March Reading Round-Up

March here in Ontario has gone out like a lion – with 2 inches of snow covering the ground.

But March has also been a busy month – of reading and writing. I took part in a daily writing challenge hosted by “Two Writing Teachers”, one I have done for several years and thoroughly enjoyed. I also took part in a picture book study through ReFoReMo – studying picture books to use as mentor texts. I was able to read 46 pbs.

It’s that time to share what I have been reading this past month. The total read for February was 28 books (+ the 46 pbs) with the following breakdown:
Fantasy –1
SciFi – 0
Paranormal – 3
Romance – 15
Historical romance – 2
Women’s Fiction – 1
Classics – 0
Non-Fiction – 1
Picture Books – 46
YA – 2
MG – 2
Magical Realism – 1

Diverse books – 11

I decided this year to record in more detail where the books originated – from the library, on my TBR shelves, an e-book, bought /gifted or a charity read (Bought from a charity store). Here’s the breakdown
Library reads – 61
TBR books – 0
e-books – 11
Charity reads -2 (Thus $4 donated to charity)

I had planned as well to do a separate post for my Jane Austen Reading Challenge, but for now, I will post it here:
Confession time – I did not read /finish any of Jane Austen’s novel. I started both Persuasion and Mansfield Park, several times in fact, but did not get very far with either. I did read an enjoyable novel inspired by Jane Austen: Second Impressions by Pepper Basham.
I also read a NF picture book on Jane’s life:
Ordinary, Extraordinary Jane Austen by Deborah Hopkinson
I enjoyed a number of stories inspired by Jane Austen from the book:
Jane Austen Made Me Do It, edited by Laurel Ann Nattress.

I hope to read Persuasion next month and other JA inspired books.

 

Here are the books read for my favourite challenges:
Popsugar Ultimate Reading Challenge (Through Goodreads)
4. Book that should be turned into a movie: The Birthday List by Devney Perry
9. Book you meant to read in 2018 – The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

11. Book with item of clothing on cover (high heels) – Getting Lucky by Katie Graykowski
36. A ghost story – His Haunting Kiss by Heather Marie Adkins

52 Books in 52 Weeks
8. Set in the Victorian Era: Bargaining with a Rake by Julie Johnstone
13. Featuring music: I read a trilogy “Band on the Run” by Samantha Chase:
One More Kiss, One More Promise, One More Moment
25. Name of Colour in title – No Tan Lines by Kate Angell
28. Discusses mental health – Notes on a Nervous Planet by Matt Haig

Beyond the Bookends.
The theme for March was “read a Newberry winner”:
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Monthly Key Word Challenge
The key words I chose this month was “Luck”
Getting Lucky by Katie Graykowski

Monthly Motif
The theme this month was “Royalty, kingdoms, empires”.
Carnival of Secrets by Melissa Marr

Diversify Your Reading
The genre was science and technology: Notes on a Nervous Planet by Matt Haig

Connect Five
1. Five books that I read and connected because their authors’ first and last initials were the same, were
Carnival of Secrets by Melissa Marr
Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
A Piece of My Heart by Sharon Sala
A Wanton Woman by Vanessa Vale
Bargaining with a Rake by Julie Johnstone

2. Five books that I read and connected because they all had “One” in the title
A trilogy “Band on the Run” by Samantha Chase:
One More Kiss, One More Promise, One More Moment
One Day in December by Josie Silver
One and Only by Jenny Holiday

Favourite Books Read This Month
This was an excellent month for reading books that I rated a number of books a 5 at Goodreads.

The Birthday List by Devney Perry
One More Moment by Samantha Chase
One Day in December by Josie Silver
One and Only by Jenny Holiday
The List by Patricia Forde
Love, Life and the List by Kasie West
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Carnival of Secrets by Melissa Marr
Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
The last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary by Laura Shovan
Notes on a Nervous Planet by Matt Haig

April Goals
Once again, I hope to read more of my TBR books. (Many of the charity books become my TBR books anyway)

I am linking with the following:

 

Month in Review at Book Date

 

Best of the Bunch

 

Monthly Wrap-Up

Day 31 – March Slice of Life

Today is Day 31 of the March Slice of Life – the daily writing challenge hosted at “Two Writing Teachers”.

The last day of March. The last day of the The month started like a lamb but has definitely gone out like a lion. I awoke to 2” of snow – the world a winter wonderland again.
March SOL started slow for me, with hope that I would be able to slice each day. And on this last day, I can look back and say I did it!
I have gained renewed resolve to keep writing daily. I have overcome challenges to slice each day. Using the Encyclopedia of Me gave me a framework most days and I used it thankfully.
I also visited numerous blogs – some familiar and some new. It was always a treat to read other’s slices.

Thank you to “Two Writing Teachers” for hosting this challenge – it has been an enjoyable experience.

Day 30 – March Slice of Life

Today is Day 30 of the March Slice of Life – the daily writing challenge hosted at “Two Writing Teachers”.

I was reading the latest Reader’s Digest Friday night (the April issue) and started to read “A Warm Reminder”. The author, Sarah Richards, wrote about the comfort she found in an old coat of her father’s, after his death.
It got me thinking about two coats of my Dad’s and the memories they brought up.
One was a long, heavy navy coat that my dad wore in the winter, especially when he would flood our rinks.
The other was a big, knit Icelandic type sweater that he wore a lot. I can remember that it was white and had a design – but right now, I can’t remember if it was a deer or not on the back. I can’t remember either if my mom knit it or not. I want to think she did – but I am not sure. She is gone now and I’m not even sure if there is anyone else who would remember it.
I really haven’t thought of that sweater in a very long time. My Dad passed away 47 years ago. I’m not even sure what happened to the sweater after he died.
I need to do some searching –
-to look for pictures of him in that sweater – I know I have at least one somewhere
– and talk to my older brother and ask what he remembers.
Memories are so precious – and I hate not remembering. It bothers me – a lot. I need answers. I need to know.

Connect Five

This month I have been trying to connect some of my reading choices and have completed a Connect Five for that challenge at Book Date..

These books all have “One“ in the title (three by the same author) and all are romances.

 

   

One More Kiss by Samantha Chase (4 ½ stars)
One More Promise by Samantha Chase (4 ½ stars)
One More Moment by Samantha Chase (5 stars)

Samantha Chase’s books are the “Band on the Run” series and follow three of the Shaugnessy band’s members.

 

One and Only by Jenny Holiday (5 stars)

This is the first book in Holiday’s “Bridesmaids Behaving Badly” series – all are an enjoyable, fun, romantic  read

 

One Day in December by Josie Silver (5 stars)

I had been wanting to read that one for a while and thoroughly enjoyed it.   The story of Laurie, Sarah and Jack is a complicated one and filled with love, heartbreak and missed opportunities.

 

Day 29 – March Slice of Life

Today is Day 29 of the March Slice of Life – the daily writing challenge hosted at “Two Writing Teachers”.

I have finally made it through the alphabet, using Amy Krause Rosenthal’s Encyclopedia of Me; My Life from A to Z. I still have so many prompts left to write on. I see it as a way to capture my past, thoughts, fears, wants, likes – like a diary to share with my kids.
Reading the newspapers this morning had me shaking my head. I skimmed more than I read because frankly, the headlines are disturbing. I have been dwelling a lot lately on politics, and what is happening not only in Canada, but in the world as well. We are leaving future generations with a legacy of hate, fear and a deadly, polluted earth.
One example of this is in Quebec. This week the ruling party tabled “religious neutrality” legislation”. This is just a nicely worded way for attacking immigrants, racism at its basest.
I grew up in Montreal and my hubby was born there. We visit often, as he still has family there. I know and love Montreal. This is why it saddens and sickens me what the Quebec government is trying to do.
Each successive government there seems to want to protect itself from contamination from “others”, whether it is separating from Canada (they lost that one), imposing French language laws to now banning religious symbols on persons in authority, like teachers, judges, doctors, etc. A cross on a chain can be tucked under a shirt; a turban or hijab cannot.
This is outright racism, couched in legalese.
Quebec is headed for a huge migration – of educated, skilled immigrants. They must choose whether to practice their religion or keep their job. What a terrible choice. Who would want to stay in a place where hate rules?
And so, Quebec will lose in the end, because immigration will cease or at least slow down, and they will lose many talented people. Quebec white, French population is decreasing – will they recover??

Day 28 – March Slice of Life

Z is for Zzzzz
Getting a full, uninterrupted eight hours of Zzzzzs would be bliss.
Being able to get right to sleep when I hit the pillow would be bliss as well.
Sometimes, I am up til 2 am, until I actually feel tired.
I know I will then be up in 3 or 4 hours (aging body, what can I say), then back to sleep for 3 or 4 more hours, if I am lucky.
The alarm is set for 9 am so that my hubby can take his anti-rejection drugs. Sometimes I’ll go back to a restless sleep for an hour or two, but usually I’m up.
But I’m tired, my eyes are sore. Getting enough Zzzzs seems an unlikely occurrence right now.
My goal though for April is to get more exercise as well as taking some yoga classes. I will hopefully wear myself out so I get to be earlier and fall asleep more easily.
Wish me luck
(any suggestions for a better sleep??)

Day 27 -March Slice of Life

Y is for Yes
Saying yes to life is such a positive attitude and action. Too often I say no before I really have had time to think about it.
In Shonda Rhimes “Year of Yes”, she decided to say yes to “everything that takes me out of my comfort zone”. She chronicled her voyage of saying yes, to help her overcome her happiness and fears.
I need to say yes more often:
-to visit new places
-to meet new people
-to try new foods
-to try different activities
-to overcome fears

Day 26 – March Slice of Life

Today is Day 26 of the March Slice of Life – the daily writing challenge hosted at “Two Writing Teachers”.
I am using Encyclopedia of Me; My Life from A to Z, a guided journal created by Amy Krause Rosenthal.

X is for X-citing news
This past week we’ve gotten some very exciting news.

Last week, my older brother phoned that he would be a grandpa, for the first time – that his son and his wife were expecting in September. They are all X-tatic.

Today, my youngest son sent a picture but told me to call as soon as I got it, but not to open it. Of course, I couldn’t wait, but I was puzzled – I wasn’t sure what it was showing. My son phoned and announced they were expecting a baby in November. The picture then made perfect sense. This will be their second child -their daughter is almost two.

Now my two youngest children are both expecting babies and there will be grandbabies in August and November.

What a blessed, X-traordinary gift these babies will be!

Day 25 – March Slice of Life

 

Today is Day 25 of the March Slice of Life – the daily writing challenge hosted at “Two Writing Teachers”.
I am using Encyclopedia of Me; My Life from A to Z, a guided journal created by Amy Krause Rosenthal.

W is for “Why Worry?”

We all have worries from time to time. Worry about our children, our jobs, our health, the health of our loved ones. We worry too about the craziness in the world.

Some of my biggest worries:
*waiting while my hubby was in surgery
*my children driving in bad weather
*my own driving

Yet, worrying takes it toll and it really doesn’t accomplish much. Worrying about a future event won’t help the outcome of that event at all.
As these quotes show, worry is a negative emotion, not positive at all:

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength.
Corrie Ten Boom

Don’t worry so much. Most of the things you worry about never end up happening.
Dick Van Dyke

Worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere.
Erma Bombeck

Stop worrying about what can go wrong, and get excited about what can go right.  Great advice – one I need to follow consistently!

 

Day 24 – March Slice of Life

 

Today is Day 24 of the March Slice of Life – the daily writing challenge hosted at “Two Writing Teachers”.
I am using Encyclopedia of Me; My Life from A to Z, a guided journal created by Amy Krause Rosenthal.

V is for Vacations
Most of my favourite vacations have combined visiting places with meeting new people or visiting family and friends.
A visit to Scotland after my father died, lead to visiting castles, churches, the Isle of Skye, but also visiting and staying with my aunt and cousins.
A trip to Cayman island was filled with touring, swimming and shopping – with my brother and his wife who were living there.
A trip to Vancouver and Vancouver Island in B.C., was full of fabulous scenery, exciting places to visit as well as catching up with relatives and friends.
I do like to visit new places but it is the being able to share these places with family and friends that makes it so special.