping Mr. Wickham from running away with the money).<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">You Should Really Read This Book</span></b></div>
Seriously, what Jane Austen did with this novel astounds me. It is a feminist novel without being so over-the-top that the people of her day and age would denounce it outright. It subtly criticizes the society of the Regency period, and shows that women are more intelligent and deserving of respect than men think. Mrs. Bennet was an example of what men of that time period expected women to be; unintelligent and silly, and best left to the task of making children. Elizabeth Bennet was an example of what women are, or at least could be if given the chance: smart, with the ability to make their own decisions for what's best for them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMDwf2QLshM_X8xBwhUFwE04Toh0N1EIIuHhvPMJUmF-PigSlJn0LYZL7SFKT8j-jOaMignW_XsuunSLeTV7J2dGcsKC596TBqXuds1mgt1dGqDAqUh7DeMwRn9pQakI5s76346BGuDVH/s1600/The_First_Quadrille_at_Almack%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="800" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMDwf2QLshM_X8xBwhUFwE04Toh0N1EIIuHhvPMJUmF-PigSlJn0LYZL7SFKT8j-jOaMignW_XsuunSLeTV7J2dGcsKC596TBqXuds1mgt1dGqDAqUh7DeMwRn9pQakI5s76346BGuDVH/s320/The_First_Quadrille_at_Almack%2527s.jpg" width="320" /></a>This novel isn't just a romantic story about finding suitable men to marry; it's a story that encourages you to think about how you view women and how outrageous it is to force women to marry so that they can have a comfortable life. It's brilliantly done because it's so subtle, hidden in satire and dramatic twists and turns. And all this was done by a woman author who wrote her books anonymously and received very little credit for it in her lifetime (she never married, by the way).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8loxjGZoWslo6ceIuLudBYyGhJ36uVWMs1y0I8yNLB-Yrn-G_EhcYptZbD7gizWzV3RJa2XWdXd1AWd9rOj2ufugBonh99TPcwHaZuVkA7yi7n33UzaD2ai2QJMHh7ev0ML2ieNXK_RG/s1600/20180826_134118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8loxjGZoWslo6ceIuLudBYyGhJ36uVWMs1y0I8yNLB-Yrn-G_EhcYptZbD7gizWzV3RJa2XWdXd1AWd9rOj2ufugBonh99TPcwHaZuVkA7yi7n33UzaD2ai2QJMHh7ev0ML2ieNXK_RG/s320/20180826_134118.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Based on my notes and highlights, <br />
you can see how much I like this book!</td></tr>
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Seriously, I have huge respect for Jane Austen and what she did with this book. She might not have fought the oppression of women directly, but she helped plant the seed that would eventually grow into the Suffrage Movement and the acquisition of equal rights for women.<br />
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Okay, so clearly you can see why I love this book so much. It's an excellent story, with an excellent message, and characters that you want to either root for, or laugh at. This classic has withstood the test of time for very good reason and I hope that there are many others out there who appreciate and love this book as much as I do. And once again, I really do recommend the<i> Longman Cultural Edition</i> of this book; it really did help me to understand this book in a modern context, and thus make it a more enjoyable read.<br />
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If you haven't read this yet, you really should. If you're a high school student being forced to read this book, I'm sorry but I agree with your teacher-- you must read this book. So grab a copy and read it now!<br />
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Happy reading everyone!<br />
-Lisa The Dancing BookwormLisa Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01661062020777123490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729554648174518042.post-65987277729541816332018-08-28T13:26:00.000-04:002018-08-28T13:26:06.007-04:00Book Review: Main Street, by Sinclair Lewis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Genre:</b> Classic Literature<br />
<b>Date Published:</b> 1920<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Modern Library<br />
<b># Of Pages/Listening Time:</b> 450 pgs/18 hours 30 minutes<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11376.Main_Street">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/search?keywords=main%20street%20by%20sinclair%20lewis&ref=a_home_t1_hdrSrc">Audible</a></b><br />
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<b>Synopsis:</b> <i>Hailed by scholars as "the most American of American novelists", Sinclair Lewis has been noted for his double gifts of satire and realism, as demonstrated in these two repackaged classics. "Main Street" tells the tale of a big-city girl who marries a physician and settles in a small town in the Midwest, only to fall victim to the narrow-mindedness and unimaginative natures of the town's residents.</i></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Rating:</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> ★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">.....For being a good (if slow) classic</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Thoughts:</span></b></div>
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This took forever to finish, which is always a bad sign for me. I had a hard time getting into it, and I felt I could guess the ending based on the first 20 pages. The plot felt very slow for most of the novel, and I couldn't relate to the protagonist Carol. Nor could I bring myself to like her husband Will Kennicott
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With that being said, however, I can see why this is a good classic. The writing is genuinely very good, and I'm looking forward to checking out Sparknotes' book analysis of this novel, because I know I missed a couple of things. Someone else mentioned that this is a feminist novel, and I do agree with this. Sinclair Lewis gave us a female character who is struggling to make modern changes in a conservative town. She may not have really succeeded, but she made an effort. I would say it's a novel that really shows the hardships and barriers that the suffrage movement faced, with the encouragement that the best success lies in questioning the ways of your world, rather than forcing them to instantly change their attitudes and their environment.
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I think this quote was well put:<br />
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"[It's] not a matter of heroism. [It's a] matter of endurance. Your Middlewest is double Puritan--prairie Puritan on top of New England Puritan; bluff frontiersman on the surface, but in it's heart it still has the ideal of Plymouth Rock in a sleet-storm. There's one attack you can make on it, perhaps the only kind that accomplishes much anywhere: you can keep on looking at one thing after another in your home and church and bank, and ask why it is, and who first laid down the law that it had to be that way. If enough of us do this impolitely enough, then we'll become civilized in merely twenty thousand years or so, instead of having to wait the two hundred thousand years that my cynical anthropologist friends allow... Easy, pleasant, lucrative home-work for wives: asking people to define their jobs. That's the most dangerous doctirne I know!"</blockquote>
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In short, it's not the fist-pounding that will break down the barriers; it's the talking and questioning that will help create change.
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All in all, this is a good piece of classic literature. I had a hard time getting into it and loving it, but I recognize it's import, and I know that others might enjoy it. A good book for a book club!Lisa Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01661062020777123490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729554648174518042.post-57104214597853500132018-08-24T09:07:00.000-04:002018-08-24T09:07:24.368-04:00Book Review: Eldest (Inheritance #2), by Christopher Paolini<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Genre:</b> Young Adult Epic Fantasy<br />
<b>Date Published:</b> 2005<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Knopf Books For Young Readers<br />
<b># Of Pages/Listening Time:</b> 668 pages/23 hours and 30 minutes<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/311512.Eldest">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Eldest-The-Inheritance-Cycle-Book-2-Audiobook/B003WVNWU4?qid=1535115769&sr=sr_1_1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=TPZGH9H8RQNGYANTAF5N&">Audible</a></b><br />
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<b>Synopsis:</b> <i>Darkness falls... Swords clash... Evil reigns.
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Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have just saved the rebel state from destruction by the mighty forces of King Galbatorix, cruel ruler of the Empire. Now Eragon must travel to Ellesméra, land of the elves, for further training in magic and swordsmanship, the vital skills of the Dragon Rider. It is the journey of a lifetime, filled with awe-inspring new places and people, each day a fresh adventure. But chaos and betrayal plague him at every turn, and Eragon isn't sure whom he can trust.
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Meanwhile, his cousin Roran must fight a new battle back home in Carvahall – one that puts Eragon in even graver danger.
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Will the king's dark hand strangle all resistance? Eragon may not escape with even his life...</i></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> ★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">.....For doing a good job of continuing the story</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Thoughts:</span></b></div>
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Middle books in a series are never my favorite (I almost always enjoy the first and last installments best), but this is still a pretty good book. You can see Christopher Paolini's writing start to mature a little more with this story, although he's still borrowing a few elements from other sources.<br />
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For example, any Star Wars fan would recognize that a couple of plot points in this book are very similar to certain scenes in The Empire Strikes Back <b>******WARNING SPOILER!*******</b>(Eragon going to a dying former Rider for more training is very much like Luke Skywalker going to Yoda to train as a Jedi, and Murtagh revealing himself to be Eragon's brother is a lot like the famous "Luke, I am your father" scene at the end of the movie.)<b>******END SPOILER!*******</b>. True, Paolini puts his own spin on things, but the similarities are definitely there.
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The other thing that Paolini "borrowed" is something that makes me laugh now every time I reach this part. There's a scene where Eragon has just started his training with the elves, and he learns of this exercise called "The Dance Of Snake And Crane". When I re-read this part some years back, and paid attention to the instructions that Oromis was giving Eragon, I discovered that he was describing step-by-step the basic Sun Salutation routine.... in yoga! Yep that's right, these tree-hugging, poetry-writing, atheist, vegan elves are also yogis. And that's all just a little too much for me. In my opinion, this elf society Paolini created is just a little too ridiculous; sure, each of the aspects I mentioned are fine and great by themselves, but when they're all put together like this....I'm sorry, but it's just too much!
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Overall, though, this is a fun story to read. It is very creative (once again, remember how young Paolini was when he wrote this), and the plot moves very well. The storyline no longer follows just Eragon and Saphira; instead, we get to follow Nasuada's and Roran's stories, as well as Eragon's. For myself, I loved reading about Nasuada and Roran more than I did Eragon, mainly because they were normal people doing extraordinary things and were therefore more relatable.
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And despite this book not being my favorite in the series, it stills helps to make the Inheritance series as a whole a very good YA epic story. I do recommend fantasy lovers to give these books a try, and I look forward to introducing them to my son when he's old enough.
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Enjoy!Lisa Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01661062020777123490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729554648174518042.post-80729397591287787942018-08-23T10:30:00.000-04:002018-08-23T10:30:08.214-04:00One Year After My Miscarriage: How I'm Doing And My Advice For Others Who Miscarried RecentlyWell, it's officially been a year. A year ago today, I suffered a miscarriage. I knew it was going to happen (the ultrasound two days earlier prepared me for what was to come), but it didn't make what was happening any easier to handle. I was emotionally traumatized by the event, and while I was eventually able to start healing afterward, it took getting pregnant again (and learning that <i>this </i>pregnancy was going to make it) to fully gain closure on the whole ordeal.<br />
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Now that I'm able to put this all behind me, it's easier to look back on the experience and reflect on how it's affected me as a whole. Overall, I feel that it's made me a stronger person. Something awful happened to me and I survived it. I was able to make peace with it and avoid falling into a full-blown depression.<br />
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The experience has also helped me to appreciate this current pregnancy all the more; I'm calmer and less worried, especially now that I'm confident that this baby is going to make it. I don't stress out on what I'm not doing right nearly as much as I did before, and the actual delivery doesn't seem <i>quite</i> as scary (it's still a little unnerving, but at least I know what contractions feel like when things get started).<br />
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Finally, despite feeling like a walrus and other pregnancy complaints, I'm still immensely grateful that I'm having this baby and that I was able to conceive again.<br />
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I overcame the worst day in my life and I feel at peace. But I know that there are women out there experiencing the horror for themselves, and some are having a worse time than I did. There are women out there who lost their baby at a later point in their pregnancy, and there are those who miscarried more than once. There are even some out there who have been trying unsuccessfully to have a pregnancy come to term for <i>years</i>.<br />
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Compared to these women, I was lucky. Compared to them, my one miscarriage barely counts as devastating. To these women, all I can say is: I'm so sorry. Remembering what I went through and knowing that your heartbreak kept going after mine had long since healed....I can only imagine how hard and emotionally draining it must be for you to make it day by day, how much you must be suffering when people aren't looking. How difficult it must be to leave the house and become surrounded by people who have children or who are proudly announcing their pregnancies. How sad it must feel when someone asks you "do you have children?" I only have an inkling of how you must feel, and I'm just. So. Sorry. And I know there's nothing I can do or say to help you make it through.<br />
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I think, though, that for the women who recently suffered their first (and hopefully only) miscarriage, I have some advice that might, just <i>might</i>, help. I know from personal experience that if you've just lost your unborn baby, you're probably now scouring the internet for answers and advice that will make you feel better and help you feel normal again.<br />
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So here are a few things that I'd like to say that I hope will help you gain that sense the peace that you're trying so hard to regain.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">1) It Wasn't Your Fault</span></b></div>
This was the first thing the ultrasound technician told me when we discovered that our unborn child had died. And it was true. It wasn't my fault. I did everything by the book (literally too, I was a pregnancy-researching fiend back then), but the embryo/fetus still passed on anyway. It just happens sometimes (terrible to say, but still true). Most of the time, it's because there was a mistake in the baby's cellular development that created a domino effect and subsequently led to a major problem that couldn't be fixed, so the baby dies.<br />
Think about it: a handful of cells are expected to create an entire human being within a matter of months! Plus, the environment in which these cells have to grow has to be within certain parameters for a successful development; and it's so sensitive that even the slightest chemical imbalance can cause a problem. It's practically a miracle when everything goes right!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">2) You're Not Alone</span></b></div>
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When I miscarried, I already knew of two people who had miscarried on the first go and had successful pregnancies afterward. When I opened up about what happened to others, I discovered even more women who had similar experiences to mine. It was a huge eye-opener for me.</div>
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Miscarriages are surprisingly common. Most websites say that 15-20% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage. My OB/GYN told me it was actually more like 25%, and that's for <i>reported</i> cases. There's a good chance it's even higher than that because some miscarriages go unreported.</div>
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When a miscarriage happens, you feel like the only living soul on a deserted island. You suffered a loss, and you feel surrounded by normal people who don't know what it's like. <br />
But that's not the case. If you talk to others about your ordeal, you will soon find other women who went through the same thing you did. So, don't keep your miscarriage a secret. Talk.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">3) There's Nothing Shameful About What Happened</span></b></div>
Now having encouraged you to talk about it, I have to say this: it's not easy to talk about your miscarriage to others. I wasn't secretive about mine, but I didn't often bring it up in conversation because it's such a downer of a topic. In fact, many of my friends and acquaintances didn't know that I had suffered a miscarriage until I had published a blog post about it back in March (see the post <a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2018/03/happy-birthday-to-child-that-will-never.html" target="_blank">here</a>).<br />
There were times, though, that I didn't talk about my miscarriage because I felt ashamed about it. This feeling didn't happen often, but it did still happen. The rational side of me knew there was nothing shameful about it, but my emotional side frequently didn't listen. I sometimes felt like my body was a baby killer, that miscarrying was somehow my fault and that made me a bad mother.<br />
Looking back, it made sense that I was feeling that way (especially during the times when the pregnancy tests would be negative yet <i>again</i>). It was an emotionally turbulent time and all of those thoughts were just a natural part of the grieving process, at least I feel that they were.<br />
To all you ladies out there who are currently having these feelings: you might not believe me right now, but there's absolutely <i>nothing</i> to be ashamed about. Once again, the miscarriage wasn't your fault and you are not alone in your suffering. Seriously, talk to people, or attend a miscarriage group therapy session. Or at least make a Facebook/blog post about your ordeal. Talking about it will help you feel less ashamed about your miscarriage because, once again, you'll find that you are not alone.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">4) It's Okay To Grieve</span></b></div>
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You're probably feeling a huge pile of emotions right now. Sure, you've probably accepted the miscarriage at one point and thought you had found closure and could move on. But then you start feeling a whole bunch of things. Anger, fear, frustration, sadness, shame, hopelessness.....You're feeling it all. You are grieving and you don't know when you'll be able to move on, if at all.</div>
All of this is probably hitting you pretty hard right now, but it's okay. Go ahead, grieve. Let it all out. It's perfectly okay what you're feeling. Take your time grieving and trying to heal; there's no deadline to feeling normal again. Your baby might never have lived, but that doesn't mean you're not allowed to grieve like any other mother who has lost a child.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">5) No One Will Say The Right Thing</span></b></div>
Another blogger said this and it's totally true. When I told people I miscarried, everyone had something to say. Sometimes it helped, especially when I spoke with a woman who had also miscarried.<br />
A lot of the time, though, it just felt like no one was saying the right thing to make me feel better ("they just don't understand me!"). It really wasn't their fault; they were being sincere, but I was just not in a good frame of mind at the time to accept and appreciate what they said to me.<br />
And that's the thing to remember when you're grieving: no one is going to say the right thing. Trust me, you're currently in a turbulent place that has impossibly high expectations. So, let people try to help you, but don't get angry at them for not saying or doing what you think you need at the time.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">6) Stay Busy</span></b></div>
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My social worker husband Dave has since told me that there were times where he got pretty worried about me. I did admittedly hit some really bad lows from time to time. It's very easy to enter a very depressed state of mind when you haven't found closure yet. What helped, though, was doing everything I could to stay busy. I worked around the house, I exercised, I hung out with my family (I remember playing a card game with my parents one night and feeling so much better afterwards). Dave even took me to the Renaissance Fair, as well as a weekend trip to a Harry Potter festival in Philadelphia. </div>
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I did numerous things to stay busy and distract myself from the fact that I still wasn't pregnant again. While it didn't keep the sadness completely at bay (I still had some bad days), it did keep me from going off the deep end.</div>
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So, be as active as you can be. Avoid the TV, and do things that feel either productive or at least fun. Distract yourself as much as you can with activities that you can enjoy doing, especially the ones that take you outside or away from home. It won't solve anything, but it'll certainly help.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">7) Don't Give Up Trying Again</span></b></div>
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When you're ready to try again, just remember that it's going to take some time. It took me five months, and I was pretty lucky with that number, I think. My menstrual cycles were a little out of whack after the miscarriage; I went from having normal 28-day cycles to irregular cycles that were often over 30 days long (once, it was 36 days long. I had started to hope that I was pregnant and was so crushed when it turned out I wasn't). <br />
Trying to figure out when I was ovulating became a tricky and frequently frustrating business, and I began to loathe the days when my period made its unwanted appearance. It was the leading cause of my depression.</div>
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What actually helped me start healing was something my Ob/Gyn said when I went in for my annual checkup. I confided to her my fears that I wasn't going to conceive again, and she told me that even if Dave and I timed everything exactly right, there's still only going to be a 15-20% chance of conception. Only 2-3% of the man's stuff is actually viable at the best of times (sorry guys), and that 2-3% has to swim upstream through the gargantuan cave that we call a uterus, traverse the endless tunnels that we call fallopian tubes, and find that one tiny little egg to merge with. To make matters worse, that egg needs to be in exactly the right place to be found, and the sperm has a deadline of only a few days to find it. It's a seemingly impossible mission. Once again, pregnancy proves to be a miraculous event from beginning to end!</div>
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When I was told all this, I instantly felt better about my situation. I found myself feeling okay with the hard truth that the next pregnancy test I was going to eventually take was probably going to be negative again. I was finally beginning to heal and move on. Ironically enough, it was at this point of acceptance that that test showed a positive result, and to my astonishment, I discovered that I was at last pregnant for the second time.</div>
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So ladies, don't give up trying! Do your best to relax and enjoy yourself. You'll feel pretty impatient and frustrated at times, but try to remember through all of this that it's going to take a while.</div>
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Ok, I've said my two cents. Miscarriages suck; the experience itself is scary and awful, and you end up feeling miserable for a while afterwards. But the misery does end eventually. I'm back to normal now. I'm finally where I wanted to be; happily pregnant and confident that I will succeed in bringing in to this world a healthy baby boy.<br />
To all the women out there who have recently miscarried for the first time: there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I know you don't believe me because it doesn't feel that way right now, and it probably won't feel that way for quite some time, but it will happen. You will eventually find closure in your own way, and you will eventually feel happy again. All I can say for now is: good luck and keep your hopes up.</div>
Lisa Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01661062020777123490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729554648174518042.post-26060599257276894972018-08-17T13:49:00.002-04:002018-08-17T13:49:57.150-04:00Book Review: Into The Water, by Paula Hawkins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1494055413l/33151805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1494055413l/33151805.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Mystery<br />
<b>Date Published:</b> May 2017 <br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Riverhead Books<br />
<b># Of Pages/Listening Time:</b> 386 pages/11 hours 30 minutes<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33151805-into-the-water">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/Into-the-Water-Audiobook/B01N5P9MG0?qid=1534528064&sr=sr_1_1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=R39099EKEXG9HGZ39778&">Audible</a></b><br />
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<b>Synopsis:</b> <i>In the last days before her death, Nel called her sister. Jules didn’t pick up the phone, ignoring her plea for help. Now Nel is dead. They say she jumped. And Jules has been dragged back to the one place she hoped she had escaped for good, to care for the teenage girl her sister left behind. But Jules is afraid. So afraid. Of her long-buried memories, of the old Mill House, of knowing that Nel would never have jumped. And most of all she’s afraid of the water, and the place they call the Drowning Pool . . . </i></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Rating:</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> ★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">.....For being good...but not impressive.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Thoughts:</span></b></div>
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I'm honestly not a huge fan of Paula Hawkins. The only two books I've read of hers are The Girl on the Train and now this one. Frankly, I think The Girl on the Train was a little bit better.
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When it comes to mysteries, I prefer detective novels, not novels like these where there are multiple points of view, and everything gets personal for everyone. This storyline was good, and the characters where also good, but I felt like I was able to predict most of the ending, and I felt a little bored with everyone's problems. It just felt like there was too much going beyond the original mystery, along with too many characters, in my opinion.
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Of course, I'm sure there are those out there who would disagree with me, so if you already enjoyed Paula Hawkins' The Girl on the Train, then there's a good chance you'll like this one too.
Lisa Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01661062020777123490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729554648174518042.post-24858306790974735632018-08-16T10:28:00.001-04:002018-08-16T10:28:15.313-04:00Blog Clean-up: My Favorites Spotlight Posts and Other PlansHey folks!<br />
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Thanks to an ever-expanding baby belly, I've been chilling on the couch more often and spending more time on this blog. So I decided it was time to do a little "cleaning".<br />
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So far, I've been focusing on my "Book Favorites" page and cleaning/updating that whole area. (If you're curious about how it looks now, <b><a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_23.html" target="_blank">click here</a></b>)<br />
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...Then I started noticing all my "Favorites Spotlight" posts, and how old and messy they looked.<br />
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Okay, so, back when I was a blogging newbie and getting into a frenzy creating my own memes and trying out new ideas, I created meme called "Thursday's Favorite Spotlight". The idea behind these posts was to select a favorite book or series of mine and spend a post talking about why it's such a good read.<br />
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I made 8 of them before my enthusiasm for writing long posts on a regular basis started to peter out. Let's face it, I'm not good at blogging regularly and I've been spending the past months figuring out ways to blog regularly without doing too much at once. I'm going to be a mom after all, so I need to take it easy with this sort of stuff.<br />
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Anyway, so I cleaned up my old posts, deleting photos that are no longer showing up, and making sure they looked nice and presentable. They're not bad entries, to be honest, so I'm listing them here so you can get a chance to look at them if you like. Although bear in mind these were written years ago.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4g5WEQwfzBNKViexvOXi1Uv1J3K8hLvQNCLSYg1k-kWQ5Asi94I5Wiw1d825iku9IM0GleKOcokb5YKKsjTPt7PmG3whTlkbUtTXWTkUk2c9Ka77RZmzqAsF5dG3po5e8DNdGS_QYGpH6/s1600/Favorite+spotlight+button+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="179" data-original-width="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4g5WEQwfzBNKViexvOXi1Uv1J3K8hLvQNCLSYg1k-kWQ5Asi94I5Wiw1d825iku9IM0GleKOcokb5YKKsjTPt7PmG3whTlkbUtTXWTkUk2c9Ka77RZmzqAsF5dG3po5e8DNdGS_QYGpH6/s1600/Favorite+spotlight+button+%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Favorite Spotlight Posts</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2015/01/favorites-spotlight-lord-of-rings-by.html" target="_blank"><b>The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy</b> and <b>The Hobbit</b>, by J.R.R. Tolkien</a></div>
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<a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2014/10/thursdays-favorites-spotlight-kingkiler.html" target="_blank"><b>The Kingkiller Chronicles</b>, by Patrick Rothfuss</a></div>
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<a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2014/09/thursdays-favorites-spotlight-millenium.html" target="_blank"><b>The Millennium Trilogy</b>, by Stieg Larsson</a></div>
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<a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2014/08/thursdays-favorites-spotlight.html" target="_blank"><b>The Bartimaeus Trilogy</b>, by Jonathan Stroud</a></div>
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<a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2014/08/favorite-spotlight-part-ii.html" target="_blank"><b>The Graceling Realm Trilogy</b>, by Kristin Cashore</a></div>
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<a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2014/08/favorite-spotlight-part-i.html" target="_blank"><b>The Madame Karitska 2-Book Series</b>, by Dorothy Gilman</a></div>
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<a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2014/07/thursdays-favorites-spotlight-harry.html" target="_blank"><b>The Harry Potter Series</b>, by J.K. Rowling</a></div>
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<a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2014/07/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html" target="_blank"><b>The Amelia Peabody Series</b>, by Elizabeth Peters</a></div>
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Looking back, making posts that highlight a favorite book was definitely a good idea, but I think I was making it too difficult for myself by trying to write one every Thursday. So I think I'll try again to make this a regular thing, but it probably would be best to only do it once a month. That way, I can spend the whole month writing the post and it won't feel so rushed and stress-inducing. Plus, I can re-read the favorite book ahead of time so that it will be nice and fresh in my mind :)</div>
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So far, I think I've got all my other blogging plans under control. I'll write book review posts whenever I finish a novel, and I'll write two posts a month where I recap on what's been going on in my life and in reading, along my future plans. I'll also try and write a monthly post where I discuss a favorite novel. For now, that seems fair and easy, with no added pressure. Realistically, I don't expect I'll be able to keep this up for an extended period of time, but I'd still like to try. After all, blogging is fun!</div>
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Anyway, I'm done for now. Just thought I'd share what I've been doing. Have a great day everyone!</div>
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-Lisa The Dancing Bookworm</div>
Lisa Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01661062020777123490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729554648174518042.post-27798586065442097762018-08-15T06:00:00.000-04:002018-08-15T16:22:26.754-04:00It's Wednesday The 15th! A Recap At The Halfway Point, And My Plans For The Rest Of The MonthHey! We're halfway through August! Yay! The end to humidity is coming!<br />
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In the past I used to recap every week. That was hard to maintain, however, so now my strategy is to recap on the 1st of the month, and then again on the 15th of the month. This seems easier to manage, I think.<br />
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So, let's recap on everything, starting with what's been going on with my life!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Life Recap</span></b></div>
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Well, it's been a busy couple of weeks, let me tell you! I'm now 27 weeks pregnant and I feel like a walrus. I've started to waddle and I can now rest my coffee mug on top of my belly. I also rarely sleep through the whole night anymore (I literally wake up at 3 am every morning and can't fall back asleep), and the heat and humidity are making me miserable!</div>
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There's more pain now as well. The ligaments around my hips now hurt by late afternoon/evening if I'm standing up and moving for too long, to the point where I can barely walk without pain; not a good thing if you're a dance teacher who works in the evenings! Swimming's not helping, and I have to take it easy when I'm dancing, which can get incredibly frustrating because I'm usually a very energetic teacher/dancer.<br />
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Luckily, I seem to have found a solution. It seems that the pain I'm experiencing might be related to posterior pelvic pain, so I looked online for some easy exercises to do to help strengthen and stretch the area. I try to do them in the morning and evening each day. So far, the exercises seem to be working...I hope!<br />
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As for swimming.....well, I'm still loving the exercise and the ease of movement in water, but the outdoor pool season is coming to a close (nooooo!), so now I need to find a decent indoor pool to swim in. I've checked memberships for various nearby gyms in the area that have indoor pools, and I've tried to find places that include a daycare for infants and kids if I need someone to keep an eye on little Jack in the future. Now I think I've found the gym I want to use: LA Fitness, come on down! It has a daycare, there's a promotional subscription going on that is pretty reasonable, it offers classes as well as lots of exercise equipment, and there's an indoor pool (it's not the best pool I've found, but so long as it's functional, I'm happy). Plus, it's so close to where I live, I could practically walk there! For now, it has everything I need, so we'll see!<br />
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Life has been busy in other ways as well. I made my first ever wedding cake last weekend. A wedding couple that had been taking dance lessons from my brother for the past year learned of my cake decorating hobby, and asked me to make their wedding cake; a cake to feed 130 people, I might add.<br />
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Mind you, I've never made a wedding cake before. I've done tiered cakes before, but never one that was meant to be eaten! It was an exciting prospect for me, especially since I've been toying with the idea of creating a small cake/baking business from home, and this would be an excellent test.<br />
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We did a little taste test, figured out the design and size, and I did a lot, I mean <i>a lot</i> of planning to figure out how to make this cake without stressing out too much.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_R87zxR1950ILsZzrC6A0cxTawEqL4SArFr53cS0tgFheAmnkxPRqZPMc5NiMgpsC0zdHXi5LSe844BTqHR6QGTgRxhu1G4HvS4SUHT_iVjc1h8YXytTlPy5nIjy7_CgsPs6xz6msHob1/s1600/20180810_143032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_R87zxR1950ILsZzrC6A0cxTawEqL4SArFr53cS0tgFheAmnkxPRqZPMc5NiMgpsC0zdHXi5LSe844BTqHR6QGTgRxhu1G4HvS4SUHT_iVjc1h8YXytTlPy5nIjy7_CgsPs6xz6msHob1/s320/20180810_143032.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All of the cakes trying to stay cool in my fridge</td></tr>
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Because the platform that was going to be used for the cake was only 10" x 10", I could only do a small two-tier cake, which meant I needed to make some extra cakes to serve the guests with. I kid you not, two weeks before the wedding, I had planned with excruciating detail the number of cake layers I needed to bake (15 layers), how much buttercream frosting I needed to make (10 batches) how much I needed to buy in ingredients and supplies (I hit over $100), and what the schedule was going to be like for the week of the wedding so that I didn't find myself baking and making icing at the last minute (I was going to have to start baking a few days early).<br />
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The wedding was on Friday. I literally starting baking on Tuesday, and making gigantic batches of frosting on Wednesday. After days of baking, making, assembling, cleaning and washing (oh my god, so much cleaning!), I finally reached the end with an hour to spare so I could shower and change for the wedding.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOD8crrkxyI3QvCSy9dS4Az_h5fUrveWJmLeP2Pafo0pZrzvZQh3l20OQiM4wYzCxlfnQVTQwRNwGk6eSDiaEkXfxbEZNrns0j34kYnlSAb6JUeglCZTSGmn4cRKuLWByuLMQXkCqvWQfm/s1600/20180810_142803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOD8crrkxyI3QvCSy9dS4Az_h5fUrveWJmLeP2Pafo0pZrzvZQh3l20OQiM4wYzCxlfnQVTQwRNwGk6eSDiaEkXfxbEZNrns0j34kYnlSAb6JUeglCZTSGmn4cRKuLWByuLMQXkCqvWQfm/s320/20180810_142803.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The main cake once the icing was all done</td></tr>
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There were certainly some hiccups along the way. My hands were killing me by the week's end (they're still a little cramped), and I broke my electric hand mixer while I was making the icing. Plus, I discovered the day before the wedding that the venue had no air conditioning and no kitchen with refrigerators for the caterers (crap), so I had to nix the sliced strawberries between the layers, and make sure the cakes stayed in my fridge for as long as possible before putting them in the car.<br />
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At last came the moment to deliver my wedding cake debut. The day was hot (86 degrees), and the venue was very warm. The main cake was put on display in the middle of the hall, while the extra cakes were left in their carrying cases in the catering section of the room. Things looked good when I left the cake to go to the beach ceremony. I felt nice and relaxed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZciUDm8g76H-YohvdrM3NU_Ke-svhTn56nFj9a1b40WuwQ7SykK4NPSpbLA1NlN6ogA3pWOsiOKotHKUJAQo3couvbNXtbLnyrw6CjwVDxLOvzG6poIUAqZHJT8zHRg9ou50Q-2OW2qz8/s1600/20180810_165928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZciUDm8g76H-YohvdrM3NU_Ke-svhTn56nFj9a1b40WuwQ7SykK4NPSpbLA1NlN6ogA3pWOsiOKotHKUJAQo3couvbNXtbLnyrw6CjwVDxLOvzG6poIUAqZHJT8zHRg9ou50Q-2OW2qz8/s320/20180810_165928.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How the cake looked....before it started melting</td></tr>
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.....So of course the main cake melted.<br />
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Ugh! It was a baker's nightmare! There was literally nothing I could have done to improve it. The frosting just wasn't up to the task and the frosting just fell away from the sides of half of the cake. Nothing I did to repair it worked (the other cakes were fortunately fine in their cases, and didn't suffer in the heat until it was time to take them out and serve them). In retrospect, I should have asked more about the venue when we were planning the cake, so that I could plan with the caterer to have an icebox of some sort, or at least research different methods of stabilizing my frosting without affecting the taste, but hey! I was a rookie and made a rookie mistake.<br />
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The cake still tasted pretty good, and overall I enjoyed making something for a large event, and it was definitely an educational experience..... but I'm definitely going to have to shelve the at-home cake business for a while. The baking/making part was fine, but keeping my kitchen clean for that whole week was a nightmare! I don't see myself handling all that with a baby on top of it all; it would be a little too overwhelming. Plus my hands are still pretty sore and cramped from all that mixing; I'm pretty sure I'd eventually develop carpal tunnel through all of this.<br />
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Well, that's what's going on in my life! So let's move on to my reading recap, shall we?<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Reading Recap</span></b></div>
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Well, so far I'm not really following that reading plan I set up two weeks ago. I kinda figured this would happen. Making the wedding cake really interfered with being able to sit down and physically read a book. I've only been able to listen to audiobooks so far this month. However, I was still able to finish quite a few audiobooks because I've had so much time to listen to them (keeping the house clean while I made the cake, actually making and decorating the cake, waking up randomly in the middle of the night and feeling bored, etc.)</div>
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At this point, I've finished 4 books, all of which were re-reads (let's face it, re-reads are ideal when you're decorating a cake). Here they are:</div>
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<b>Title:</b> Eragon (Inheritance #1)<br />
<b>Author:</b> Christopher Paolini<br />
<b>Date Finished:</b> August 6<br />
<b>Rating:</b> ★★★★★<br />
<b>Quick Review:</b> A fun YA fantasy re-read. I'm still impressed by how young Paolini was when he first wrote this.<br />
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<b><a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2018/08/book-review-eragon-inheritance-1-by.html" target="_blank">Full Review</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/113436.Eragon" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Sci-Fi-Fantasy/Eragon-Audiobook/B002UZKL7A?qid=1534254035&sr=sr_1_1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=KJHKCR49VFR7X29G2YCF&" target="_blank">Audible</a></b></blockquote>
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<b>Title:</b> The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (Millennium #1)<br />
<b>Author:</b> Stieg Larsson<br />
<b>Date Finished:</b> August 8<br />
<b>Rating:</b> ★★★★★<br />
<b>Quick Review:</b> Definitely a huge favorite of mine! I love Lisbeth Salander.<br />
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<b><a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2018/08/book-review-girl-with-dragon-tattoo.html" target="_blank">Full Review</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2429135.The_Girl_with_the_Dragon_Tattoo" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/The-Girl-with-the-Dragon-Tattoo-Audiobook/B002UZMWNG?qid=1534254248&sr=sr_1_1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=BDNKJA3EGNX19V813TJ4&" target="_blank">Audible</a></b></blockquote>
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<b>Title:</b> The Girl Who Played With Fire (Millennium #2)<br />
<b>Author:</b> Stieg Larsson<br />
<b>Date Finished:</b> August 10<br />
<b>Rating:</b> ★★★★★<br />
<b>Quick Review:</b> An exciting sequel that makes you want to keep reading<br />
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<b><a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2018/08/book-review-girl-who-played-with-fire.html" target="_blank">Full Review</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5060378-the-girl-who-played-with-fire" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/The-Girl-Who-Played-with-Fire-Audiobook/B002V8LF30?qid=&sr=&ref=a_series_c4_lProduct_1_2&pf_rd_p=e9d1cd18-ecb1-4912-b225-fa309efa6cc2&pf_rd_r=T0PKG1Y6YGA2GJRV181Z&" target="_blank">Audible</a></b></blockquote>
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<b>Title:</b> The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest (Millennium #3)<br />
<b>Author:</b> Stieg Larsson<br />
<b>Date Finished:</b> August 14<br />
<b>Rating:</b> ★★★★★<br />
<b>Quick Review:</b> The courtroom scene towards the end of the book was absolutely brilliant. 'Nuff said.<br />
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<b><a href="https://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/2018/08/book-review-girl-who-kicked-hornets.html" target="_blank">Full Review</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6892870-the-girl-who-kicked-the-hornet-s-nest" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/The-Girl-Who-Kicked-the-Hornets-Nest-Audiobook/B003ILGSFE?qid=&sr=&ref=a_series_c4_lProduct_1_3&pf_rd_p=e9d1cd18-ecb1-4912-b225-fa309efa6cc2&pf_rd_r=T0PKG1Y6YGA2GJRV181Z&" target="_blank">Audible</a></b></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Blog Recap</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3QnEO46fRAq7EM_c4KG-FxMsAw7q5OhXJhxSn8gDYrTL7l7Tz9hzTTvl7wyJAHCHh4jcVFnH9IGKZZysbc_1XKoQIcYCALsYOQWms_5SkOI5q7WRJ3bDY5jFi2c_Y8Q47XDWdhyeDM9l/s1600/My+Favorite+Books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="500" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3QnEO46fRAq7EM_c4KG-FxMsAw7q5OhXJhxSn8gDYrTL7l7Tz9hzTTvl7wyJAHCHh4jcVFnH9IGKZZysbc_1XKoQIcYCALsYOQWms_5SkOI5q7WRJ3bDY5jFi2c_Y8Q47XDWdhyeDM9l/s200/My+Favorite+Books.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Every once in a while, I sift through this blog and try to re-organize things. Sometimes it's a minor change or two, other times it's a major overhaul.</div>
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This time it's somewhere in the middle. I've finally updated my "Book Favorites" Page! Yup, I've finally gone through all of my favorite reads, and set up a nice, simple format to display them on this blog. Go ahead and check it out! Either click on the "My Book Favorites" tab above, or just <a href="http://lisadancingbookworm.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_23.html" target="_blank">click here</a>!<br />
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Well that's it for recaps, so let's move on to my goals for the remainder of this month.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Goals For This Month</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">For Life:</span></b></div>
Well, for the rest of this month, I'm taking it fairly easy. My main plans are reading, eating well, and exercising, as well as catching up on the household chores that I didn't have time to do last week. I'm also trying to focus on my job; I need to save as much money as I can before Little Jack comes! (That's the problem with being your own boss--you don't get paid maternity leave)<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">For This Blog:</span></b></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4g5WEQwfzBNKViexvOXi1Uv1J3K8hLvQNCLSYg1k-kWQ5Asi94I5Wiw1d825iku9IM0GleKOcokb5YKKsjTPt7PmG3whTlkbUtTXWTkUk2c9Ka77RZmzqAsF5dG3po5e8DNdGS_QYGpH6/s1600/Favorite+spotlight+button+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="179" data-original-width="282" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4g5WEQwfzBNKViexvOXi1Uv1J3K8hLvQNCLSYg1k-kWQ5Asi94I5Wiw1d825iku9IM0GleKOcokb5YKKsjTPt7PmG3whTlkbUtTXWTkUk2c9Ka77RZmzqAsF5dG3po5e8DNdGS_QYGpH6/s200/Favorite+spotlight+button+%25282%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a>When I was cleaning up my Book Favorites Page, I discovered I haven't done a Favorites Spotlight blog post in years. I want to rectify that, so I'm going to try to write a Favorites Spotlight post before the month is out, as well as clean up the Favorite Spotlight posts that already exist.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">For Reading:</span></b></div>
According to Goodreads, I'm 8 books ahead of schedule in my 80-book reading challenge. Yay! I'm hoping to keep that up, since I have a hunch that I won't be able to read as much once Little Jack is born. My goal is to try and complete my reading challenge by the end of November, so that I won't have to worry about it while I'm adjusting to life with a brand new baby.<br />
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(Secretly, though, I'd love to finish at least 90 books by the end of the year. How awesome would that be?!)<br />
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So, for this month, I'd like to hit the 10-book mark again. That would be fantastic! I loved having a reading schedule last month (it made figuring out my day so easy), so I made another one for the next couple of weeks, especially since I want to complete a few BOTMs this month (for those of you who don't recognize the lingo, BOTM stands for "Book Of The Month" for a book club). Here's my reading plan:<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Audiobook Schedule</span></b></div>
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33151805-into-the-water?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Into The Water, by Paula Hawkins</a></b><br />
11.5 hours<br />
<b>Start:</b> August 14 (reading now!)<br />
<b>End:</b> August 17<br />
<b>Why I'm Reading This:</b> This is a BOTM for one of the Goodreads book clubs I'm a member of<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45978.Eldest?from_search=true" target="_blank">Eldest (Inheritance Cycle #2), by Christopher Paolini</a></b><br />
23.5 hours long<br />
<b>Start:</b> August 17<br />
<b>End:</b> August 23<br />
<b>Why I'm Reading This: </b>I already read the first one for fun, so I figured I'd just keep going with the rest of the series<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2248573.Brisingr?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Brisingr (Inheritance Cycle #3), by Christopher Paolini</a></b><br />
29.6 hours long</div>
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<b>Start:</b> August 23<br />
<b>End:</b> August 31<br />
<b>Why I'm Reading This: </b>Second verse, same as the first!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hardcopy/Kindle Schedule</b></span></div>
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11376.Main_Street?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Main Street, by Sinclair Lewis</a></b><br />
355 pages (Kindle edition)<br />
<b>Start:</b> August 14 (working on it now)<br />
<b>End:</b> August 20 (I'm hoping)<br />
<b>Why I'm Reading This: </b>This is a BOTM for a book club. It's a classic, and I normally like a good classic, but I'm having difficulty getting through this one. I've been working on it all month so far, and I'm currently 131 pages in, but it's slow going. Here's hoping I can finish by the 20th!<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25489134-the-bear-and-the-nightingale?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">The Bear And The Nightingale, by Katherine Arden</a></b><br />
333 pages<br />
<b>Start:</b> August 20<br />
<b>End:</b> August 25<br />
<b>Why I'm Reading This: </b>We went to a Renaissance Fair in Vermont back in June, and they were handing out free copies of this book to those of us who purchased tickets in advance. Let's just say I'm mildly intrigued.</div>
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/168642.In_Cold_Blood?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote</a></b><br />
343 pages<br />
<b>Start:</b> August 25<br />
<b>End:</b> August 31<br />
<b>Why I'm Reading This: </b>It's yet another BOTM for yet another book club, but I've been meaning to read this for ages now, so why not?</div>
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Ok, I'm done! I've got a day off, I've got a cat on my lap, a cup of coffee on my tummy (decaf coffee, I can't wait until I can switch back to the caffeinated stuff!), and my Kindle is within reach. I think today is going to be a reading day!<br />
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Happy reading everyone!Lisa Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01661062020777123490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729554648174518042.post-49424437424398183532018-08-14T14:38:00.000-04:002018-08-14T14:38:00.513-04:00Book Review: The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest (Millennium #3), by Stieg Larsson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Genre:</b> Crime Thriller<br />
<b>Date Published:</b> May 2007<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Knopf<br />
<b># Of Pages/Listening Time:</b> 563 pages/20 hours 20 minutes<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6892870-the-girl-who-kicked-the-hornet-s-nest">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/The-Girl-Who-Kicked-the-Hornets-Nest-Audiobook/B003ILGSFE?qid=1534271753&sr=sr_1_1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=EV7NR15R9CBAHZPM2P1F&">Audible</a></b><br />
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<b>Synopsis:</b> <i>The stunning third and final novel in Stieg Larsson's internationally best-selling trilogy.
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Lisbeth Salander - the heart of Larsson's two previous novels - lies in critical condition, a bullet wound to her head, in the intensive care unit of a Swedish city hospital. She's fighting for her life in more ways than one: if and when she recovers, she'll be taken back to Stockholm to stand trial for three murders. With the help of her friend, journalist Mikael Blomkvist, she will not only have to prove her innocence, but also identify and denounce those in authority who have allowed the vulnerable, like herself, to suffer abuse and violence. And, on her own, she will plot revenge - against the man who tried to kill her, and the corrupt government institutions that very nearly destroyed her life.
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Once upon a time, she was a victim. Now Salander is fighting back.</i></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Rating:</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> ★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">.....For being a fantastic feminist read!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Thoughts:</span></b></div>
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What a great conclusion to a fantastic trilogy! If the first book was more of a mystery, and the second more of a thriller, then this one was more of a political court procedural.
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I loved the whole political intrigue and scandal part of the story. Reading about Erika Berger's own personal forays into a male dominant newspaper also made for interesting reading. Plus, the whole courtroom proceeding at the end of the novel was brilliantly done! I don't want to spoil anything, but it was definitely my favorite part of the entire novel.
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As a whole, this was a great trilogy. It's such a shame that Stieg Larsson never got to see how popular his writing was, nor how widespread they would become. The fact that they are so celebrated just goes to show that they carry all the elements that make a novel or a series good: good writing style, engaging plot, well-developed characters that you want to root for, and thought-provoking ideas. It's the type of book that can draw you in and keep you captivated for days.
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I said it in my reviews for the previous two books and I'll say it again: these novels carry a very strong feminist theme, and the woman characters in this novel are genuinely strong, independent female characters. These novels also accurately depict the inequality issues that women frequently face in the workplace, as well as the horrors of domestic abuse and instances of rape that women have endured time and again. As a feminist, I find it extremely gratifying that a man was able to definitively see a woman's point of view and depict it in such a realistic way in his writing. Stieg Larsson has certainly earned my respect several times over. Well done, sir. Well done indeed.
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I would highly recommend this series to anyone looking for a decent mystery, or for a good book that has a strong leading female character. Trust me, this series deserved the hype it's gotten, and it's definitely a worth a read.Lisa Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01661062020777123490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729554648174518042.post-57500630391922924202018-08-13T09:25:00.001-04:002018-08-13T09:27:05.135-04:00Book Review: The Girl Who Played With Fire (Millennium #2), by Stieg Larsson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1351778881l/5060378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="268" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1351778881l/5060378.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Mystery thriller<br />
<b>Date Published:</b> June 2006<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Alfred A. Knopf<br />
<b># Of Pages/Listening Time:</b> 503 pages/18 hours 40 minutes<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5060378-the-girl-who-played-with-fire">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/The-Girl-Who-Played-with-Fire-Audiobook/B002V8LF30?qid=1534166474&sr=sr_1_1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=BJ9CEJ7964KQFBHSH1XE&">Audible</a></b><br />
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<b>Synopsis:</b> <br />
<i><b>The Expose</b><br />
Millennium publisher Mikael Blomkvist has made his reputation exposing corrupt establishment figures. So when a young journalist approaches him with an investigation into sex trafficking, Blomkvist cannot resist waging war on the powerful figures who control this lucrative industry.
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<b>The Murder</b><br />
When a young couple are found dead in their Stockholm apartment, it's a straightforward job for Inspector Bublanski and his team. The killer left the weapon at the scene - and the fingerprints on the gun point to only one direction.
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<b>The Girl Who Played with Fire</b><br />
Ex-security analyst Lisbeth Salander is wanted for murder. Her history of unpredictable and vengeful behavior makes her an official danger to society - but no-one can find her. The only way Salander can be reached is by computer. But she can break into almost any network she chooses...</i></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Rating:</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> ★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">.....For still being awesome!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Thoughts:</span></b></div>
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I love Lisbeth Salander in this book. It's in this story that we get to learn more about her past, and we also get to see her kick some butt once again!
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The plot is considerably more exciting than the first book, probably because the mystery is more personal for our main protagonists, and there are more dangerous villains to watch out for. The Blond Giant is a little unbelievable perhaps, a little too much like the villains we see in comic books, but it's still an exciting story to read. I love watching the police slowly figure out who did it, while at the same time dealing with clashing personalities within the department. It's a lot fun seeing strong women stand up to prejudiced men in this book; it's something that makes me smile every time I read these particular scenes.
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The only thing I find a little improbable is the ending. (view spoiler) It seems a tiny bit over the top, especially when you compare it to the ending we saw in the previous book. However, I love these characters so much that I'm willing to overlook this tiny flaw. Suffice it to say, this trilogy is awesome, and it makes me happy because I love the people portrayed in it, particularly the women. Strongly recommended for suspense/thriller enthusiasts!
Lisa Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01661062020777123490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729554648174518042.post-39306391865235583762018-08-08T08:22:00.001-04:002018-08-13T09:27:22.402-04:00Book Review: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (Millennium #1), by Stieg Larsson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327868566l/2429135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="302" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327868566l/2429135.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
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<b>Genre:</b> Mystery Suspense<br />
<b>Date Published:</b> August 2005<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Knopf<br />
<b># Of Pages/Listening Time:</b> 465 pages/16 hours 19 minutes<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2429135.The_Girl_with_the_Dragon_Tattoo">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/The-Girl-with-the-Dragon-Tattoo-Audiobook/B002UZMWNG?qid=1533730664&sr=sr_1_1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=3RQ0GH0J42PAWW50RDKG&">Audible</a></b><br />
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<b>Synopsis:</b> <i>A spellbinding amalgam of murder mystery, family saga, love story and financial intrigue.
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It’s about the disappearance forty years ago of Harriet Vanger, a young scion of one of the wealthiest families in Sweden . . . and about her octogenarian uncle, determined to know the truth about what he believes was her murder.
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It’s about Mikael Blomkvist, a crusading journalist recently at the wrong end of a libel case, hired to get to the bottom of Harriet’s disappearance . . . and about Lisbeth Salander, a twenty-four-year-old pierced and tattooed genius hacker possessed of the hard-earned wisdom of someone twice her age—and a terrifying capacity for ruthlessness to go with it—who assists Blomkvist with the investigation. This unlikely team discovers a vein of nearly unfathomable iniquity running through the Vanger family, astonishing corruption in the highest echelons of Swedish industrialism—and an unexpected connection between themselves.
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It’s a contagiously exciting, stunningly intelligent novel about society at its most hidden, and about the intimate lives of a brilliantly realized cast of characters, all of them forced to face the darker aspects of their world and of their own lives.</i></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> ★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">★</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">.....For having an awesomely strong female character.</span></b></div>
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I was in the mood for a feminist re-read, and this one hit the spot! It really didn't take long to finish on audiobook (great job Simon Vance, by the way), although it helps when you have a lot of house chores to do, and you're 6 months pregnant and waking up at 3 am every friggin' night!
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Anyway...
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What's pleasantly surprising is that this novel's main theme is about the monstrosity of violence and abuse against women, and yet this was a novel written by a man. As a feminist I find this aspect of the novel (and the trilogy as a whole) fantastic; we need more men like Stieg Larsson speaking out for gender equality.
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You can see the feminist views in the characters. One of the main protagonists, Lisbeth Salander, is a young woman who is described as someone who "looks like a victim". Yet she is so badass! She is intelligent with lots of intiative, and she is perfectly capable of taking care of herself and helping her friends in the most unexpected ways. As it turns out, there's no damsel in distress in this novel, because it's not the guy who gets to, or even needs to, rescue the girl :)
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The characters are my favorite part of this novel, but the story is great too. Sure there's a lot of information in the beginning, which is a little confusing at first, but then you get used to it, and you find yourself drawn into the mystery, just like Mikael Blomkvist. It's a great mystery with a good plot twist (I don't know about other people, but I love re-reading a good mystery and keeping tabs on the person who I know to be the villain, just so I can see how everything ties together). The pace of the story is also pretty good; some people might find it a little slow perhaps, but I find it to be nicely steady and thorough.
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I find the writing to be pretty well done as well. It's a little dry, but it somehow works perfectly for this book.
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Overall, I love this novel. I think it's a great mystery, written by a man who very much a feminist. If you're looking for a novel with a true strong female character, you should definitely try this one. I would also say that the audiobook version is very well done, although you might have to rewind a little bit at certain points so you don't miss any important information. A great read!Lisa Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01661062020777123490noreply@blogger.com2