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This week in…: Volume 35

October 16, 2015 by Jana 13 Comments

Finished Did You Ever Have a Family and Thirteen Ways of Looking. Picked up Jesse Eisenberg’s book of short stories and also started Who Do You Love. Thanks to everyone who joined us for the one year anniversary of Show Us Your Books and there’s still time left to enter the giveaway! Next linkup is November 10. Second Tuesday of the month, per usual.
Completed 1 of 10 fall projects, the TBR Jar. Because of course I started with the one about reading. I made some modifications to Heather’s version. For instance, instead of a Mason jar, I used an old pencil cup I had on hand as well as popsicle sticks for the titles rather than scraps of paper. I took to ye old Goodreads list for what to add, and it’s color coded only for nonfiction. I used different Sharpie colors for the rest mostly because it was pretty.
Watched almost nothing because my TV time has been exclusively devoted to baseball. First of all, fuck you, Chase Utley. Second of all, the Mets are making me crazy. I’m used to a certain level of frustration being a lifelong Mets fan, but this is ridiculous. As of this writing (Thursday morning), we’re going into a game 5 that shouldn’t even exist. And they need to win because I don’t want staying up WAY past my bedtime to be for nothing. Edited on Friday AM–THEY WON!! Daniel Murphy, I heart you.
Watched the child land her back handspring. I can’t even express what a victory that was (no joke. She’s been working on it for months. MONTHS. Many tears have been shed from not being able to do it). Now we just need her to stick the landing every time so she doesn’t look like a big heap of cheerleading mess. Or get hurt or break something.
Stopped keeping track of my cat’s body count. It’s too high and also, it’s gross. My cat is a serial killer.
Went all fangirl crazy when I saw that Dean Bakopoulos left a comment on one of my posts. Yes. That guy. The one whose books I am always cramming down your throats because they’re just that good. #authorsaremyrockstars And since he followed me back on Twitter a few weeks ago, we’re clearly besties now.
Downloaded The List App. I know that no one NEEDS another app in their life but trust me, get this one. Especially if you love lists. Also, it’s BJ Novak’s project. So that’s cool.
Read some pretty interesting stories around the interwebs. This one about a guy who lives in his car (it’s not what you think). Two stories on gun violence, the first an open letter to Congress from a mass shooting survivor, the second is an analysis by Malcolm Gladwell of how school shootings have spread. And also this list of 18 academic papers about 90s TV shows (why didn’t I think of this in grad school?!)
Laughed at this

That’s all for this week. Busy weekend ahead, between cheerleading and the husband’s birthday. I mean how can you not celebrate the man behind this:

You know, if I opened a hot dog restaurant, I would just tell people to go home, cook a hot dog, take $10, set it on fire, and then eat the hot dog.

Have a great weekend everyone! See you on Tuesday!

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Show Us Your Books–Anniversary edition

October 13, 2015 by Jana 73 Comments

I cannot believe it’s been a year since Steph and I started this little linkup! It’s giving me all the feels how supportive you all have been and how many of you have been involved and stay involved and it really is a testament to the power of books. And as a thank you, Steph and I have a little giveaway of bookish presents so after you read through my reviews, make sure you enter (or, skip to the end, enter the giveaway and then go back and read my reviews. Either way works for me).

I have many mushy things to say but Thursday’s post is an emotional gut punch so I’ll refrain from most of my comments and simply say I appreciate everyone who joins us, regularly or irregularly, and thank you for your books and your comments and your love of reading.

On to what I read last month.

Dietland by Sarai Walker. A story about an obese woman whose sole purpose in life was to stay hidden and lose weight until she starts being stalked by a stranger who gets her involved in an underground group trying to change beauty standards in strange, often bizarre, quasi-militant ways (which, truth be told, got annoying after awhile). The point the author was trying to make–that we can love ourselves regardless of size–is a good one but the story was kind of all over the place, I hated the main character’s name, and it left little room for the mindset that if you want to change how you look that’s okay, too, as long as it’s on your own terms. Body positive books are important but this one, for me, was not the one to lead the charge.

Ally Hughes Has Sex Sometimes by Jules Moulon. This was a fun little book. I read it in a couple of hours, on my flight from Philly to Charlotte. Ally Hughes is a college professor, has a short fling with one of her students that maybe was more than a fling, they don’t speak for 10 years until he shows up at her house with her daughter and throws her already messy life into even more disarray. It has the makings of a Lifetime movie, and it’d probably be a great one, and there’s a little mystery plot thrown in and you really want Ally to get over herself and be with this guy who clearly never got over her. This book will not rock your world or change your life but I do recommend it because it’s pure entertainment.

$2 a Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America by Katherine Edin and H. Luke Shaefer. So, this was an interesting follow up to Ally Hughes. A study of families living at the lowest income you can imagine, with no cash flow at all, and how they survive. And what they do is survival in its basic form. From selling plasma to selling their food stamps to using whatever free services (think library, parks) they can find to doubling and tripling up in homes that should essentially be condemned, the families highlighted in the book show just how dire the poverty in our own country can be. They use the Welfare Reform Act of 1996 as the foundation of their thesis, and the solutions that they propose are practical yet most likely not going to happen in the near future. Which is pretty freaking sad.

Radiant Angel by Nelson DeMille. I did not finish this one. Not even linking to it because it doesn’t deserve the link. This book was absolutely terrible and the only reason I even made it 100 pages in is because I like John Corey as a character. The plot was ridiculous, the writing was lazy, the characters were horrible, and everything else was atrocious. I recommend the John Corey series but do yourself a favor and avoid this one. Negative 400 stars.

Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari with Eric Klinenberg. My sociology nerd heart skipped many beats reading this book. It was equal parts hilarious and smart and well researched and also, it made me so, so happy I don’t have to date. I’m grateful I met my husband in the dark ages. I cannot even begin to imagine what dating is like in the texting and Tinder age (you can visit my friend Ali for lots of insight about that) and this book was very eye opening to me. Aziz is hysterical, the book was definitely written in his voice, and whether you’re in the midst of dating or are on old married hag like me, I definitely recommend picking this one up.

Undermajordomo Minor by Patrick deWitt. I had been looking forward to this book since I learned that Patrick deWitt wrote another book because The Sisters Brothers is one of my all-time favorites and I did a little happy dance when I got the notification from the library that it was ready for pick-up. And maybe I built the book up in my head too much but I was disappointed. It did not blow me away like I’d hoped it would. He’s a phenomenal writer but this story, for me, was too bizarre. Not only that, it felt like there were gaping holes in some of the plot. Like, it was half-plots or half told stories for some of the characters. And there was a disturbing, pretty fucking gross sex scene that had the husband say to me “you look horrified by what you’re reading”. I definitely was. And I made it through the whole 50 Shades trilogy. So that says a lot.

Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy. Far and away my favorite book of the month. Probably in my top 10 of the year. THIS is the body positive book people should be reading and talking about. And one of my favorite part of the book was Willowdean herself. Sure, she’s kind of bitchy and judgmental and confident and insecure and moody but she’s a 16 year old girl. Those are the characteristics that made her feel real and relatable (honestly, I’m 38 and I’m still bitchy and judgmental and insecure and occasionally confident). She is exactly what you’d expect a teenage girl to be, especially one who’s overweight with a very unexpected admirer (two, actually) and a former pageant queen mother and who’s still mourning the sudden (but not unsurprising) loss of her aunt and role model. She makes some questionable choices that both help and backfire on her but in the end, you realize what a badass this teenage girl really is. I wish she existed when I was in high school. I would have maybe felt a little less lonely. Oh, and I feel obliged to add that Dolly Parton plays a big role in the story so that was like the sequins on the cherry lollipop (once you read the book, you’ll get that reference).

Definitely add: Dumplin’, Modern Romance, Ally Hughes Has Sex Sometimes

Now let us know what you read! Then keep scrolling for the giveaway entry form.

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Congratulations! You’ve made it to the end of the post which means it’s giveaway time! To say thank you for a year of bookish awesomeness, Steph and I are giving away a $50 gift card to Amazon and some swag from Bookworm Boutique (see above). Complete the entries below for your chance to win one of those prizes (how commercially did that sound?). Winners will be pulled on October 19:

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This week in…: Volume 35

October 9, 2015 by Jana 18 Comments

Finished Undermajordomo Minor. Started Dumplin’ and Thirteen Ways of Looking. Picked up a book for the husband and Hate List for me. Show Us Your Books on Tuesday with extra surprises because it’s the one year anniversary.
The Martian. It’s been a week since I’ve seen it and guys, it was so, so good. They did give it the Hollywood treatment but for the most part, it was a pretty faithful adaptation of the book. There was still all the math and all the science (you can’t tell the story without it) but it was extremely well done. And manageable and understandable for people like me who can’t math. Matt Damon was perfect casting. Sadly, though, I don’t think it was his butt they showed.
Started using the Nike Training app on my phone. I think Nadine and Kathy have mentioned it and another friend of mine, Tonya, who is also crazy fit, recommended it. So my fat ass listened to those without fat asses. So far, so good. My one first world gripe is that it doesn’t sync with my FitBIt. So even though I’m exercising, it’s not registering it and not counting towards my steps.
Did a bunch of laundry. Folded none of it.
Binge watched all of the first season of How to Get Away with Murder last weekend. Will work through the first few episodes of this season on Saturday night because that’s what old married couples do. Then we’ll watch Amy Schumer on SNL. Which actually isn’t terrible. I mean, the skits are but the cast right now is ridiculously talented.
Tore it up in the kitchen. I made lemon and garlic chicken with red potatoes and green beans, mushroom gnocchi (with store bought gnocchi ’cause ain’t nobody got time to make that shit from scratch), and something else I know was delicious but I can’t remember right now what it was.
Debated with the child if The Flash or Billy Thunderman would win in a race. It was our equivalent of “could Mighty Mouse beat up Superman”. If you know who Billy Thunderman is, feel free to weigh in. If you don’t, consider yourself lucky.
Internet reading. Didn’t really do much. Saved a whole bunch of links but didn’t read through any of them. I apologize to those who use the links to ~~waste~~ pass the time at work on Fridays.
Got these funnies from the husband:

Outdoor cheer competition this weekend. Send me all your warmth. Hope your weekend is great and fun and relaxing and productive. Or filled with naps and books and puppy/kitty hugs.

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Authors I’ll never quit

October 8, 2015 by Jana 31 Comments

I recently had a disastrous encounter with Nelson DeMille’s latest book, Radiant Angel. I’ll say it again on Tuesday for Show Us Your Books but this was a big fat DNF and I actually hated the book. It made me angry to read it. This is the second time in all my dealings with Mr. DeMille that I’ve put down a book without finishing it (the first was about 15 or 20 years ago and it was By The Rivers of Babylon. I’ve been reading him a looooooong time). But you know what? I’ll still read the ones I missed and I’ll read what he writes in the future because Mr. DeMille, I just can’t quit you.

He’s not the only author I can’t quit. There are a few that, not matter how much I’m disappointed in a particular book, I’ll still read what they write. Authors like:

Jodi Picoult. I’ve read all of her books and I’ll continue to read all of her books. Sure, they’re formulaic and predictable but they’re quick, easy, and she does churn out some good ones. I mean, The Pact and The Storyteller and Nineteen Minutes are all wonderful books and her research skills are on point. I have to give her props for that.

Emily Giffin. I won’t talk about her latest because it sucked balls but she’s chick lit and sometimes, in between all the literary fiction and nonfiction and memoirs, my brain needs a break. Brain sorbet, if you will. She provides that. And the movie adaptation of Something Borrowed has John Krasinski in it so that wins.

So I know this is not from the movie but when you find a picture of Matt Damon and John Krasinski, YOU POST IT.

Jennifer Weiner. Her newest is on my nightstand (I won’t get to it in time for October but it’ll be on my November list) and she’s another one I’ve been reading for years. Her books, to me, have gotten better as time has passed and I think the fact that she’s such a champion for women writers and for giving her daughters a healthy sense of self makes me love her that much more.

Dean Bakopoulos. I’ve been pretty clear how I feel about him and his books, even if My American Unhappiness was not my favorite (if you’re going to read him, don’t start with that one. Do it last that way you realize how great he really is before you get to it). Not giving him up any time soon. See also: Rainbow Rowell (even if I have no plans to read Carry On any time soon, I will read it)

Joshua Ferris. His books are weird and bizarre and sort of circular in their storytelling but I am a huge fan of his and anxiously await his next book. See also: Wally Lamb.

I’m also currently enjoying reading the entire catalogs of Jojo Moyes and Liane Moriarty. Sarah Dessen and Matthew Quick are on my binge read list for 2016.

I feel that maybe at some point, I’ll stop enjoying what these ladies (and couple of gentlemen) have to offer but I don’t imagine that’s anytime soon. Because as I’ve learned being a reader for longer than I can remember, one book is not always indicative of what an author can do. And it’s also nice to have a list of authors I can count on to add to my TBR.

How about you guys? Who are some authors you always read, no matter how bad of an experience you have with one of their books?

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This week in…: Volume 34

October 2, 2015 by Jana 24 Comments

At least I think it’s volume 34. Maybe it’s higher. I’ve lost count. But I don’t really think it matters much since today is THE MARTIAN DAY!!! Or, as it’s known in my house, the day I got my husband to use a vacation day so we can go see a movie while the child is in school because The Martian is the only book we’ve ever agreed on in our 19 year relationship so of course we have to go see the movie at the earliest time possible.

Also, Erin told me that you get to see Matt Damon’s ass in the movie (and even if it’s a body double I’m pretending that it’s not). Alerting you to a sighting of your celebrity crush’s naked butt is the sign of a true friend.

Let’s see what else happened this week.

Added Radiant Angel by Nelson DeMille to the DNF pile. Finished Modern Romance and picked up 4 more books. Lots of rain and impending hurricane means hours of reading time. Also, don’t forget that Show Us Your Books is on October 13. It’s the one year anniversary and Steph and I have some presents for you to thank you for a year of support and engagement.
Gave a couple of new shows a spin. The Grinder (with Rob Lowe and ~~Kevin Arnold~~ Fred Savage), The Bastard Executioner, and The Muppets (of course). Love the first two. Hopefully The Grinder didn’t use up all its good stuff in the first episode. The Bastard Executioner is violent and disturbing but quite good. The Muppets, though. I don’t want to say anything bad about my beloved Muppets but this show? Not so great.
Speaking of TV, does anyone know where I can watch Fargo, Season 1 for free? I really want to watch season 2 but not without watching the first one ahead of time.
THE METS WON THE NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 9 YEARS!!! Let the playoffs stress being.
Worked on one of my fall projects: organizing all my Pocket links. I have a ridiculous amount of saved links and need an easy way to access them, specifically the recipes and the ones I want to share with you guys. I’ll be publishing the full list of fall projects on Tuesday.
Read author profiles on Patrick deWitt and Andy Weir. My #booknerd heart is full.
Read these interesting articles: Buzzfeed nailed the differences in the way people treat physical and mental illness. Mashable shared some Easter eggs in The Martian inspired by actual NASA things. This post on envying wealthier parents. Rage Against the Machine’s bassist apologizing for Limp Bizkit. And this infographic with the 69 rules of punctuation.
Found this funny around the interwebs:

Hope you guys have a wonderful weekend, whatever you choose to do. See you on Tuesday!

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This week in…: Volume 35

Show Us Your Books–Anniversary edition

This week in…: Volume 35

Authors I’ll never quit

This week in…: Volume 34

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