Donan's 2017 Thread

This is my 2nd year in the category challenge. As the mother of two young children, I didn't expect much from myself the first year. I was blown away. I ended up tripling my reading goal (started at 32 and ended at 109) and added 2 categories to my original 8.

I am amazed by how much reading I accomplished last year and I credit this thread for helping me along. I found that reading across genres kept my reading going instead of stalling out on a challenging book or something I felt I had to read. Instead, I read what I wanted and when I wanted. Some books took longer than others and I gave myself permission stop reading something that I just didn't like. And so, I'm going to keep my challenge fairly similar, just giving myself more room to read what I like and follow my curiosity as the year goes by.

Categories
1) Group Reads: YA book club, LT and whatever else comes up. About 12 in this category. I finished 9.
2) Series: Currently planning on Agatha Christie and Louie Penny but will see where the year takes me! About 10 in this category. I finished 5.
3) YA: Hoping to work my way through the Printz winners. About 10 in this category. I finished 9.
4) Work: I work for a non-profit with a publishing arm so I acquire books quickly. This is where I'll read through them. I hope to get through one a month. I finished 8.
5) Family: a few parenting books and maybe one on marriage. Probably read about 5 in this category. I read 1. What does this mean about my reading priorities?
6) Bingo & Reading Lists (CATs would also go here): I plan to work through my TBR here. I imagine this will be my largest category. about 54
7) Personal Dewey Challenge. Loved the DeweyCAT in 2016 because it forced me to read a diversity of books. About 12 in this category. Finished!
8) Potpourri: Added in May for those books that I want to read but just don't fit anywhere else! 11

Goal: 70 books
Currently finished: 109 books
Halfway: 4.27.17
Finished: 8.7.17
100 books: 12.2.17

1) Group Reads

Currently reading:

Completed:
1) Wake-- I don't know how my book club continues to pick such stereotypical YA books but this might be the most cliche to date. I almost stopped reading about thirty pages in because there were too many over-the-top characters (really? A mother with a traumatic brain injury?) I was roped in by the Greek mythology-esque connections and finished it. But, I'm not reading book #2.
2) Prisoners in the Palace -- this book had it's interesting moments like using the press to discredit Princess Victoria and Princess Victoria figuring out a way to use that for her own advantage. However, it was ultimately too sappy for me.
3) Honey, Baby, Sweetheart-- I was surprised by the plot in this book. I spent the first 100 pages expecting the stereotypical teenage love story but what emerged was a rich inter-generational story. While the character development was lacking in the places, I enjoyed this story.
4) Disquiet Time: Rants and Reflections of the Good Book by the Skeptical, the Faithful and a Few Scoundrels-- I enjoyed a few of the essays but none of them grabbed me. Mostly, there were interesting like skimming blog posts. Not sure what warranted a whole book.
5) Daughter of Smoke and Bone was our May YA Book Club pick. If it wasn't for book club, I would have stopped-- plot was slow and not that inventive. Or, maybe I just hold angels in too high regard.
6) Puddlejumpers was an enjoyable read! Great main character. Interesting plot. Brought me lots of joy!
7) Cleopatra's Moon was a book that I'm glad that I read but I can't say that it was a good read. I found the actual history interesting and I understand why the author found the facts inspiring. The characters are compelling. The plot lines are not.
8) A Curse Dark as Gold
9) The Edge of Nowhere: There are moments where you read a book at just the right time. This was one of those books. I had the time and space to lose myself in this book. I felt like I was watching a movie. I enjoyed the plot and the characters. I loved the local setting of Whidbey Island and the female protagonist. I would recommend it!

On hold:
Les Miserables-- it just got too sad for me to keep going. Not sure when I'll feel up to picking it up again.

2) Series

Agatha Christy's 'Poirot' series in publication order
The Mysterious Affair at Styles
The Murder on the Links
Poirot Investigates

Louie Penny's Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series
A Fatal Grace-- finished 1/18
The Cruelest Month-- finished reading on 3/16.
A Rule Against Murder-- finished 6/30

Sister Fidelma mysteries by Peter Tremaybe
Absolution by Murder-- finished 3/12. These books are exactly what I like to read.
Suffer Little Children-- finished 12/27

3) Childrens'/YA

Currently reading:

Could include:
Treasure Island
Golden Compass
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn*
Kit's Wilderness by David Almon, 2001
A Step From Heaven by An Na, 2002
Postcards from No Man's Land by Aidan Chambers, 2003
The First Part Last by Angela Johnson, 2004
How I live Now by Meg Rosoff, 2005
The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean, 2008
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta, 2009
Going Bovine by Libba Bray, 2010
Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley, 2012
Midwinterblood, 2014
I'll Give You the Sun, 2015

Completed:
1) Monster 2000 Printz Award Winner
2) Radiant Child 2017 Caldecott Winner-- inspired to read this by AwardCat. Beautiful art. My daughter (5) wanted to reach out and touch it. Loved the colors. I also loved the description of dreams and illustrations of creativity. Highly recommend!
3) Bone Gap 2016 Printz Award Winner
4) March, Book Three-- 2017, counted in bookbingonw
5) In Darkness-- 2013. I also read this for October RandomCat. There was lots of like about this book- interesting plot, plenty of history, beautiful writing, reading beyond borders. And yet, I just struggled to stay engaged which I think says more about my state of mind than the text itself.
6) The Keeper of the Bees-- I picked this book up on a whim after I heard someone rave about it on a podcast. I struggled to make it through the book. I'm sure it's mostly due to generational differences but I just coudn't stomach the plot and depiction of God. I wouldn't recommend this.
7) The Hate U Give-- my vote for best YA book of the year.
8) Pendragon Book One: The Merchant of Death written by D.J. MacHale is a fun new series recommended by a friend. I haven't read this type of fantasy in awhile and enjoyed it!
9) Inkheart: This book was recommended to me by a student-- said it was the best book she read as a kid. I wanted to read more fantasy (see above) so I tried it out. I struggled through the first two-thirds because I just didn't like the characters. The last fourth was excellent so I'm glad that I stuck with it. The climactic finale was like a fireworks finale that just keeps going. All in all-- glad I read it but not planning on reading the next book in series.

4) Work

Currently reading:

Completed:
1) Quiet Time: This booklet was first published by InterVarsity Press in 1947. I was anxious to read it and see how the needs of students then overlap with the needs of students now. I also wanted some practical explanation of why quiet time and how to 'do it.' I found the booklet to provide what I was looking for but not in a very compelling way, probably due to a style meant to engage students in the 50s and examples that felt like commands rather than invitations. While the concepts were good, the writing needs some updating. 3.5 stars (I might pitch updating the writing to a few staff I know...)
2) After College: This book was excellent, everything I would want to give to graduating seniors. I felt like there was enough depth for students who have had a thriving faith life in college and yet also provides helpful tips for students still figuring what they believe. This could be used in a group discussion or just read alone. Highly recommend!
3) The Intimate Mystery: I had a young engaged couple ask for some marriage preparation resources so I decided to check this book out. Very interesting stuff especially around the centrality of sex in the theology of marriage. I appreciate the use of Genesis to frame the leaving of individual families and cleaving as husband and wife. While it wasn't right for the couple who started me reading the book, I'm pretty sure I'll use it later.
4) Knowing God
5) Tyranny of the Urgent booklet-- what a gem! Going to try out using this with a staff next week. Came highly recommend.
6) Miracle Work: A Down-to-Earth Guide-- I LOVED this book! Very practical and yet packed with theological explanations of the Holy Spirit. I will read this again and again with as many people as possible.
7) Sensible Shoes: A co-worker recommended this title in January 2016 as a book that she enjoyed on her sabbatical. I ordered it but never got around to reading it so I picked it up when I wanted something a little different in my reading rotation.
8) The Listening Life: This book was excellent! While it took about 50 pages to really get into it, the book got better the further I read. Such an important topic in a world where there is pressure to talk.

5) Family: these are books that directly relate to my home life and relationships.

Currently reading:
Pretty Prudent Home

Could include:
Freedom of Simplicity
The Meaning of Marriage
A Quaker Book of Wisdom
The New Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day
Landscape Architecture for Dummies

Completed:
1) Raising Your Spirited Child

6) Bingo/Reading Lists/CATS

RandomCAT
January: read Where'd You Go Bernadette in May. Loved it!
February: Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person-- loved this! Rhimes writes this book like she writes her shows. I loved the direct style and honesty. Also, it filled the Grey's Anatomy void in my life.
March: going to try a different book on a similar topic Druids
April: For 'Love in the Stacks' I picked Eligible which I've been wanting to read but hasn't fit nicely into any of my categories. I devoured it on a trip home, loving the modern retelling of one of my favorite Austen books. I especially enjoyed the portrayal of the sisters which sounded so much like siblings I know.
May: Mom recommended Big Little Lies which I read in one long travel day. Fun story with good characters. Perfect read for a travel day but nothing remarkable about it.
September: picking this challenge back up now that I'm done with #bookbingonw17. I'm picking up the Maisie Dobbs series with Birds of a Feather. I really want to like this character and I find the mystery plotlines intriguing but I don't enjoy the descriptions of the initutive parts of Dobbs' detective work. Gave this book three stars and not sure if I'll keep going.
October: read In Darkness which I have in my YA category as the 2013 Printz winner.
November: Sensible Shoes: A Story about the Spiritual Journey
December: planning to read a few and keeping them all Christmas themed!
1) A Vicarage Christmas: read this book as part of LT's Early Reviewers group. I discovered that I still don't like romance novels.
2) A Child's Christmas in Wales: Beautiful and so British.
3) Skipping Christmas: was a fun read although I was very disappointed at the climatic turn (not in a literary sense but a personal one.) I appreciate the humor and the morale

bookriot.com's "Read Harder Challenge 2017"
1) Read a book about sports: finished The Boys in the Boat It was as good as everyone said. So rare for me that a book lives up to its hype but I guess when your mom and your grandfather recommend a book, you know it's good. I loved Joe's story. I was in awe of the whole crew's persistence on and off the water. I was also intrigued by the stories about German propaganda efforts around the Berlin Olympics. I haven't read that much about this period before WWII.

2) Read a debut novel: Purple Hibiscus

3) Read a book about books: The Night Bookmobile I've had my eye of this graphic novel for awhile. I enjoyed the concept but found the ending to be tragic. Was this a cautionary tale of life when one reads too many books?!

4) Read a book set in Central or South America, written by a Central or South American author: decided to go all in on One Hundred Years of Solitude but wanted to finish up this challenge so read Multiple Choice which was an interesting layout. Found it intriguing but not sure that I got it.

5) Read a book by an immigrant or with a central immigration narrative: Rolling Blackouts introduced me to the genre of the non-fiction graphic novel. It was beautiful and haunting. I love the investigative journalism coupled with the personal stories. I've never read anything like it and I will recommend it for that reason.

6) Read an all-ages comic: finished Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: The Underground Abductor

7) Read a book published between 1900-1950: finished One Hundred Dresses

8) Read a travel memoir: listening to Wild I think I was the last person I know to read this book. I usually like travel memoirs. I loved the first two-thirds of this book. I didn't expect the depth of the pain in her personal story and the level of vulnerability in her sharing. I loved the stories on the trail. I admired her bravery. Yet, in the end, her description of self-discovery felt flat. I wanted to hear more about the process of restoration or even the surprise of discovering answers. I'm glad I read it. I'll recommend it. And yet, it was so close to being great!

9) Read a book you've read before: Pride and Prejudice on audiobook. I LOVED this! I read lots of Austen in early high school but put it aside considering it too 'girlie' and thinking I needed to read more sophisticated things. 20 years later-- I just want to read what I love and I loved Austen! I'll be integrating more into my regular reading.

10) Read a book that is set within 100 miles of your location: HousekeepingI found this book very unsettling. I feel like it's a story about the challenges of small town life-- a place where people should seem so rooted yet act so rootless. A story about family and love. A story about loss and loneliness. It was beautiful in many ways but too sad in many others.

11) Read a book that is set more than 5000 miles from your location: The Secret Sky

12) Read a fantasy novel: finishedA Court of Thorns and Roses. I never know if I should saw books like these are great. I am in no position to rate their greatness but I love losing myself in the story. I read as much as possible to devour this story. I like the strong female character and the mystery involved. I hadn't read fantasy in awhile and liked this-- interested background to the plot.

13) Read a nonfiction book about technology: finished Things a Little Bird Told Me-- some great stories and prompts towards creativity I loved his concepts around capitalism and the ability to build a better world. But the book felt a little long to me.

14) Read a book about war: finished The Things They Carried which exceeded my expectations. So much to say about the power of story and the need of humanity to have stories to tell.

15) Read a YA or middle grade novel by an author who identifies as LGBTQ+: George by Alex Gino. This is very different from what I usually read but I'm glad that I read it. The central character's voice is strong and compelling.

16) Read a book that has been banned or frequently challenged in your country: read The Handmaid's Tale. I know, another one where I'm late to the party. But, this book was amazing-- thought-provoking and beautifully written. I read it in a day because I just wanted more!

17) Read a classic by an author of color: read Fences which was good, not nearly as sad as folks had warned me about. Loved the father-son portrayal. Think I'm up for watching the film.

18) Read a superhero comic with a female lead: finished Princeless

19) Read a book in which a character of color goes on a spiritual journey: finished Boxers and Saints. Loved them both... maybe Saints more but can't read it without Boxers. Interesting look into history of China, two sides of Boxer Rebellion. And, lots of faith mixed in. Highly recommend.

20) Read an LGBTQ+ romance novel: Will Grayson, Will Grayson-- I enjoyed the dual authorship. I found the web of relationships interesting and made what could have been a stereotypical high school story, into something more. And, I would love to see the musical described therein.

21) Read a book published by a micropress: Unicorns are for Hipsters.

22) Read a collection of stories by a woman: American Housewife-- after The Sellout, I was really looking for more satire and this scratched that itch. Standout stories included: "The Wainscoting War", "Dumpster Diving with the Stars" and "My Novel is Brought to You by The Good People at Tampax."

23) Read a collection of poetry in translation on a theme other than love: finished Pablo Neruda's collection Spain in Our Hearts. Hauntingly beautiful.

24) Read a book wherein all point-of-view characters are people of color: The Sellout

7) Dewey Challenge

000s: finished Last Laughs: Funny Tombstone Quotes and Famous Last Words I chuckled here and there but nothing sustained. Two stars.
100s: finished Steal Like an Artist. Loved it! I love books that get inside a creative brain and inspire me to be more creative in my own life. So thankful for this book!
200s: finished Praying in Color. A quick read and inspired me to try out art and prayer.
300-354: The Index Card Enjoyed the presentation style. Easy-to-follow so made personal finance seem do-able. I especially appreciated the advice about retirement options and life insurance.
355-399: read The Garnder Heist yet counted in bookbingonw2017
400s: finished Sister Bernadette's Barking Dog which I enjoyed for about 50 pages. I think I don't enjoy diagramming sentences enough to enjoy this book.
500s: Lab Girl
600s: finished Fairy House Handbook with my daughter. What a whimsical book that helps kids think about creating and imagination. I enjoyed it even though I think I could only recreate about the things I read about!
700s: picked up Time a collection of Andy Goldsworthy Not only is his work stunning (I especially like the pieces with leaves) but it is interesting to hear him talk about this process. I love getting inside the meets of creative folks.
800s: I liked the concept of Literary Wonderlands but got bogged down in the length. I really wanted to read about world building and there were some great descriptions of classics like Chronicles of Narnia and Game of Thrones. Other sections seemed to be trying too hard or maybe I just wasn't familiar enough with the stories to appreciate the commentary. I added lots of books to be TBR pile!
900-939: finished Reading Lolita in Tehran
940-999: That All People May Be One People, Send Rain to the Face of the Earth was a powerful historical read. Chief Jospeh gave an interview in Washington DC in 1879 following the forced displacement on the Nez Perce people. Important history for me as a person who lives on Nez Perce land.

finished challenge on 12.2.17

could include
155 Last Child in the Woods
155 Playful Learning
347 Notorious RBG
371 I am Malala
423 The Professor and the Madman
428 Between you & me: Confessions of a Comma Queen
612 The Female Brain
658 Lean In*
808 Bird By Bird*
790 Unbored Fun
791 Mythbusters
996 Unfamiliar Fishes

Welcome back! I hope you will enjoy another year of wonderful reading!

Congrats on last year and may you find this year even more successful!

So glad you're back for another year! I like how you will be concentrating on Printz winning YA literature. There are some really good books there. I'll be eager to see what winners you choose. Have a wonderful year!

It's so exciting that LT helped you to surpass your 2016 reading goals! Hope your 2017 reading goes just as well! :)

Thanks all! Love this community!

Welcome back and looking forward to following along with your year of reading! I'm glad you had such a great year last year :D

Welcome back and cheers to another great year of reading!

Looks like some great reads. The Boys in the Boat is on my TBR list. Good like with your CATS in 2017!

Looks like you have some great reads planned.

Congrats on blowing away your target last year! And good luck this year as well.

Welcome back!

Dropping a comment so that I get to follow your thread - happy reading! (I'm a little behind, so apologies for the generic comment - better to come, I hope.) :)

Nice job on blowing last year's goal away! I skipped joining any LT groups once in the past 9 years, and that year I read half what I usually do. It really does help to set these goals and challenge yourself. I've never done the Dewey challenge but I like that idea. Hm ...

>21 madhatter22: I highly recommend the Dewey challenge-- it's broad enough to read what catches your interest yet specific enough to bread you out of reading ruts.

Adding another category because I find myself wanting to read books that just don't fit anywhere else. Instead of trying to make them fit, I'm going to make this new category....

** Potpourri **
Currently reading:

Finished:
1) The Celtic Way of Evangelism
2) Encouragement: The Unexpected Power of Building Others Up:I loved the beginning of this book and thinking through the concept of layers-- why we have them and the need to relate beyond them. Something about the end of the book fell short for me but I'm not sure how-- hoping to gain clarity in that as I discuss book with colleagues.
3) Very Married: Field Notes on Love and Fidelity: In the intro, Eugene Peterson says that this book is, "... the very best book on marriage I have ever read--and I have read many." I haven't read enough to make the same claim but I am thankful for this book and the spot it holds in, what can be, a very polarized Christian marriage climate. Pershey speaks honestly, personally and clearly. I'm thankful for an opportunity to discuss this book with an engaged couple for their marriage prep which will help me dig into the contents of this book more.
4) Torn by Justin Lee
5) Edge of Eternity has been on my list for awhile-- it's the kind of book that sucks me into the characters and plot lines, completely wraps me up in its world. I wanted that last weekend and so I downloaded the ebook from the library and just kept reading. It was glorious. The book was just ok but I loved the comprehensive world that I could get wrapped up in.
6) Bloody Chamber and Other Stories: I'm exploring the world of fairy tale retellings and heard that this is a good place to start. Title story was my favorite. Interesting to read another genre but I don't know if I would recommend it.
7) Read Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire as part of my summer dive into the subject of prayer. I found some good quotes but overall, this was book didn't capture me. I found it too direct about a subject that is so mysterious.
8) Created for Commitment: I borrowed this book from my BSF teaching leader and I didn't expect to enjoy it. Wow! Amazed. Ms. Johnson's story is inspirational. I felt like I was reading an idealized version of my own life. And, I needed the constant refrain "To God be the glory."
9) Talking as fast as I can: see my review for Early Reviewers on the book page.
10) You Don't Have To Say You Love Me: This book was amazing. I can't even figure out how to describe the experience of reading it because everything I write seems trite. Hands down, my favorite book of this year.
11) The Princess Diarist: I've been on a memoir kick lately. I saw this as an available audiobook on my Overdrive list and checked it out for a long drive. I'm not a Star Wars fan but I am a fan of strong women. Carrie Fisher is a candid writer and a great narrator. I appreciated her candor.

Finished Bone Gap on audiobook this week-- amazing! I love books that I can't classify, where I'm wondering what type of book this might be as the plot is unfolding. I highly recommend checking it out-- I'd love to hear your thoughts!

6) Reading List continued...

Book Bingo NW 2017

1) Recommended by a librarian: read the Pulitzer-Prize winning Evicted. This book impressed me in two ways. First, the author's intentionality as an ethnographer which helped craft such a compelling book. Second, the breadth of people he worked with which showed the complexities of poverty across race, gender, sexuality, ability, family while simultaneously showing a universal need to provide affordable housing for all. I will be highly recommending this book.

2) Choose a book by its cover: squeezed in The Oregon Trail by Rinker Buck here which I've been staring at for two years! I love the idea of participatory travel historical writing. I loved the interplay between the author and his brother. I was also surprised by the history around the Whitmans, especially Narcissa, which gave me a new perspective on the namesake of my freshmen dorm. I would recommend-- especially to West Coasters, anyone thinking of touring national parks in the Western US or those who played Oregon Trail growing up!

3) A book you've been meaning to read: finished Let Your Life Speak by Parker Palmer. I've heard about this book for so long that I think my expectations were too high. The prose is beautiful. I will re-read the last chapter several times to soak in the mysteries of life as seasons. Overall, it wasn't as amazing as I'd hoped. Maybe I've heard the ideas in too many other places? Or, maybe I'm getting too conservative in my old age!

4) Young Adult Daughter of Smoke and Bone

5) Biography or Memoir: read Peace Pilgrim and it didn't meet my expectations. So slow. So repetitive. I wanted to hear more about the journeys.

6) Adapted into a movie: Hidden Figures wasn't exactly what I expected. The writing felt too technical, not only in the specifics of the work these women did but in the documeting of history. I'm captivated by these stories and love that these women are now firmly cemented in history but I just wanted this book to be better!

7) Graphic Novel: finished Book One of March by John Lewis and planning on reading Two and Three.

8) By an author of color: finished the audiobook One Hundred Years of Solitude. Loved the beginning but not so thrilled with the ending. Really wanted to think more about the theme of lust/desire and the role it played in the family life.

9) Recommended by an Independent Bookseller: read The Essex Serpent which I found captivating. It's the type of story that consumes me and i just want to read, and read and read until I've finished it. I loved the main characters and the mystery which drew out the Enlightenment tension of reason and superstition. The book asked some great questions about the role faith might play. In the end, I didn't find the definition of love presented by the story very satisfying. I would recommend this story to a particular set of people.

10) Set in another country: picked up a favorite series and read book #4 A Rule Against Murder set in Quebec.

11) Genre that is new to you: borrowed "Can't and Won't" by Lydia Davis (flash fiction/prose poetry.) I was intrigued. I think I'll check out more!

12) Banned book: This One Summer could also be used as YA or graphic novel. Beautifully drawn. Loved the slice-of-life, coming-of-age story.

13) Free Space

14) Collection of Essays or Short Stories: read Bad Feminist. I think the first and last essays were my favorites, thought-provoking reads about how to be a feminist and critique feminism.

15) Published the year one of your parents was born: The Phantom Tollbooth which I'm sure I read as a child but didn't remember. I thought it took awhile to get into the story. There wasn't much character development. But, I loved the last ten pages! So inspirational. Maybe a good read aloud?

16) Fiction: Mr. Churchill's Secretary took a little but to get into but loved the character of Maggie Hope. This book was right up my alley! I'll read more.

17) About art or an artist: finished The Gardner Heist. I read it in one weekend because I was so enthralled with the mystery-- so many possibilities! I learned lots about art theft in general. Highly recommend for those who like true crime books.

18) A SAL speaker: finished State of Wonder. This was my first Patchett novel and I enjoyed it. I found the characters interested and the plot compelling.

19) Reread a book you read in school: ended up listening to The Outsiders which I'm pretty sure I read during freshman year. It wasn't as revlotionary as I remember-- probably because I relate more with Dari than I do with Ponyboy. Still a a good story and a book that I hope my kiddos will read someday.

20) Finish in a day: Finished Junia is not Alone which I own and have been waiting to read. Very short (25 pages) but packed full of history about biblical translation and stories of women in church history.

21) Washington State author: Where'd You Go Bernadette was so fun to read! I enjoyed the format (mix of emails, personal notes, documents) and loved the mother-daughter relationship. Sure, the plot was a little far fetched but it didn't matter to me-- I was too into the book to care about the plausibility of stealing zodiacs in Antarctica.

22) Poetry: Thirst by Mary Oliver was beautiful!

23) Science nonfiction or science fiction: maybe my hopes were too high or maybe the current political climate is too murky but I didn't love Kindred like I thought I would. I appreciated the nuances of this story, showing some of the emotional complexity in abusive situations. I just wanted a little more--- not even sure what I wanted but it wasn't the five star story I had made it out to be in my mind.

24) LGBTQIA author or character: I ended up changing my mind at the last minute and reading Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. I finished the book in an afternoon-- so much to love yet unsatisfied with the ending. Still processing and how to write more soon.

25) Recommended by a young person: read and listened to Ozma of Oz upon a recommendation of my daughter. I don't like it at much as the Wizard of Oz but L. Frank Baum certainly has a way of choosing characters.`

>25 donan: I really enjoyed Where'd You Go, Bernadette as well! Semple's new(er) novel, Today Will Be Different, is on my TBR list.

Since we're over halfway through the year, I wanted to make a quick notes of my top reads this year-- I love it when folks ask for recommendations and I want to have my top picks at the forefront of my mind. So, the best things I've read this year...

Graphic novels: March series by John Lewis There are three volumes and each one is worth it. John Lewis chronicles his life from the perspective of watching President Obama's inauguration. Text is excellent. Art is engaging.

Non-fiction: Evicted Yes, it won a Pulitzer so that recommends it. However, I was so engaged in the stories of each person in the book. I was amazed by the author's ability to skillfully navigate a complex subject like poverty across racial, ethnic and gender lines and still provide helpful action steps to a universal problem.

Fiction: If you haven't read The Handmaid's Tale do it. I also enjoyed Bone Gap, a young adult novel that received the Printz award.

I finished the summer reading bingo card from the Seattle Public Library today (#bookbingonnw17) I love the feeling of completion. I caught myself thinking the other day "Now, I can read whatever I want!" as if I couldn't do that before. Not sure where the last few months of the year will take me in the reading-- I'm going to follow my curiosity wherever it might lead!

Congratulations!

I'm looking back across my categories today as I think about how I want to set up my challenge for next year. I'm amazed by how much I'm inspired by reading challenges (like Bookriot's 'Read Harder') and bingo cards. I struggled to muster enthusiasm for my created categories (i.e. work, family, and even my mystery category.) 2018 might be the year of challenges/CATs. I think I enjoy the process of making my TRB fit into others' categories.

>30 donan: That sounds like a great plan! It does make it easier to have a framework already set up and then you just pick the books that fit :)

>30 donan: I'm thinking along similar lines for next year's challenge.

The vast majority of my reads this year have been from CATWoman and CultureCAT (and occasionally RandomCAT), so it's certainly worked for me! I've had my random Jar of Fate choosing the other reads for me, so I've never been paralysed by indecision!

I know there is still one more month in 2017 but I'm certain that my favorite book of the year is You Don't Have To Say You Love Me by Sherman Alexie If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it!

End of the year thoughts:
- You Don't Have to Say You Love Me was my favorite book of the year.
- I also enjoyed Evicted, John Lewis's March series and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.
- I thought reading in these categories would make my reading more controlled and pragmatic. I discovered that I read primarily for pleasure which means lots of fiction. There's nothing wrong with that-- I just surprised myself by the volume.