December Reflections - 2017 - Best Book of 2017

I've done pretty well with my reading challenge this year.  I follow the categories in Pop Sugar's Reading Challenge (here is next year's list). I am just starting book 21 right now.  I'm hoping to be able to finish it by the end of the year.  Since I usually only read at night before bed, sometimes it takes me a while.

I have to say that my favorite book so far this year has been We Were The Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter.

This was one of the "mystery books" that Bill brought home from one of his trips to Oregon.  They come wrapped in paper bags with just a snippet of description of the book and are actually drafts which haven't been published yet.  It was a very interesting true story about a family of survivors of the Holocaust.  It was well written and very easy to follow, even though the family was separated for most of the time.  It was nominated for a Goodreads book award this year. 


Here are some of the other ones I have crossed off my list:

Another of the "mystery books."  This one was about two sisters and a secret they unknowingly share.  I used it for my "book with a red spine" category.

This was interesting about the experiences of Frankie Presto, a musician.  I have read other Mitch Albom books and they are good.  I used this one for my "story within a story" category.

Had to read this book about Sherlock Holmes.  It filled my "book with pictures" category.

This one was interestingly told from the baseball umpire's point of view.  It filled the "book with a subtitle" category.  Now I know why they do some of the things they do.
 

I bought this book to use in making a junk journal but had to read it first.  I remember Al Jolson from "The Jazz Singer" but had never read about his life.  Another interesting read.  It filled the "book with a title that's a character's name" category.

This book was a tough one but I am stubborn.  It was letters and notes written by some famous people in history, going back to the beginning of America.  The first few centuries were hard going because of the style of language they used back then and the periods in history.  The last few centuries were easier going because it was something I was more familiar with.  "Book of letters" was the category I used.

Of all the courses I've taken by Susannah Conway, including this December Reflection, I figured it was about time to read her book.  I am certainly glad I did.  It takes us through her process after she lost a significant other unexpectedly.  She is a wonder.  It was a "book that's been on my to be read list for a long time."

I was a bit disappointed in this Mitch Albom book.  I thought from the cover that I would learn "life's greatest lesson" but I'm not quite sure that was true.  "Book with a month or day of the week in the title" was its category.

Andy Andrews never fails to enlighten and inspire.  Since it involves time travel, I used it for my "book involving travel" category.  Stretching it a bit maybe but I think that's okay.  If you've never read or heard Andy Andrews, you should definitely check him out.

When I saw on the Goodreads site that this book could be used as a "book with an unreliable narrator," I had to read it.  I read it so long ago that I forgot most of the story, which made it even more enjoyable.  Love my Dame Agatha.

This was another one that I was just a bit disappointed in, although there were a few of the authors that had some interesting dreams.  Some I felt just liked to talk.  It was my "book with multiple authors" entry.

I am not sure I got any real "career advice" from this book but that's the category I used it for. 

And there you have it.  I can't say anything yet about the current book:

because I haven't really started it yet although I did preview the first couple of chapters through James' website.  He is a blogger friend I have discovered through the A to Z Challenge and is a most interesting gentleman.  He is also doing a 365 challenge for himself and that is another one of the things we have in common.  I'll let you know how it is when I'm done.

Okay, how about you?  How many books did you read this year?  Take any challenges?  Any suggestions for my reading for 2018?  Love to hear about them!  

Man, It's May

Some of the things I've been working on since completing the A to Z Challenge last month have been:

Making some cards for my Etsy Shop:  I made and listed 8 new cards, from Happy Birthday to Thanks, Love and Friendship cards.  All come with matching envelopes.

I've been keeping up with my 365 pictures too.  Here are a few of my favorites:

Everyone knows about my love of the moon.  Full moon is tomorrow night!

Started Book #9 in my Reading Challenge.  I have taken a couple of online classes with Susannah Conway but had not read her book.  It is great.

This is what the inside of the 365 picture album looks like.  I am adding a bit of a story to each one along with some page decorations.

This cute cactus village is in the yard of a neighbor's house.  I want to do something like this in our yard.  No maintenance and so cute with lots of little houses and other statues.

A reminder that dreaming to the moon is not going to completely get me where I want to go.  I have to do some of the work myself!

And the last big project is to take the book I read on Al Jolson and turn it into a junk journal to hold all my favorite quotes.  I am really excited about how it is turning out so far:

I took out some pages from the book to make it easier to add my collection of papers and things.

This is where I inserted the junk journal that I started making in March.

I added this woman walking down the hallway in this picture.

There is room here for me to write my favorite quotes.

I used the title of the chapter on this page, "There's a rainbow 'round the corner" and then painted a rainbow on the top with watercolor crayons.

This is the inside back cover with a pocket to add cards and things.  

So, that plus doing my regular work has kept me pretty busy.  I think I'll take a little break now and work on one of the letters I had to skip in my concert album.  

What do you think of my projects?  Got anything you are spending your time on now that the A to Z is over?

Me in March - 2017

I really want to try my hand at making a junk journal.  They are all the latest craze.  However, I couldn't think of what I would use one for so I've been putting it off.  Recently I thought of a great idea, I would use it to hold all those bits and pieces of quotes that I like to write down.  Usually I put them in my planner but then at the end of the year, the planner gets put away and I never think of the quotes again.

There are lots of ways to make junk journals but I decided I want to use an old book as the base to start with.  I went to St. Vincent de Paul where I knew I could get a book for $2 or $3.  I found two.  I went with the intention of just getting any old book as long as it was the right size and made sturdily because after all I was going to alter it.  Both the books I found are ones that I want to read first.  I started with this one:

I was first attracted to it because the cover was all torn so I figured it would be an okay book to alter.  I looked more closely and saw that it was the story of Al Jolson.  I've heard of him of course and saw "The Jazz Singer" years ago.  Fortunately, I finished the book I was reading about the Major League Umpires (As They See 'Em), so I started this one.  It will be #6 in my 2017 Reading Challenge.

As I looked inside the book I found these pictures that I know will make great additions to the junk journal.

Except for this one:

I know Jolson wore black face but this picture is kinda scary!  Pretty sure I'm gonna cover it up.  So, while I'm reading the book I'm also gathering bits and pieces of odds and ends that attract my eye.  Some of the things in my Daphne's Diary big box of papers will come in handy for this!

Along with odd shaped and interesting junk mail that we get (hence the name Junk Journal).  I'm really excited to finish the book and get started.  I'm also taking a class with Jamie Ridler about making junk journals.  

I must admit that at first I was hesitant to "alter" a book, I mean, it's a BOOK!  But, on the other hand, if I am repurposing it, it's not really wasting it.  After all, some books just get thrown away.  I consider it giving it a second life.  You know I'll share when I'm working on it!

How about you?  Would you consider reusing a book to make a journal?  Do you keep your junk mail?  Write quotes down on miscellaneous scraps of paper and then don't know what to do with them?  

Fancy-Free February - 2017 Reading Challenge edition

February 14 - Happy Valentine's Day.  Meant to post this the other day but I guess I forgot!

Finished the book about Sherlock Holmes.  It was very interesting, giving some insights both about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and about Sherlock, Dr. Watson and the stories that I had not known.  Of course, now I want to go back and read all the stories again but I'm on to something else for now:

"As They See 'Em" is the story of baseball umpires.  Bruce Weber was a New York Times reporter who interviewed umpires and then actually trained to become one and umpired games from Little League to the Majors in Spring Training games.  I've only read the Introduction so far but even that was interesting.  He was saying that the players were reluctant to talk about the umpires because they were afraid of retaliation during a game.   The back cover of the book promises that we'll learn what the umpires and managers actually say to each other during those "discussions" they sometimes have.  

According to Mr. Weber, one of the first things you are taught in umpire school is how to take your mask off without upsetting your cap.  It apparently is a real skill and very important so that the umpire does not look foolish or so that his cap does not land in the field of play and confuse people.

I can't wait for baseball to start and this will get me in the swing of things.  I have a feeling I'm going to be paying particular attention to the umpires this season, especially when they start whipping off their masks!  

How about you?  Ready for baseball?  Like the umpires?

Janet in January - 2017 Reading Challenge Edition

January 28 -  Finished the book The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom.  It was great.  Makes me want to read more of his work for sure.  I've never read Tuesdays With Morrie so that might have to go on my to read list.  I had planned on using it as my title with a character's name category but after reading it, I think it fits more with a story within a story better.

On to book 4!

Earlier I posted about my love for Sherlock Holmes and my new Tarot Deck inspired by his stories.  At the same time I got that deck, I happened across this book so of course I had to have that too.  It is chuck full of interesting facts and the biography of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as well as The Great One. 

There are case notes from a few of his cases and it talks about the different characters who have played Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson, including one of the newest, Benedict Cumberbatch.

It gives a glimpse inside 221B Baker Street and the other areas frequented by Sherlock and Dr. Watson.  I would love to have a room like this in my house! 

This is the description on the back cover.  

This one's gonna cover my book with pictures category.   

I also took the time today to go through the challenge list and my collection of books and picked out 8 books so I am ready to keep going on this challenge for sure!  How about you?  Reading in a challenge this year?  Reading for fun?  Love to hear about interesting books - and ones I should avoid!