Double-Stacked Bookshelves

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and it's a way to share what you're loving in list form. The topic changes every week, so there is always something new to discover! This week's topic is:  Top Ten Goals/Resolutions for 2015 .  I've never been one to set or keep goals, but here goes nothing! Without further ado... Read the books that are already on my personal bookshelves instead of buying new ones or checking out more books from the library. Vow to read fewer books for the Goodreads challenge...but still read a lot! Catch up on my reviews.  I am woefully behind... Finish the multiple series I have begun BEFORE starting new ones. Get back into the groove of blogging. And some not so bookish resolutions... Get caught up on my scrapbooking projects.  I am years behind...literally! Purge my home of unwanted/excessive items (clothing, books, knick-knacks, crafting supplies, etc) Take more "me" time and NOT fe...

Yes!  Bookish Bingo Holiday Edition is going live on October 1 and I'm ready to go!  I had so much fun doing the Summer Editon of Bookish Bingo, hosted by Great Imaginations , and I'm feeling like that awesomeness should continue.  Here's the Bingo Card   Here are the rules: What we need from you: Sign up by leaving a comment on this post with a link to your Goodreads, Booklikes or blog Read read read! You have all of October, November and December to cover as many squares as possible One book per square. So while Shutter has a creature on the cover and is a autumn release, it can only count for one square There will be a giveaway at the end of December. Each bingo earned gets you extra points! To enter, write up a wrap up post with links to your books read and plug it into the Rafflecopter. *Books do not have to be reviewed* Signups close October 15th Have fun I'll continue to update this post as I finish books/Bingos. ...

 Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and it's a way to share what you're loving in list form. The topic changes every week, so there is always something new to discover! This week's topic is:  Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing This Year .  This list will be a smattering of new and old releases, so here goes: Outlander  by Diana Gabaldon...the entire series All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant Winter by Marissa Meyer (event though it's not out yet...Santa is magic!) The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring by George R.R. Martin (again, Santa is magic!) The Selection series by Kiera Cass Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay by Elena Ferrante Delicious Foods by James Hannaham The Sasquatch Hunter's Almanac: A Novel by Sharma Shields The Body in the Woods and Blood Will Tell by April Henry Though some of these have been out for a while, a lot of th...

Worst Gift...EVER! Sadly, the worst gift I ever received during the holidays is easy to remember.  I think I was in high school and we were at my grandparent's house (my dad's father and his third...or fourth...wife).  Now, my step-grandmother has never been the best at gifting, and her "real" grandkids we never subjected to her delightful gifts the way we were.  But this one took the cake.  Upon opening the box, wrapped in Sunday comics, I discovered the following: Pens and pencils (I didn't mind that) Men's cologne from the Dollar Tree.  I am not now, nor have I ever been, a man... A box of assorted safety pins...yeah Other various small items Safety pins!  Men's cologne!  What?!?  I think everyone was slightly horrified.  Even my brother was like "what the f*@%".  How do you even respond to that?  Naturally, I thanked them for the gift but I will never forget that... She's also given me underwear...but that's an entir...

As a few reading challenges are wrapping up (GoodReads and Bookish Bingo Holiday Edition) and new ones are starting, I'm so excited!  There are currently 17 days until the next round of Bout of Books begins (January 5-January 11).  This will be my third time participating in the challenge and I have a wonderful time in doing so.  Here are the rules: The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 5th and runs through Sunday, January 11th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional.  For all Bout of Books 12 information and updates, be sure to visit the  Bout of Books  blog.  - From t...

Hello lovely readers! I do so apologize for my absence from blogging these past few weeks.  Work has been crazy, loco, insanely busy and I'm desperately attempting to play catch up.  I will start posting regularly again once I am caught up in the office, am not so exhausted, and when I can stand sitting in front of a computer again. Cheerio...and happy reading!

Teaser Tuesdays:  Shadow Spell Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB @ Should Be Reading . Here are the rules: grab whatever you're reading, open to a random page, select no more than two sentence (NO SPOILERS), share the title and author, and GO! Here's today's teaser: "She needed to set it aside for one bloody night, she told herself.  Connor, Cabhan, her mother, the whole of her family.  One quiet night, she decided, in her pajamas--with a thick layer of one of Branna's creams on her face.  Add a beer, some crips or whatever junky food she had about, and the telly. She'd opt for no more than that. Opting for the beer to begin--it wouldn't be the first time she'd taken a cold beer into a hot shower to wash away the day--she started toward the kitchen, and someone pounded on the door" --page 135            ----- Shadow Spell by Nora Roberts Happy reading!  

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and it's a way to share what you're loving in list form. The topic changes every week, so there is always something new to discover! This week's topic is:  New Series I Want to Start Reading .  I'm going to go with series that I want to start in general though...not just new ones.  In no particular order, here's my list: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon Because I love Scotland...and miss Scotland...and like historical stuff. Legend by Marie Lu This sounds like a fun series.  Similar to lots of dystopian series out now, but fun regardless. The Selection by Kiera Cass I love the cover art on this series. Caster Chronicles by Kami Garcia Saw the movie, Beautiful Creatures, and it was decent.  I would like to see if the books are as good as everyone says. The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare Again, would like to see if they are as awesome as everyone claims they are....

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and it's a way to share what you're loving in list form. The topic changes every week, so there is always something new to discover! This week's topic is:  Fictional or Real Places Books Have Made Me Want to Visit .  I love a good setting when reading and the following worlds/places are ones that I would love to visit: Hogwarts ...Hogwarts, Hoggy, Hoggy, Hogwarts!  Who the heck wouldn't want to go to the best wizarding school in the world?  I'm impatiently awaiting my letter! Narnia .  I wish I had a wardrobe with a magical entrance to another realm.  It would be so...magical!  Dublin through the eyes of Leopold Bloom :)  While I've been to Dublin a couple times, I think it would be fascinating to visit on Bloomsday and explore the city like Joyce's character.  And the Bloomsday Festival in general would be pretty awesome. Wildwood would be an interesting o...

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and it's a way to share what you're loving in list form. The topic changes every week, so there is always something new to discover! This week's topic is:  Character Driven Novels .  Characters, to me, make the story.  Yeah, a good plot is necessary, but it's the characters that most readers connect to.  For me, these are my top ten recommendations for character driven novels: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak A brilliantly sensitive book placed against the backdrop of WWII.  The story revolves around Liesel Meminger and her adoptive parents in a small German town. The Help by Kathryn Stockett This is a fantastic book.  The characters are fleshed out and stand for something...even if you don't agree with their stance. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin This really needs no explanation.  It's full of well-developed characters.  So many characters! Li...

Teaser Tuesdays:  The Unbearable Lightness of Scones Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB @ Should Be Reading . Here are the rules: grab whatever you're reading, open to a random page, select no more than two sentence (NO SPOILERS), share the title and author, and GO! Today's teaser: "Grown-ups spoke as if the world were simple; as if people behaved nicely to one another.  But Bertie knew that they did not.  When you were a boy, as he was, and saw the world the way in which boys saw it, it all looked very different.  Olive and Tofu would fight because that's what people like that did:  they fought.  And it would end up with Tofu spitting on Olive, and Olive screaming and perhaps even trying to stab Tofu with the syringe from her junior nurse's kit." --page 88-89           ----- The Unbearable Lightness of Scones by Alexander McCall Smith Happy reading!

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and it's a way to share what you're loving in list form. The topic changes every week, so there is always something new to discover! This week's topic is:  Books That Were Difficult To Read .  There are always those few books that are pesky to get through for various reasons.  These are the ones I had trouble with: The Silence of Mockingbirds: The Memoir of a Murder by Karen Spears Zacharias Difficult to read because of the subject matter and my personal connection to those involved in the events discussed in the book.  Good overall...aside from the author's writing style and sense of attack toward certain people and woe-is-me attitude.  I also don't like how Spears changed the title recently in an effort to garner more sales...or something. The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown A good read overall, but the Shakespearean lines interspersed throughout made the book clunky.  Al...

Bookish Bingo hosted by Great Imaginations has come to an end and I loved participating in this challenge.  Over the course of July, August, and September I was able achieve three Bingos and plow through the following books: 3 Bingos Completed B1, B2, B3, B4, B5 B5, I4, Free, G2, O1 B2, I2, N2, G2, O2 Books Completed B1: A Stand-Alone Novel: Belle Cora by Phillip Margulies B2: Starts with S, U, M, E or R: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin B3: A Series Finale: Allegiant by Veronica Roth B4: A Blue Cover: In Paradise by Peter Matthiessen B5: Music/Dance Themes: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell I2: A Thriller: The Supernatural Enhancements by Edgar Cantero I4: A Summer Release: Top Secret Twenty-One by Janet Evanovich (released June 17th, 2014) N2: Set on a Boat: Zeitoun by Dave Eggers N4: Strong Sibling Relationship: The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown G1: Set During Summer: That Summer by Lauren Willig ...

Another month/season, another challenge!  Though I'm still participating in the Summer Libary Challenge hosted by Kate and Kristen @ The Book Monsters , another book event has popped up on my radar and it looks like too much fun to pass up (plus, they will work together).  Discovered through The Book Monsters, but hosted by Kara, Lyn, and Bekka @ Great Imaginations , Bookish Bingo is a reading challenge with set guidelines for each square on the grid.  The goal:  knock out the squares to get a bingo (or more!).  Sounds like a rip-roaring good time to me! Here's the Bingo card Here are the rules: One square per book.  For instance, Mockingjay starts with M and is also a series finale, but can only count for one square. All reading must be done during the months of July, August, and September. Enter the giveaway!  Multiple Bingos gets you more entries and a fully covered card gets you five extra entries.  Woohoo At ...

Teaser Tuesdays:  That Summer   Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB @ Should Be Reading . Here are the rules: grab whatever you're reading, open to a random page, select no more than two sentence (NO SPOILERS), share the title and author, and GO! Without further ado... "Tentatively, Julia jiggled the pasteboard panel.  When tentative didn't work, she gave it a good yank.  Whoever it was had stuck the false back in good and hard.  The panel popped free, Julia staggered back, and something plopped heavily into the cavity of the wardrobe, raising a heavy cloud of dust" --page 90           ----- That Summer by Lauren Willig So many treasures to be found... Happy reading!

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and it's a way to share what you're loving in list form. The topic changes every week, so there is always something new to discover! This week's theme is:  Books on my Fall TBR List.  I was kind of hoping that the fall version of Bookish Bingo (hosted by Great Imaginations ) would be posted by now so that I could coordinate the two lists, but alas.  Regardless, here are the ten books I'm hoping to get through this fall (my favorite season) and all happened to be housed on my personal bookshevles!  No excuses...right? Gillian Flynn Gone Girl With the movie coming out very soon, and with all the great things I've heard about it, this is definitely a must read for this Fall. Cornelia Funke Inkspell and Inkdeath (two for one) I've been meaning to finish this series for a while and figure that now is a great time to snuggle in and do it! Alice Hoffman The Dovekeepers I think thi...

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and it's a way to share what you're loving in list form. The topic changes every week, so there is always something new to discover! This week's theme is:  Authors I've Only Read One Book From But NEED to Read More .  It's been a while since I've done a Top Ten Tuesday, so I'm getting back in the swing of things.  Here's my list for this week! Gillian Flynn I've read Sharp Objects and really enjoyed it.  Gone Girl is on my TBR list for sure...I've heard fantastic things and, since the movie is coming out soon, I should probably get on that! Margaret Atwood While I wasn't super impressed with Cat's Eye , I've heard fantastic things about Atwood's other works.  Particularly The Handmaid's Tale . John Boyne I recently discovered the brilliance that is John Boyne when I read his latest work, The House of Special Purpose .  I now NEED to read ...

Teaser Tuesdays:  The Supernatural Enhancements Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB @ Should Be Reading . Here are the rules: grab whatever you're reading, open to a random page, select no more than two sentence (NO SPOILERS), share the title and author, and GO! Here's this week's teaser: "I drank some water from the sink and glanced at the mirror.  I could see my skin with outstanding detail.  I checked the bulbs and saw the light grow brighter.  I squinted at the white glow reverberating on the sink, the wall tiles, and the shower curtain, haloing them all with an aura that seemed to corrode the outline of all objects and that of a shadow on the curtain.  Not my shadow .  A shadow  behind the curtain" --page 22           ----- The Supernatural Enhancements by Edgar Cantero A creepy ghost story...that I tend to read right before going to bed... Happy reading!

Teaser Tuesdays:  The Weird Sisters Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB @ Should Be Reading . Here are the rules: grab whatever you're reading, open to a random page, select no more than two sentence (NO SPOILERS), share the title and author, and GO! Here's this week's teaser: "At this party, no one will know who our father is, or care, and the house will be dirty, with peeling wallpaper and furniture racked into slanting, exhausted postures.  There will be beer and pot and mattresses in unlikely places, and long before midnight Bean and Lyssie will be wholeheartedly 'round the bend and in the sweaty, beer-soaked arms of some boy they will forget the next day.  This adventure is possible only because Bean has always been an excellent liar, and not because our parents would ever approve of such an outing." --page 99           ----- The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown I've been meaning to read this ...

Though the Beat the Heat Readathon , hosted by Jessi @ NovelHeartbeat and Reanna @ Phantasmic Reads , ended on the first of September, I'm just now getting the chance to reflect on it.  It's been a busy first week!  This was my first time participating in the readathon, and I like to believe that I was quite successful!  Much more successful than other challenges recently.  I was able to finish six books and read a total of 2334 pages in 3 weeks.  I had a great time participating in the reading portion of this challenge, but didn't really get the opportunity to participate in any of the mini-challenges along the way.  Challenge Stats Books Completed:  An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine, Divergent ,  Insurgent , and Allegiant by Veronica Roth, Stuart Little by EB White, and Scotsmen Prefer Blondes by Sara Ramsey Book Started:  Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden   Most Successful Day:  Sunday, August ...

I've been kind of MIA for the past week and a half, so there are many things to touch on today!  And, looking at my postings for August, wow...sad business.  Regardless, here goes: 1.  In my last Booking Thoughts  posting, I talked about going to see Lady Gaga in Seattle (the rescheduled tour) on the 8th.  Hot Damn!  I freakin' love her.  Needless to say, the concert was amazing and the people watching was so awesome.  To have the confidence to where what some people do is astounding to me.  Props...serious props. 2.  On August 17th, I surprised my boyfriend with tickets to see a few of his favorite bands at the Cuthbert Amphitheater down in Eugene.  On the bill:  Stick Figure , The Green , Iration , and Rebelution .  All reggae bands.  There was dancing, singing, and whatnot.  Such a fun experience. A quick shot of The Green 2.  On August 18th, we headed over to watch a Volcanoes ...

The Beat the Heat Readathon began on August 11th and runs through September 1st.  I was going to keep track of my progress on my original post , but I've decided to create a new updates post specifically for the challenge which I will update accordingly.  Here's my progess so far! Date and Page Count 8/25/14-9/1/14:  314 pages in Scotsmen Prefer Blondes (finished) and 97 pages in Memoirs of a Geisha   8/24/14:  65 pages in Stuart Little (finished) and 18 pages in Memoirs of a Geisha 8/23/14:  66 pages in Stuart Little 8/22/14:  147 pages in Allegiant (finished) 8/21/14:  125 pages in Allegiant 8/20/14:  96 pages in Allegiant 8/19/14:  70 pages in Allegiant 8/18/14:  88 pages in Allegiant 8/17/14:  297 pages in Insurgent (finished) 8/16/14:  227 pages in Insurgent 8/15/14:  146 pages.  79 pages in Divergent (finished) and 67 pages in Insurgent 8/14/14:  370 pages in Divergent 8/13/1...

Bout of Books Challenge Update Day 4 There are only a few more days left in the challenge , so I better pick up the pace!  Here's how yesterday went: Currently Reading:  Allegiant by Veronica Roth...I feel like this might be the only thing I get done for the challenge... Read 125 of 526 pages last night.  That puts me on page 379. I still have hope to at least start another book for the challenge, but I'm not going to hold my breath. Total number of pages read:  379. Happy reading, fellow Bout of Bookers!

Bout of Books Challenge Update Day 3 Heading into the midway point of the Bout of Books Challenge and I'm feeling pretty confident.  Here's how yesterday went: Currently Reading:  Allegiant by Veronica Roth Read 96 of 526 pages yesterday.  On page 254. Still planning on reading the books I've mentioned before.  Also hoping to finish one book soon.  Soon... So fare I've read a total of 254 pages. Happy reading, fellow Bout of Bookers!

Bout of Books Challenge Update Day 2 The second day of the Bout of Books Reading Challenge has come to an end and here's how yesterday went: Currently Reading:  Allegiant by Veronica Roth Read a total of 70 of 526 pages yesterday To Read:  Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden and Stuart Little by E.B. White (will count for Bookish Bingo ) So far I've read 158 pages in the challenge.  Not stellar, but there's still plenty of time :) Happy reading, fellow Bout of Bookers!

Bout of Books Challenge Update Day 1 Hey All!  Today is rolling in to Day 2 of the Bout of Books Reading Challenge , and here is how day 1 went: Currently Reading:  Allegiant by Veronica Roth Read a total of 88 of 526 pages yesterday To Read:  Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden So...read a total of 88 pages on Day 1. I'm still trying to figure out what else I'll be reading because I'm using Bookish Bingo to kind of dictate my choices at the moment.  I'll update as I go! Can anyone think of a great book with music or dance themes???? Happy reading, fellow Bout of Bookers!

Beat the Heat Readathon   I am a reading challenge junkie...and I make no apologies!  The Beat the Heat Readathon is hosted by Jessi @ Novel Hearbeat and Reanna @ Phantasmic Reads  and runs from August 11th-September 1st.  Since I'm already participating in the Bookish Bingo Challenge, I thought this would coincide nicely.  Here are the rules! The Beat the Heat Readathon runs from August 11th to September 1st. What does this readathon entail, you ask? Well, read as much or as little as you want – the main point is to READ! You set your own goal, and for three weeks you read as many books as you can/want to reach your goal! There will be mini-challenges throughout the Readathon for participants, along with a grand prize giveaway at the end! Sign up here at Novel Heartbeat or over at  Phantasmic Reads . You may join whenever you like, but to be eligible for our grand prize giveaway, you must sign up by August 24th. To join, all you have...

Bout of Books 11 Goals We are very quickly approaching the start of Bout of Books 11 and I'm super excited to be participating again!  I participated in the last Bout of Books Challenge, my first time joining in, and would like to think it was rather successful for me.  However, I want to do more this time!  Here is what I hope to get done Finish the Divergent series by Veronica Roth (this will count for this challenge, Bookish Bingo , and the Beat the Heat Challenge I'm currently participating in).  I'm just starting the first in the series, so I should be able to accomplish this. Read Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden.  This will also count for all three challenges! Read more pages than I did for the last Bout of Books...a total of 779 pages last time. Participate in as many mini-challenges and chats as feasible! I'm thinking this is doable.  If you're interested, there's still time to sign up!  Here's the link . Happy r...

Teaser Tuesdays:  Divergent Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB @ Should Be Reading . Here are the rules: grab whatever you're reading, open to a random page, select no more than two sentence (NO SPOILERS), share the title and author, and GO! Here's today's teaser: "It would probably be wise to be careful around Four, I realize.  He seemed placid to me on the platform, but something about that stillness makes me wary now." -- page 63            ----- Divergent by Veronica Roth I'm finally getting around to reading this series.  I have about 40 pages left in the book I'm currently reading and then it's on to another YA adventure. Happy reading!

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and it's a way to share what you're loving in list form. The topic changes every week, so there is always something new to discover! This week's theme is:  Books I'm Not Sure I Want to Read .  Now, if you are a friend on Goodreads, you know that I have nearly 2500 books on my To-Read pile, and it keeps growing.  This is completely unrealistic and kind of ridiculous.  But I think I'm a To-Read junkie.  Hi, my name is Melissa and I have a problem... Here are my choices: Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality by Donald Miller.  I read Prayer and the Art of Volkswagen Maintenance and really enjoyed it, but I'm just not sure I care enough to read this one... The Life of Charlotte Bronte by Elizabeth Gaskell.  I love her fiction works. Little Nuggets of Wisdom: Big Advice from the Small Star of Chelsea Lately by Chuy Bravo.  Not high on ...

Here's what I'm thinking about today: In May, a dear friend and I had tickets to Lady Gaga's concert up in Seattle.  That's about a 5 hour trip (depending on traffic) for us.  It was on a Tuesday, so we both took time off work and made the trek up I-5.  Upon arriving, we hit up the Taphouse Grill for some pre-concert libations and appetizers.  Right before ordering, my friend gets an email from the venue saying that the concert had been canceled.  WHAT?!?  Needless to say we were incredibly disappointed and were at a loss as to what to do.  Do we drive home?  Do we find something else to do in the city?  Do we make hotel reservations instead of staying at one of her friend's houses if we stay out late?  Decisions, decisions!  After scouring a few "Things to Do in Seattle" websites, we decided to check the Mariners website to see if they were playing.  Lo and behold...VICTORY!  We had about 45 minutes until the game st...

Teaser Tuesday:  An Unnecessary Woman Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB @ Should Be Reading . Here are the rules: grab whatever you're reading, open to a random page, select no more than two sentence (NO SPOILERS), share the title and author, and GO! Here's today's teaser: "I long ago abandoned myself to a blind lust for the written word.  Literature is my sandbox.  In it I play, build my forts and castles, and spend glorious time.  It is the world outside that box that gives me trouble." --page 5           ----- An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine Loving this book so far!!! Happy reading!

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and it's a way to share what you're loving in list form. The topic changes every week, so there is always something new to discover! This week's theme is:  Books I'd Give to Readers Who Have Never Read Holocaust Literature .  Sorry it's going to be a heavy topic, but there are so many wonderful HL books and authors out there who NEED to be read!  Some will be works of fiction, others will be survivor literature/testimony.  All are necessary! Here goes... Poems of Paul Celan by Paul Celan or Paul Celan: Poet, Survivor, Jew by John Felstiner A Holocaust survivor, Celan turned to poetry in an attempt to cope with the atrocities he faced while imprisoned.  He is known as THE writer of the Holocaust and he's brilliant; and the poems are NOT pretty.  The first is a collection of his poetry.  The second is a biography that is fantastic. This Way for the Gas,...