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Month in review

Reviews
Amulet 8: Supernova by Kazu Kibuishi
Baddawi by Leila Abdelrazaq
The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden
Bluecrowne by Kate Milford
Bluff and Bran and the Snowdrift by Meg Rutherford
Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld
The Doughnut Fix by Jessie Janowitz
Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire
Echo's Sister by Paul Mosier
Elementary, She Read by Vicki Delany
Foe by Iain Reid
Hold The Cream Cheese, Kill The Lox by Sharon Kahn
Holiday Grind by Cleo Coyle
How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford
Lavender Lies by Susan Wittig Albert
The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars Part Two by Michael Dante DiMartino and Irene Koh
Louisiana's Way Home by Kate DiCamillo
Lowriders Blast from the Past by Cathy Camper and Raul III
The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty
No Fixed Address by Susin Nielsen
Once Upon a Spine by Kate Carlisle
The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
Personal Demons by Nimue Brown
The Reader by Traci Chee
Secret Coders 4: Robots & Repeats by Gene Luen Yang
Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Sodom Road Exit by Amber Dawn
The Shadow Cipher by Laura Ruby
24 Hours in Nowhere by Dusti Bowling

Miscellaneous
Cybils Update (November 06)
Cybils Update (November 13)
Cybils Update (November 20)
Cybils Update (November 27)
It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (November 05)
It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (November 12)
It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (November 19)
It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (November 26)
October 2018 Sources
October 2018 Summary

Road Essays
FFCC99: FF99CC and FF9999: orphans in the wildlands by maze and labyrinth
FF9933: orphan wildlands blue highway
From 00CC33 to 33CCCC: a road narrative analysis of Haunting of Hill House, book and Netflix television series
A Map to the Road Narrative Spectrum
Road Narrative Update for October 2018
The three faces of Eleanor

Previous month



Rating System

5 stars: Completely enjoyable or compelling
4 stars: Good but flawed
3 stars: Average
2 stars: OK
1 star: Did not finish

Reading Challenges

Canadian Book Challenge: 2024-2025

Beat the Backlist 2024

Ozathon: 12/2023-01/2025

Artwork
Chicken Prints
Paintings and Postcards


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It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (November 26): 11/26/18

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?
Hosted by Kathryn of Book Date.

Thanksgiving was lovely. It was just the four of us and my husband's parents. We had all the favorites and just enough leftovers for Friday. The little bit of turkey that's left now is going into a pot of chili.

The best pumpkin pie

My daughter and I made the pumpkin pie from scratch and it was our best ever. We did what the canned pumpkin makers do and made ours from a mixture of butternut squash and sugar pumpkin. We roasted the pumpkins for an hour at 350°F (175° C) and then mixed the innards with a can of sweetened condensed milk, two eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Plunk into a pre-baked pie crush and bake for 20 minutes at 450°F (230°C) and then lower the temp back down to 350°F (175° C) for another thirty minutes. Serve with fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Delicious.

Cockatoo nearly finished

The new paints I ordered came in early so I've gotten back to work on the cockatoo. I love how the florescent colors are bringing this piece to life. I have one more session to put in the remaining shadows as well as some complimentary colors to make the portrait pop.

In other news, I've been asked to show my latest bird portraits at our local bookstore. After the cockatoo I have one more do finish. I plan to finish the hen painting before NEw Year's Eve.

Four bird portraits

Five bird portraits

Two more weeks of reading for the Cybils. We're on schedule to be finished by the 15th. The short lists won't be announced until January 1st. That means I'll have two weeks to read through as many of the 2018 books that I purchased but haven't gotten to. I bought about 130 books this year and have read and reviewed 96 of them.

What I read:

  • So Done by Paula Chase; personal collection
  • Miss Communication by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm (Illustrator); library book
  • Snow Lane by Josie Angelini; ebook
  • Bringing me back by Beth Vrabel; library book
  • Ivy Aberdeen's letter to the world by Ashley Herring Blake; library book
  • Merci Surez changes gears by Meg Medina; library book
  • Skylark and Wallcreeper by Anne O'Brien Carelli; publisher copy
  • The truth as told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor; library book
  • The Law of Finders Keepers by Sheila Turnage; personal collection
  • Secret sisters of the salty sea by Lynne Rae Perkins; library book
  • Lions & liars by Kate Beasley and Dan Santat (illustrations); library book
  • Charlie & Frog by Karen Kane; library book

What I'm reading:

  • The Bigfoot Files by Linday Eager; personal collection
  • The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall; personal collection
  • Very Rich by Polly Horvath
  • The Misfits Club by Kieran Mark Crowley

Up Soon:

  • Everlasting Nora by Marie Miranda Cruz; personal collection
  • Awkward> by Svetlana Chmakova
  • The Third Mushroom by Jennifer L. Holm
  • The Game Masters of Garden Place by Denis Markell

Posts:

Reviews Posted

Comments  (34)


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Comment #1: Tuesday, November 20, 2018 at 02:09:27

Greg

>Glad you're not in imminent danger from the fires but the smoke sounds horrific and dangerous on its own! My thoughts go out to everyone in California dealing with the fires...

Hope you have a good reading week.



Comment #2: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 15:50:00

Pussreboots

The rains have come and the fires are contained. The air is clear. Now comes the grim clean up, the grieving, and the rebuilding.



Comment #3: Tuesday, November 20, 2018 at 08:27:39

Laura @ Library of Clean Reads

I'm curious about Reader. I'll go check out your review. You read a good variety of books.



Comment #4: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 15:52:00

Pussreboots

Thanks. Keep in mind, I'm often a contrarian reader especially with popular books. So take my review with a grain or two of salt.



Comment #5: Tuesday, November 20, 2018 at 09:42:10

Alexis

One thing that I've always wondered is how do you find the time to read all of these books? It seems like a very diverse selection you read each week and it amazes me that you can accomplish so much in a week. What is your secret?



Comment #6: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 15:55:00

Pussreboots

I don't watch a lot of TV. I read fast. Sometimes I skim. I've written about how I read: On Reading and How I spend my time. That said, I'm not reading 600 books a year any more. As I'm in the middle of the Cybils, quite a few of the books this month were ones where I read 50 or so pages. Some of these 50 page books you'll see in December and January again on this meme as I finish reading them for fun.



Comment #7: Tuesday, November, 20, 2018 at 09:45:41

Emma @ Words And Peace

Wow, lots of good titles. Beautiful art, though I'm sorry for what inspired it



Comment #8: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 16:04:00

Pussreboots

I didn't have time or space to turn those sketches into watercolors yet. Thanksgiving was just too busy. I want to finish the cockatoo painting and then a hen painting. After that the watercolors. And then I'll start on a trio of landscapes.



Comment #9: Tuesday, November 20, 2018 at 15:42:22

Erin @ Cracker Crumbs

Those fires - stay safe, the images we see look horrific, I can't imagine life near them, and seeing all of that for real. :(

So many of these books look great!



Comment #10: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 16:10:00

Pussreboots

I saw the smoke for real but the actual horror and destruction is three hours north east of here. My nephews, though, did see it. They went up there with their parents to pack food boxes for those in need.



Comment #11: Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at 09:49:38

Susan @ The Book Bag

So sorry about the fires. Stay safe. I can't even imagine what the air must be like. I so love your art pieces. Have a wonderful week and happy reading!



Comment #12: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 16:14:00

Pussreboots

It has rained. It's raining again. The smoke is thankfully gone.



Comment #13: Sunday, November 25, 2018 at 21:44:08

Stefanie

How awesome to be asked to show your bird paintings. Congrats.



Comment #14: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 16:23:00

Pussreboots

Thanks. I'll be my second local show at the bookstore, although this time I'll be better prepared.



Comment #15: Monday, November 26, 2018 at 00:37:12

Greg

Mmm leftovers and chili. :) Glad you had a nice Thanksgiving.



Comment #16: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 16:26:00

Pussreboots

Mmm chili made from leftovers. It was very good.



Comment #17: Monday, November, 26, 2018 at 01:12:33

Cheryl Malandrinos

Oh, my gosh. You are such a talented artist. I love seeing all those colors you're using.

Neat books. Very Rich and The Misfits Club sound great. Hope you enjoy them all.



Comment #18: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 16:28:00

Pussreboots

I just finished The Misfits Club; it's excellent. Thanks re the paintings. I'm having fun playing with these bold colors.



Comment #19: Monday, November 26, 2018 at 08:25:35

Beth F

Sounds like you had a nice holiday



Comment #20: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 16:28:00

Pussreboots

We did. It was busy but relaxing.



Comment #21: Monday, November 26, 2018 at 09:41:16

Faith Hope & Cherrytea

Wonderful creativity with your paintings and such a great opp to share offered by the local shop! and a lot of reviews completed - you definitely have much for Thanks Giving ;)

Thanks for stopping in at FHC



Comment #22: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 16:28:00

Pussreboots

It's my second time showing at a local bookstore, although the shops have changed owners and locations in those two years. The reviews I write in advance when I have time so I can keep a schedule of posting.



Comment #23: Monday, November 26, 2018 at 09:59:24

Laurel-Rain Snow

You have an amazing selection of books...and your Thanksgiving treats look delicious.

Enjoy the new week, and thanks for visiting my blog.



Comment #24: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 16:36:00

Pussreboots

The meal was delicious. It was pared down from what my in-laws would have made but we don't have the room or the capacity in our kitchen to do everything. Also we just didn't have enough guests to warrant all the treats.



Comment #25: Monday, November 26, 2018 at 13:01:38

>Kathy Martin

The pie sounds good. We skipped dessert with our dinner but enjoyed the turkey and sides. I wish my percentage of read to 2018 purchases was as good as yours. My TBR stack got bigger this year. Come see my week here. Happy reading!



Comment #26: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 16:42:00

Pussreboots

Mid way through 2017 I started dedicating one day a week to reviewing newly published books. That has helped keep the TBR pile from growing too big.



Comment #27: Monday, November 26, 2018 at 20:13:44

Aj @ Read All The Things!

Your pie looks so yummy! I had pumpkin pie and chocolate pie, but I bought them pre-made from the grocery store. Good luck with the reading and painting. Have a great week!



Comment #28: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 16:46:00

Pussreboots

If I didn't have help with the pies, I would have purchased them from the grocery store too. Our local store has a great bakery.



Comment #29: Monday, November 26, 2018 at 20:38:19

Katie @ Read-at-Home Mom

I love seeing all the middle grade books you're reading for Cybils. You're reminding me of all the titles I missed this year that I still want to read at some point.



Comment #30: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 16:48:00

Pussreboots

I'm glad you're finding titles you want to read or remembering ones. Have a good week.



Comment #31: Monday, November 26, 2018 at 22:19:49

Laura @ Library of Clean Reads

Your pumpkin pie looks so delicious! Makes me want to make it with the pumpkin from my dad's garden I still have.

I love the look of all the covers of the books you read. So colorful and attractive. Enjoy your reading week!



Comment #32: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 16:51:00

Pussreboots

It was. It was the best one my daughter and I have made. It was a good week of reading.



Comment #33: Tuesday, November, 27, 2018 at 12:37:26

Yvonne

That pumpkin pie looks yummy. Those bird portraits are wonderful. Have a great week!



Comment #34: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 16:52:00

Pussreboots

Thank you!

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