2015 Reading List: February-May

Yup, definitely a new year but the same problems, namely that working full-time+ cuts into my reading time. I'm pretty sure I've missed some, but maybe not. I skipped two of the books for the reading group over the last couple of months. The first one I just couldn't get into; some of the women seemed to enjoy it (despite the mocking we gave it when it came up), but I just had no interest. The other one was Magaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, which I skipped because I've read it at least half a dozen times in my life and I love it so much, but I was trying to finish Quiet (which is good, but slow, and dense reading) so I could return it to my co-worker.

UNTIL THIS POST

15. Kissing Under the Mistletoe, by Marina Adair (St. Helena Vineyard Series #1)
14. Signal Boost, by Alyssa Cole (Off the Grid #2)
13. Radio Silence, by Alyssa Cole (Off the Grid #1)
12. Isa and May, by Margaret Forster (for reading group. I thought it dull, they loved it)
11. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, by Winifred Watson (for reading group)
10. The Kingmaker's Daughter, by Philippa Gregory (Book #4 of The Cousins' War)
9. Raven Black, by Ann Cleeves (Book #1 in the Shetland Quartet) (for reading group, and we've gotten these out of order)

FEBRUARY

8. Raging Heat, by Richard Castle (Nikki Heat #6. Still making assumptions about who ghostwrites.)
7. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, by Susan Cain

JANUARY

6. Jericho Season 4, by Kalinda Vazquez (graphic novel continuation of the TV show)
5. What Zoey Doesn't Know, by R. L. Naquin (Monster Haven Short #3.5)
4. Hidden Holidays, by R. L. Naquin (Monster Haven Short #2.5)
3. Ill-Conceived Magic, by R. L. Naquin (Monster Haven Short, #1.5)
2. Demons in My Driveway, by R. L. Naquin (Monster Haven #5)
1. Golem in my Glovebox, by R. L. Naquin (Monster Haven #4)

2015 Reading List: January

New year, new list, same lack of accuracy. Woo! And yes, I REALLY dig the Monster Haven books. I'm distraught that the last one isn't out until March. And that it's the last one. Seriously great books: great characters and world, decent plots, decent writing. Fun, easy reads, with characters that really stick with you (everyone needs a closet monster named Maurice!).

JANUARY

6. Jericho Season 4, by Kalinda Vazquez (graphic novel continuation of the TV show)
5. What Zoey Doesn't Know, by R. L. Naquin (Monster Haven Short #3.5)
4. Hidden Holidays, by R. L. Naquin (Monster Haven Short #2.5)
3. Ill-Conceived Magic, by R. L. Naquin (Monster Haven Short, #1.5)
2. Demons in My Driveway, by R. L. Naquin (Monster Haven #5)
1. Golem in my Glovebox, by R. L. Naquin (Monster Haven #4)

2014 Reading List: November/December

Been a bit busy. Thanksgiving, an additional 30 hours on our return travel time (that's 30 hours on top of the 18 hours it should have taken us), Christmas, Boxing Day, New Year's, and work. Sigh... Needless to say (but I'll say it anyway), the list is probably not complete, or strictly accurate as to when I finished things.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

42. Fairies in My Fireplace, by R. L. Naquin (Monster Haven #3)
41. Pooka in My Pantry, by R. L. Naquin (Monster Haven #2)
40. Monster in My Closet, by R. L. Naquin (Monster Haven #1)
39. Wool-Part One, by Hugh Howey
38. Fifty Shades of Grey, by E. L. James (it seriously took me over 3 years to finish this. I'm not planning on reading the other two any time soon, if ever)
37. Horrorstör, by Grady Hendrix
36. My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece, by Annabel Pitcher (for reading group)
35. The Glass Room, by Simon Mawer (for reading group)

OCTOBER

34. Robopocalypse, by Daniel H. Wilson
33. Jericho, Season 3: Civil War (graphic novel, a continuation of the TV show)

SEPTEMBER

32. The Birth of Venus, by Sarah Dunant (for reading group)
31. The Clairvoyant Countess, by Dorothy Gilman
30. Anita and Me, by Meera Syal (for reading group. The lack of these was due to problems getting copies of anything for the group. Also, I was late finishing this one)
29.  An Acceptable Time, by Madeleine L'Engle (fifth written of the Time Quintet)

AUGUST

*28. Many Waters, by Madeleine L'Engle (fourth written of the Time Quintet)
*27. A Swiftly Tilting Planet, by Madeleine L'Engle (third written of the Time Quintet)
26. Serenity: The Shepherd's Tale, by Joss Whedon, Zack Whedon, and Chris Samnee (graphic novel)
Elmer and the Hippos, by David McKee (since it's a kid's book and took 5 minutes, doesn't count)
*25. A Wind in the Door, by Madeleine L'Engle (second written of the Time Quintet)
*24. A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle (first written of the Time Quintet)

JULY

23. Broken Homes, by Ben Aaronovitch (Peter Grant Series #4)
22. The Kill Order, by James Dashner (The Maze Runner Trilogy prequel. Do not read this.)
21. Little Brother, by Cory Doctorow (you should read this. It's an interesting successor to its namesake, Orwell's 1984)

JUNE

20. Redshirts: A Novel with Three Codas, by John Scalzi
19. The Cuckoo's Calling, by Robert Galbraith (pen name for J. K. Rowling)
18. Death Cure, by James Dashner (The Maze Runner Trilogy #3)
17. The Scorch Trials, by James Dashner (The Maze Runner Trilogy #2)
16. Tipping the Velvet, by Sarah Waters (for reading group)

MAY
15. The Portrait of a Lady, by Henry James (for reading group)

APRIL

14. Island of Wings, by Karin Altenberg (for reading group)
*13. The Indian in the Cupboard, by Lynne Reid Banks

MARCH

12. Goliath, by Scott Westerfeld (Book 3 of the Leviathan Trilogy)
11. Behemoth, by Scott Westerfeld (Book 2 of the Leviathan Trilogy)
*10. The Face on the Milk Carton, by Caroline B. Cooney
9. Leviathan, by Scott Westerfeld (Book 1 of the Leviathan Trilogy)

FEBRUARY

8. Bitter Blue, by Cath Staincliffe (Sal Kilkenny Series #6) (for reading group)
7. For My Own: A Contemporary Christmas Anthology (contains three novellas: A Christmas for Carrie by Alison Packard, Christmas Curveball by Shari Mikels, and Kissing Her Scrooge by Kinley Cade)
6. Catching Heat (Feeling the Heat), by Alison Packard
5. The Maze Runner, by James Dashner (The Maze Runner Trilogy #1)
4. Walking Home, Travels with a Troubadour on the Pennine Way, by Simon Armitage (for reading group)

JANUARY

3. The Girl who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her own Making, by Catherynne M. Valente
2. Edible History: Easy Recipes for Homemade Mother of Vinegar, Apple Cider Vinegar, and Wine Vinegar, by Cassandra Cookson (short, but I want to make my own apple cider vinegar. Probably won't, but want to.)
1. Zeus of Ithome, by T. E. Taylor (written by one of the guys in my writer's group. Really great guy, enjoyable book.)

2014 Reading List: October

I'm sure I read more last month, but since I can't figure out what, life goes on. That said, I'm sure I've read Death Comes to Pemberly at some point in the last year or so, but I can't find that either. Meh. I work full time+ now, so I don't have as much time to read these days. Bit sad, but at least I still read plenty.

OCTOBER

34. Robopocalypse, by Daniel H. Wilson
33. Jericho, Season 3: Civil War (graphic novel, a continuation of the TV show)

SEPTEMBER

32. The Birth of Venus, by Sarah Dunant (for reading group)
31. The Clairvoyant Countess, by Dorothy Gilman
30. Anita and Me, by Meera Syal (for reading group. The lack of these was due to problems getting copies of anything for the group. Also, I was late finishing this one)
29.  An Acceptable Time, by Madeleine L'Engle (fifth written of the Time Quintet)

AUGUST

*28. Many Waters, by Madeleine L'Engle (fourth written of the Time Quintet)
*27. A Swiftly Tilting Planet, by Madeleine L'Engle (third written of the Time Quintet)
26. Serenity: The Shepherd's Tale, by Joss Whedon, Zack Whedon, and Chris Samnee (graphic novel)
Elmer and the Hippos, by David McKee (since it's a kid's book and took 5 minutes, doesn't count)
*25. A Wind in the Door, by Madeleine L'Engle (second written of the Time Quintet)
*24. A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle (first written of the Time Quintet)

JULY

23. Broken Homes, by Ben Aaronovitch (Peter Grant Series #4)
22. The Kill Order, by James Dashner (The Maze Runner Trilogy prequel. Do not read this.)
21. Little Brother, by Cory Doctorow (you should read this. It's an interesting successor to its namesake, Orwell's 1984)

JUNE

20. Redshirts: A Novel with Three Codas, by John Scalzi
19. The Cuckoo's Calling, by Robert Galbraith (pen name for J. K. Rowling)
18. Death Cure, by James Dashner (The Maze Runner Trilogy #3)
17. The Scorch Trials, by James Dashner (The Maze Runner Trilogy #2)
16. Tipping the Velvet, by Sarah Waters (for reading group)

MAY
15. The Portrait of a Lady, by Henry James (for reading group)

APRIL

14. Island of Wings, by Karin Altenberg (for reading group)
*13. The Indian in the Cupboard, by Lynne Reid Banks

MARCH

12. Goliath, by Scott Westerfeld (Book 3 of the Leviathan Trilogy)
11. Behemoth, by Scott Westerfeld (Book 2 of the Leviathan Trilogy)
*10. The Face on the Milk Carton, by Caroline B. Cooney
9. Leviathan, by Scott Westerfeld (Book 1 of the Leviathan Trilogy)

FEBRUARY

8. Bitter Blue, by Cath Staincliffe (Sal Kilkenny Series #6) (for reading group)
7. For My Own: A Contemporary Christmas Anthology (contains three novellas: A Christmas for Carrie by Alison Packard, Christmas Curveball by Shari Mikels, and Kissing Her Scrooge by Kinley Cade)
6. Catching Heat (Feeling the Heat), by Alison Packard
5. The Maze Runner, by James Dashner (The Maze Runner Trilogy #1)
4. Walking Home, Travels with a Troubadour on the Pennine Way, by Simon Armitage (for reading group)

JANUARY

3. The Girl who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her own Making, by Catherynne M. Valente
2. Edible History: Easy Recipes for Homemade Mother of Vinegar, Apple Cider Vinegar, and Wine Vinegar, by Cassandra Cookson (short, but I want to make my own apple cider vinegar. Probably won't, but want to.)
1. Zeus of Ithome, by T. E. Taylor (written by one of the guys in my writer's group. Really great guy, enjoyable book.)

Ze House

I had to sort through about 60 photos. These aren't the best, but they give a basic idea of the house without posting too revealing of information on the web (like the address). Also, there are no pictures of the cellar, because at the point we took these--right after we took possession of the house--it looked one step away from an ax-muderer's haven (it's about 3 steps away now).

The pretty rosebush outside the living room window that desperately needs a pruning. Despite his claims, the previous owner did not in fact prune it this year.

Living room. He left the weird rug that I do like, but wondered what was under it (nothing, thankfully). However, it's really shaggy, so who knows what's in it, since we didn't want to break the carpet cleaner we borrowed. Also, jackass never cleaned out the woodstove.

The front door is right across from the stairs. There's a distinct lack of entryway in the house, but those tend to cost an extra £50k.

The kitchen looks nicer than it is to work in. Trust me. Also, nothing in the photo works. Extractor hood is broken (lights work in it, at least), both ovens are broken. So I guess the range works (so did the bottle of wine). We've replaced the cooker now, but the hood is still broken.

Guest bedroom. Now on the first/second floor (choose which one via your country–we've gone up the first flight of stairs). 

Same guest bedroom as previous photo. They were big into accent walls, which we (mostly) like. Too bad this was a kid's room and it's all damaged. We have a gallon of paint in a similar blue, which will hopefully someday make it onto the wall. Also, we were warned not to use the fireplace. Gee, ya think? It's carpeted and everything.

They seemed to have a lot of red paint for accent walls. This bathroom has a distinct lack of a shower. And will continue to until Adam and I either fit a tap adaptor one for emergency use, or spend an obscene amount of money to redo the whole room (the eventual plan).

This is the other "bedroom" on the first/second floor. In two photos you'll better understand why we have quotes around it. It's our office, and houses the computers, bookcases (some of them), and currently, our clothes. We are not fans of the mustard accent wall. Not even a little.

I have no further comment.

Stairs up to the top floor/attic/loft. Also know as our bedroom, the master bedroom. It's more than a little awesome to say that, even if there's a door three steps up. Very weird.

Can you say master suite? Also, can you say ouch? Adam's whacked his head or shoulder nearly every day on the one beam, and I've done it a few times myself. However, that's not my side of the bed.

That would be the chimney breast. Very picturesque, very dusty.

The only picture I'm willing to share of the master bath, since someone (aka previous owner) is apparently unable to put the toilet seat down. He's a class act, that one. Also, note the lack of door between the bedroom and bathroom. Since that's my side of the bed, I get to perv on Adam as he showers (on the rare days I'm not at work when he showers). That's the shower head sticking out of the ceiling, by the way.