Oceanstategirl Photos and Books: 2016

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

My Best Reads of 2016

My Best Reads of 2016

Friday, December 23, 2016

UPDATE!! I completed the Challenge

I have decided to take on a Reading Challenge the first part of 2017. This challenge is hosted by Erin @ http://texerin-in-sydneyland.blogspot.com.au/

Here are my Picks!

Freebie - Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton
Starts with "W" - What Remains by Carole Radziwill
Six Word Title - All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doer
Mostly Green Cover - Everybody Rise by Stephanie Clifford
Homonym in Title - Little BEACH Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan
Favorite Author - One Plus One by JoJo Moyes
Rhode Island Book - Great Hurricane of 1938 by Cherie Burns
Rory Gilmore Book - To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Unread Category (Biography) - Michelle Obama A Life by Peter Slevin
Time Travel - Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Resolution Update

In January 2016 I made a resolution to read more. I am very happy to say that I followed through on that resolution. I have completed my Goodreads 2016 Challenge (to read 50 books...I've read 54). Books have opened up a new world to me. Less tv and computer time. I am using my public library, ebooks and audiobooks. My husband and I share this hobby and have enjoyed browsing book sales, talking about books and even reading the same books so we can then discuss. Some favorite online sources to learn more about what to read have been Modern Mrs. Darcey (Anne Bogel's blog and podcast), Sorta Literary (a facebook group), and another blog Life According to Steph. Check them out! Maybe I will challenge myself and try to read more books in 2017.

Friday, December 2, 2016

What I Read: November 2016

Be Frank With Me - by Julia Claiborne Johnson (4*) Listening to this on audio was great! Sweet, clever story about a little boy with amazing strengths and needs. Many great characters. Chuckled alot through this one.

If I Forget You - by Thomas Christopher Greene (*3) This was an interesting read. A little tough to get into it but at the end it all came together. When old love comes back to life.

Find the Good - by Heather Lende (*3) This was a quick listen. Great short stories about an obituary writer in a remote town in Alaska. She always sees the good even in a rough, tough life lived.

Dumplin - by Julie Murphy (*3) A sweet, overweight young girl from Texas, Willow Dean, shows us that we are all beautiful no matter our weight. A mom who is a former beauty pageant winner and an overweight deceased aunt (who loved Dolly Parton) are some of the interesting characters who have impacted Willow's life. I listened to this on audio and loved the Texan accents!

The Mothers - by Brit Bennett (*4) I enjoyed the way this author wove the story. Not an easy topic (abortion) is the main conflict in this book. Relationships between mother/daughter, father/daughter, best friends, boy friends and The Mothers are highlighted. Nadia, the main character, is stepping her way through life and overcoming obstacles along the way both physical, spirtual, educational, social and emotional.

7 - by Jen Hatmaker (*3) 7 is a social and personal experiment. Giving up the excesses and finding the peace in less. This was an ebook and I enjoyed reading it.

Humans of New York - by Brandon Stanton (*3) Loved looking through this book of photographs and very little writing. People with New York sized personalities are highlighted.

The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year - by Susan Townsend (*3) This book was at times over the top, but funny. Love the English accent of the reader (I listened on audio). After her two children go off to college, Eva decides she is going to bed and staying there for a year. Unique and bizarre characters add to this eccentric, unusual tale.

Next Up:

Sunday, November 27, 2016

Meet Sterling & Smoke

Sterling is a very lovable cat. He is a big boy who weighs
around 16 lbs. He loves to eat and hates going to the vet.

Mr. Smoke is a sweet cat. He is medium size weighing about
13 lbs. Smokey loves to sit on mom's lap and hates company.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Denver Botanical Gardens October 2016

Loveland Pass, Breckinridge Colorado Trip October 2016

Friday, November 11, 2016

Brillant Red, Woonsocket, Rhode Island November 11th

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Portrait of a Season: FALL

Photos taken October 17th and November 7th

Coventry Bike Path

Sunday, November 6, 2016

What I Read: October 2016

This month was a good reading month. I was able to finish four books (2 paperback and 2 audio). I enjoyed Still Life by
Louise Penny. It had been recommended by a lot of people, (especially the Modern Mrs. Darcy blog) so I wanted to give it a try. I will definitely read the next book in the series.

I enjoyed Love Walked In by Marisa De Los Santos. It was hard for me to get into at first but by the end it all came together. I may read another book from this author in the future.

I listened to two non-fiction books this month. Rising Strong by Brene Brown was inspiring. I will probably review this in hard copy as well. The Gratitude Diaries by Janice Kaplan was a good listen. I recommend it for a long car ride.

What I'm Reading Next: I am currently reading If I Forget You by Thomas Christopher Greene. I am only a few chapters in but I like his writing style. On audio I have Be Frank With Me by Julia Clairborne Johnson. My husband and I listened to a few chapters on the way home from a road trip yesterday and we were both laughing...ALOT.