2016 End of Year Book Survey

Once again this year I'm linking up with Jamie at the Perpetual Page Turner for the end of the year book survey.

Number Of Books You Read: 78
Number of Re-Reads: 29
Genre You Read The Most From: I'm not sure. I don't separate my books out like that normally. I'd guess fantasy/sci-fi though between re-reading LOTR, Chronicles of Narnia and reading The Lunar Chronicles.

1. Best Book You Read In 2016?

Non-fiction- The Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin and runner up would be The Sovereignty of God by Arthur W. Pink. I read a lot of really good non-fiction this year so it's hard to narrow down.

Fiction- The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Re-read- The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien (Obviously!)

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens. Easily my least favorite Dickens I've ever read.

 

 3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?  

Dracula by Bram Stoker. I wasn't sure quite what to expect but the few expectations I had quickly dissolved. I liked this much more than I anticipated I possibly could.

 4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

I don't push a lot of people to read books I like because I feel I have too eclectic and old taste in books that they won't enjoy them. However I did get a friend to read Pride and Prejudice and my little sister read The Blue Castle. I suppose you could say I got a lot of people to read Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children because I chose it for book club but I hadn't even read it either at that point. 

 

 5. Best series you started in 2016? Best Sequel of 2016? Best Series Ender of 2016?

Best series I started? Outlaws of Time: The Legend of Sam Miracle. I can't wait for N.D. Wilson to put out more in this series!

Best sequel of 2016? Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

Best series ender of 2016? Son by Lois Lowry and Winter by Marissa Meyer

 

 6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2016?

Fiction- Elizabeth Wein with Code Name Verity

Non-Fiction- Arthur W. Pink with The Sovereignty of God

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

I read a good handful outside of my comfort zone this year and many were quite good. I enjoyed the Lunar Chronicles and the Martian, which would fall in the sci-fi genre I think and that's not a genre I normally read.

 

 8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

Probably Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein.

 

 9. Book You Read In 2016 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

Without a doubt The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery. I've already wanted to re-read it THIS year! I loved it so much. READ IT!!!!

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2016?

Outlaws of Time by N.D. Wilson. Before I read it I was entirely intrigued just by the cover!!! 

 

11. Most memorable character of 2016?

Mark Watney and Jason Bourne... who coincidentally are both played by Matt Damon in the film versions.

 

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2016?

Re-Read- The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien and then The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

First time read- All the Light we Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2016?

Non-Fiction- The Sovereignty of God by Arthur W. Pink, Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert  and Openness Unhindered: Further Thoughts from an Unlikely Convert both by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield.

Fiction- The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

 

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2016 to finally read? 

So many! Namely- The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer, The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery, Matilda by Roald Dahl, Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert  and Openness Unhindered: Further Thoughts from an Unlikely Convert both by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield. 

 

 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2016? 

I don't keep track of favorite quotes as well as I used to but this is one I really appreciated. 

"I think that too many young Christians fornicators plan that marriage will redeem their sin. Too many young Christians masturbators will redeem their patterns. Too many young Christian internet pornographers think that having legitimate sex will take away the desire to have illicit sex. They're wrong. And the marriages that result from this line of thinking are dangerous places. I know, I told my audience why over 50% of Christian marriages end in divorce; because Christians act as though marriage redeems sin. Marriage does not redeem sin. Only Jesus himself can do that."- Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield 

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2016?

Shortest Book- Lady Susan by Jane Austen (re-read) 89 pages

Longest Book- Winter by Marissa Meyer 832 pages

 17. Book That Shocked You The Most

I don't think any books really shocked per say this year but there were some that surprised me. I think probably Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein did that the most.

 

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

Barney and Valancy from The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery!!!!!!

 

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

Verity and Maddie from Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. Of course Sam and Frodo and Legolas and Gimli are some other favorites but I've LOTR so many times I'm not sure they technically count anymore.

 

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2016 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Still The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery!!!!

 

21. Best Book You Read In 2016 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

The Blue Castle by Lucy maud Montgomery! My fellow classics loving bloggers recommended it and obviously from this post it's a favorite.

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2016?

Captain Thorne from the Lunar Chronicles probably. Also Barney from The Blue Castle.

 

23. Best 2016 debut you read?

I only read one 2016 book and that was Outlaws of Time: The Legend of Sam Miracle by N.D. Wilson, which I loved.

 

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

Besides my LOTR/Silmarillion re-read this year of course cause that's the best world building you will EVER see.... Besides that.... Probably the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer.

 

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

Matilda by Roald Dahl, Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw (re-read) and once again THE BLUE CASTLE!!!!

 

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2016?

I'm not a crier. The Blue Castle did almost make me cry... a happy cry though.

 

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

Would I be sued if once again I said THE BLUE CASTLE!!!! Probably... so I'll go with Son by Lois Lowry.

 

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

No book particularly crushed my soul but I guess the closest would be Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein.

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2016?

The Complete Stories of Flannery O Conner. Her stories are so bizarre and unique that you're not sure whether to love or hate them. Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs was also quite unique.

 

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman. It made me mad because it was poetry and for the most part I dislike poetry. Honestly I should have just not read it. 

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2016?

Lover of Lembas!!! Check it out!

 

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2016?

I don't know! I'm not particularly fond of my reviewing capabilities. I guess I'll go with my review for Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield and then just because The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery because I love that book so much I'm sure the review I wrote of it is spectacular too!!!

 

3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?

The Happy Tag! 

4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

Bout of Books!

 

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2016?

Having my fifth blogiversary this past January!

 

6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?

Learning to let go and recommit. See this post HERE. 

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

According to my blogging stats my film review of Love and Friendship.

 

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

None. They've all been pretty well loved.

 

9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

I loved discovering new blogs this year and of course Thrift Books... an online used bookstore and very dangerous for me.

10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

See referenced post in question six of this section. I completed some of my reading challenges but not all. I originally set a Goodreads goal of 105 books but then lowered it to 80 books but I didn't make it there either. That's okay. Letting go. :) 

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2016 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2017?

The Warden and the Wolf King by Andrew Peterson, The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde and The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2017 (non-debut)?

The Door Before by N.D. Wilson (100 Cupboards prequel!) and Outlaws of Time: The Song of Glory and Ghost by N.D. Wilson. 

 

3. 2017 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

I don't really keep track of debuts so none so far.

 

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2017?

As mentioned above. Outlaws of Time: The Song of Glory and Ghost by N.D. Wilson

 

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2017?

Read more non-fiction, find joy in my reading and blogging and not over commit myself.

 

6. A 2017 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

None.

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Top Ten Favorite Reads of 2016

This week's Top Ten Tuesday theme is my top ten favorite reads of 2016. It's always hard to chose favorites but I finally narrowed it down and by narrowed it down I mean I had to go with thirteen not ten and even then it was excruciatingly hard!!!! They're in no particular order except the order I read them in.

1. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
2. Mr. Darcy's Diary by Amanda Grange 
3. What does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality by Kevin DeYoung
4. Matilda by Roald Dahl
5. Son by Lois Lowry
6. The Martian by Andy Weir
7. The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery
8. The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert  AND Openness Unhindered: Further Thoughts from an Unlikely Covert by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield
9. The Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin
10. The Sovereignty of God by Arthur W. Pink 
11. The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
12. Craving Grace by Ruthie Delk
13. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler 

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It's Monday! A Very Merry Bookmas

Christmas is one of my favorite holidays because I love giving gifts that I think the recipients will be excited about. Of course I also like getting gifts. I tend to have a big wish list and my parents, or the sibling that drew my name for our siblings exchange, can pick something off of it. I still get surprised but I also get what I wanted. Then of course people just get me something else entirely and surprise me even more, which is alway fun! This year I was not disappointed at all with the number of books I got not to mention a bookish Christmas ornament! Between the books I borrowed from my aunt at Thanksgiving, the ones I got in the Secret Santa and now the ones I got for Christmas my TBR list for 2017 is rapidly growing.
So what books did I get? The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Call the Midwife, Shadows of the Workhouse, Farewell to the East End and Love and Friendship (a novelization of the movie). I'm so thrilled to read them all!

Also in other amazing and bookish news at a work Christmas party I won a Kindle Fire in a drawing!!! I've kind of wanted a Kindle for awhile now but I never would have spent the money on it myself so I was delighted to win it!

So here's what's up with my reading life currently.

Finished this past week

• Openness Unhindered: Further Thoughts from an Unlikely Convert by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield- Very good read. Equally as good, if not better, than her first book. 
• The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler (audiobook)- Now I really want to watch the movie, which somehow I have not gotten around to watching in my life. The narrator made this book extra enjoyable! 

Currently Reading

• Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas 
• The Bourne Supremacy by Robert Ludlum 
• Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey

Coming Soon

• The Bourne Ultimatum by Robert Ludlum
• The Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard

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Bout of Books January 2017

I'm excited to participate in another Bout of Books!
Here's what it's about.

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 2nd and runs through Sunday, January 8th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 18 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

The dates actually run during my family's ski trip this coming year so I'll have quite a bit of car time for reading (though I'm sure I'll spend plenty of it talking too... you know me).
My goals for this Bout of Books are:

• Finish two books
• Read a little every day

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Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind "Santa" Leaving Under my Tree

My favorite presents every year at Christmas are pretty much always books. Therefore this is naturally one of my favorite prompts for Top Ten Tuesday. I already got some of the top ones off of my wishlist from the Broke and Bookish Secret Santa this year so those won't be reflected on this list.  I'm pretty sure that some of the books on my list will be under the tree for me (hopefully!) and I can't wait to open them.

1. Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain 
2. Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machem
3. The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
4. Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts by Jerry Bridges
5. Any in the Giver Quartet by Lois Lowry (except The Giver as I got that in the secret santa!)
6. Leave it to Psmith by P.G. Wodehouse
7. Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth 
8. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling
9. Rakkety Tam by Brian Jacques
10. The Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis

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It's Monday! Can't Wait for Christmas!

It's almost Christmas! I so excited to celebrate with my family. I love giving gifts and I'm thrilled to see their reactions when they open them. I'm working Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (the price one has to pay for not working at all Thanksgiving week but so worth it), so we'll be celebrating Christmas a little early.
Amongst all of the Christmas festivities I'll still be sneaking in some reading of course.
So here's what's up in my reading world.

Currently Reading

• Bourne Supremacy by Robert Ludlum 
• Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey 
• Openness Unhindered: Further Thoughts from an Unlikely Convert on Sexual Identity and Union with Christ by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield 

Finished this Past Week

• Tales From the Perilous Realm by J.R.R. Tolkien
• St. Bartholomew's Eve by G.A. Henty (re-read) (audiobook)
• Outlaws of Time: The Legend of Sam Miracle by N.D. Wilson 
• The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis (re-read) 

Coming Soon

• Bourne Ultimatum, by Robert Ludlum 

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2016 Secret Santa

This year I again participated in Broke and Bookish's Secret Santa. It was a lot of fun last year so I was excited for this year. I sent off my package at the beginning of the month and eagerly awaited for my gift to come. Yesterday it came and it was amazing!!!!
Allison from Aliza Shandel really put a lot of thought into my gift. I got three books, tea, chocolate, bookmarks she calligraphed Jane Austen and Tolkien quotes on, and gloves she embroidered a T.A.R.D.I.S. and Doctor Who quote on and a flash drive with some fun reels and jigs. All of my favorite things!!!!
Here are a few pictures of the goodies!

Thank you Allison!!!!

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A Very Merry Tag

I saw this Very Merry Tag on a couple blogs and had to steal it!

Does it snow where you live around Christmas?

Sometimes... Kansas is kind of up in the air when it comes to snow. Sometimes we get white Christmases and sometimes we don't. 

Do you get a real tree or a fake tree?

When we were younger we got real trees but when my grandparents downsized they gave us their fake tree and that's we've had ever since. I love real trees though. 

What is your favorite Christmas movie?

I love White Christmas so much but I'm also a fan of the classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas with Boris Karloff voicing the grinch. 

Where in the world would you like to spend Christmas the most? 

With my family. 

Which fictional/literary character would you most like to spend Christmas with?

Laura Ingalls Wilder. I loved reading about her Christmases in the Little House books. 

What is your favorite Christmas song? 

I can't chose! I love O Holy Night, Joy to the World, O Come O Come Emmanuel and Let all Mortal Flesh Keep Silence. When it comes to secular Christmas songs I also really like Winter Wonderland. 

What is your favorite Christmas Book/Story  (besides, ya know, THE story)? 

How the Grinch Stop Christmas! 

Which do you prefer: multicolored lights or white lights?

We've always had multicolored lights on our Christmas tree but I kind of prefer white lights personally. 

What time period/decade would you most like to spend Christmas in? 

I love the Christmases in Call the Midwife so 1950s let's say. 

Which period drama has the best Christmas scene/episode? 

I like the first Christmas special in Call the Midwife. 

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It's Monday! Cozy Reading by the Fire

This month I've enjoyed curling up by our wood burning stove and reading a good book. It's cozy, serene and practically perfect in every way.
Here's what I've been reading!

And a random picture of me with my niece just because! 

Finished Reading Recently

• The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis (re-read)
• The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
• Idelette by Edna Gerstner 

Currently Reading 

• Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey 
• Tales From the Perilous Realm by J.R.R. Tolkien 
• St. Bartholomew's Eve by G.A. Henty (re-reaD) (audiobook)
• Openness Unhindered: Further Thoughts From an Unlikely Convert on Sexual Identity and Union with Christ by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield (eBook)

Coming Soon

• The Legend of Sam Miracle by N.D. Wilson 
• The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis

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Book Review: Dracula

For the audiobook challenge and the Classics Club I read (listened to) Bram Stoker's classic horror novel Dracula.

Goodreads Synopsis: When Jonathan Harker visits Transylvania to help Count Dracula with the purchase of a London house, he makes horrifying discoveries about his client and his castle. Soon afterwards, a number of disturbing incidents unfold in England: an unmanned ship is wrecked at Whitby; strange puncture marks appear on a young woman’s neck; and the inmate of a lunatic asylum raves about the imminent arrival of his ‘Master’. In the ensuing battle of wits between the sinister Count Dracula and a determined group of adversaries, Bram Stoker created a masterpiece of the horror genre, probing deeply into questions of human identity and sanity, and illuminating dark corners of Victorian sexuality and desire.

Going into this book I really had no idea what it would entail. Like most people I knew a little about Dracula the character but I soon found out I had no clue about the book. What took me the most off guard with it was that it all started out with Count Dracula wanting to buy.... a house! It sounded boring at first. It escalated quickly though. As the book goes on it becomes more and more disturbing and fascinating.
I really loved the characters in this story. Mina Harker was definitely my favorite but I also loved Dr. Van Helsing. All of the gentlemen that band together to eradicate Count Dracula are amazing actually.
Count Dracula is amply chilling and there were times in the book where I thought to myself "how are they possibly going to defeat him?" It's interesting to see how the character's perception of Count Dracula changes as the story goes on especially at the end when Mina's life is in the balance and they have to realize that Mina could become what they are fighting. It was sad and terrifying.
Overall I was impressed by this book and while I felt at the end it dragged a bit I really enjoyed it. Read or not? Read!

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Book Review- Waverly

For the Mount TBR pile challenge and the Classics Club I read Sir Walter Scott's novel Waverley.

Synopsis from Goodreads: Waverley is set during the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745, which sought to restore the Stuart dynasty in the person of Charles Edward Stuart (or 'Bonnie Prince Charlie'). It relates the story of a young dreamer and English soldier, Edward Waverley, who was sent to Scotland in 1745. He journeys North from his aristocratic family home, Waverley-Honour, in the south of England (alleged in an English Heritage notice to refer to Waverley Abbey in Surrey) first to the Scottish Lowlands and the home of family friend Baron Bradwardine, then into the Highlands and the heart of the 1745 Jacobite uprising and aftermath.

After a great experience re-reading Ivanhoe last year I had high expectations for another of Sir Walter Scott's novels. Maybe I had too high of expectations or maybe it simply was not a good time for me to be reading it but nevertheless I ended up a little disappointed. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy it. However I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would.
First off, I just wasn't that enthralled with the hero Edward Waverley. He was kind of a milk sop. He gets better though thankfully. He hasn't been out a lot in the world before the story starts and his view of the world is controlled by what he has read in books.
The other characters in the story I actually found more interesting than him. His two love interests were interesting, though I definitely preferred Flora, who of course he didn't end up with. I think that was for the best though.
Fergus Mac-Ivor was one of the most intriguing characters in the book though and while I agreed with him on little I found him fascinating.
Overall the book was good and I'm sure I'll come back to it at some point in my life, hopefully with a deeper appreciation.

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Back to the Classics Challenge Wrap Up

While I did fall off the bandwagon with many of my challenges this year I couldn't forsake one of my favorite challenges: the Back to the Classics Challenge! This challenge is hosted by Books and Chocolate. I didn't complete as many categories as I wanted to but I still got quite a few done!
So here's my wrap up post of all the books I completed for the challenge.

1. A 19th Century Classic- Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
2. A 20th Century Classic- All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren 
3. A classic by a woman author- The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton 
4. An adventure classic - Mr. Midshipman Hornblower by C.S. Forester  
5. A fantasy, science fiction, or dystopian classic- Farmer Giles of Ham by J.R.R. Tolkien 
6. A classic which includes the name of a place in the title- The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens
7. A classic which has been banned or censored- Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert 
8. Re-read a classic you read in school (high school or college)- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
9. A volume of classic short stories- The Complete Stories of Flannery O Conner by Flannery O Conner

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Book Review- Jane Eyre

This summer I re-read Charlotte Bronte's novel Jane Eyre. It's a book I've been meaning to re-read for a long time and I'm glad I finally got around to it.

Synopsis from Goodreads: Orphaned into the household of her Aunt Reed at Gateshead and subject to the cruel regime at Lowood charity school, Jane Eyre nonetheless emerges unbroken in spirit and integrity. She takes up the post of governess at Thornfield, falls in love with Mr. Rochester, and discovers the impediment to their lawful marriage in a story that transcends melodrama to portray a woman's passionate search for a wider and richer life than Victorian society traditionally allowed.

It had been a long time since I read Jane Eyre originally but since then I have seen several different film versions so I was pretty up on the storyline. However, I soon realized while re-reading it that there is so much in the book that you simply can't put into a movie. Jane Eyre's personal thoughts are what drives this story. There isn't a lot of dialogue. Translating thoughts onto film is never easy. I remember there was one miniseries that I saw that basically had Jane narrating the movie... though of course there was still dialogue and all of that but you got to hear her thoughts. It's been a long time since I've seen it but I think from looking at IMDB it was the 1973 miniseries. I don't remember how practically that turned out but I remember really liking it and wishing all movies were like that... which is definitely not practical. ;)
There's a lot going on in this book. There are plot points and characters that are introduced at the beginning and not resolved or reintroduced until later. Each detail contributes to the genius of the story.
Then there's Jane Eyre herself. Jane is quiet, patient and kind but she has no problem speaking up for herself and doing what she knows is right. Her narrative is thought provoking and beautiful.
Rochester on the other hand I'm not so crazy about. He's manipulative to Jane and he has a lot of self-pity going on that I can't respect. Yes I feel sorry for him and he's in a pretty tough spot but that gives him no excuses for his actions.
I don't know what I can say that hasn't already been said. Jane Eyre is a great book with a lot to learn from it's pages. I would definitely recommend it!

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Yet Another Period Drama Tag

I know I've done period drama tags before but there's another one out there and I'm bound and determined to do it!

What's your favorite period drama movie?

I know it's a mini-series but forever and always the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice.

What's your favorite period drama series?

TV series I'm thinking they're meaning? Either Call the Midwife or Lark Rise to Candleford. I love them both. Merlin is also kind of a period drama show though and I love that one too so... Don't make me chose! 

Which period drama do you dislike the most?

It's a tie between the 2005 Pride and Prejudice and the 2007 Mansfield Park. I loathe them pretty equally. 

Anne of Green Gables or Little Dorrit?

An incredibly unfair question! I grew up with Anne of Green Gables and It's always been a part of my life so I have very sentimental feelings for it. However, Little Dorrit I was only introduced to in the last couple years. Nevertheless I think Little Dorrit is the better show. 

Your favorite period drama dresses?

These two! I basically love everything in Molly Gipson's and Elizabeth Bennet's wardrobes. 

Who's your favorite period drama character? (okay pick at least five)

Ladies- Elizabeth Bennet, Molly Gipson, Amy Dorrit, Esther Summers and Anne Shirley. 

Men- Mr. Darcy, Mr. Knightley, Gabriel Oak, Sir Percy Blakeney and Henry Tilney. 

If you could join a royal ball, which dress would you go in? (pick a period drama dress) 

I don't know! There's not any specifically "ball dresses" that stick out to me so I'm going with this one of Molly's from Wives and Daughters. 

What's your favorite Jane Austen movie?

Well obviously as mentioned above the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice but since I've already used that once I'll mention my second favorite which I think would be the 2007 version of Northanger Abbey though I also really enjoy both the 1995 and 2008 versions of Sense and Sensibility. 

Downtown Abbey or Call the Midwife?

As I haven't seen any Downtown Abbey I'll have to go with Call the Midwife. :) 

Sybil Crawley, Jenny Lee, Emma Woodhouse or Marian of Knighton?

Jenny Lee hands down! 

Which couple from a period drama do you like the most? (pick at least four) 

So many! I narrowed it down as best as I can. 

Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice

Molly Gibson and Roger Hamley from Wives and Daughters

Amy Dorrit and Arthur Clenham from Little Dorrit

Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe from Anne of Green Gables

Alfie and Minnie from Lark Rise to Candleford

Shelagh and Patrick from Call the Midwife (I also love Chummy and Peter but I only wanted to include one of the couples so I sided with Shelagh and Patrick)

At last, which period drama villain do you like the most? 

Probably Lady Catherine de Bourgh. She makes me laugh. 

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Ten Books I've Added to my TBR List Recently

This week's Top Ten Tuesday theme is ten books you've added to your TBR list recently. These aren't the the absolutely most recent but they're the ones I'm most excited about of the ones I've most recently added to my TBR list.

1. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling
2. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling 
3. Tales From the Perilous Realm by J.R.R. Tolkien
4. A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken
5. Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Win
6. I Wasn't This Strong When I Started Out: True Stories of Becoming a Nurse by Lee Gutkind 
7. The Legend of Sam Miracle by N.D. Wilson
8. Lessons From a Hospital Bed by John Piper
9. The BFG by Roald Dahl
10. Openness Unhindered: Further Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert on Sexual Identity and Unity in Christ by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield 

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It's Monday! My Blogging Friends

With being away from blogging for awhile I didn't keep up with my blogging friends as well as I wanted to. :( I try to go back and visit all of their blogs as much as I can and remember but I'm sure I missed a lot. :( Sorry guys! I do love you all!

Currently Reading

• St. Bartholomew's Eve by G.A. Henty (re-read) (audiobook)
• Total Truth by Nancy Pierce 

Finished Reading

• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander/J.K. Rowling

Coming Soon

• Tales From the Perilous Realm by J.R.R. Tolkien

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Ten Favorite Musical Moments

I've been on a listening to music from musicals kick recently (cause I don't have time to actually watch them!). This has sparked this post of my Ten Favorite Musical Moments!
There are plenty of musicals I have not yet seen so don't assume I hate the musical because I don't have your favorite one represented here on this list. Also, don't presume I love the musical because it is represented on this list. I may just like it's music.
In no particular order.

1. Tradition!  From Fiddler on the Roof
2. Do, Re, Mi from The Sound of Music
3. Singing in the Rain from Singing in the Rain
4. The Barn Dance from Seven Brides from Seven Brothers 
5. Salesman Song from The Music Man
6. Do You Hear the People Sing from Les Miserables
7. I Could have Danced all Night from My Fair Lady
8. Step in Time from Mary Poppins
9. The Black Hills of Dakota from Calamity Jane 
10. All I Ask of You from the Phantom of the Opera 

And some Disney honorable mentions. :)

1. Be Our Guest from Beauty and the Beast
2. Under the Sea from The Little Mermaid

If you are a musical lover as well feel free to consider yourself tagged! I'd love to see what your favorite musical moments are. :)

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It's Monday! Baptism

Little Ginny Mae was baptized this last Sunday in the baptism gown I made for her. Hashtag proud aunt moments. ;) Every baptism I see at church fills me with joy but when it's your own niece the joy is just inexpressible. <3

With reluctance I move on to books...

Currently Reading

• Total Truth by Nancy Pierce- Some hefty theology/culture reading for me. 
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander (aka J.K. Rowling)- I need to get this read before the movie comes out! It's taken me way too long to start it. 

Finished this Week

My brother Tim and I goofing off... yes ladies
he is still single... please take him off my hands! 

• The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien (re-read) (audiobook)- I love Tolkien... what can I say? 
• Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs- I liked it a lot more than I though I would... enough so that I'll probably pick up the rest of the series at some point.  It had it's downsides but surprisingly enjoyable. 

Coming Soon

• Tales From the Perilous Realms by J.R.R. Tolkien- A fellow Tolkien lover lent this one to me about three months ago but I got caught up in other books but I think I'm about freed up now to where I should be able to get to this soon. 
• St. Bartholomew's Eve by G.A. Henty (re-read)- I've been doing a lot of audiobooks in the car and I this will be my next one. 

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It's Monday! And then it was Autumn

I'm trying to stay more up to date on my blog. A post here and there. During my time away from my blog I've been able to assess how I want to come back to my blog and how I want to prevent myself like I did before. My conclusion was that I while I love reviewing books on my blog I need to stop reviewing every book I read. It's simply not necessary and limits my enjoyment of both the reading experience and the blogging experience.
So with that resolve I'm going to try and move forward with reading and blogging and enjoy both immensely. :)
So... It's Monday! What am I reading?

Currently Reading

• The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien (re-read) (audiobook)

Finished Recently

• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (re-read) (audiobook)
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (re-read)
• Craving Grace by Ruthie Delk
• Winter by Marissa Meyer 

Coming Soon

• Tales From the Perilous Realms by J.R.R. Tolkien 

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Aunt Lois

She's here! My first niece has arrived! Tiny, perfect and precious all bundled up. :))))
Feast your eyes on these pictures and tell me she isn't the cutest!

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Top Ten Tuesday- Characters I'd Name Something After

The theme for this week's Top Ten Tuesday is characters you'd name something (car/pet/kid) after.
It's a little scary how much I want to name my kids certain weird Tolkien names. I know I shouldn't but I do! Probably it would be better if I named my pets after them but it would be so much COOLER if my kid got named Gandalf don't you think? ;)
Anyways, here's my more realistic idea of what characters I would name a car/pet/kid after.

Children

1. Darci(e) Elizabeth- I know I've mentioned this one here on the blog before. Obviously this one comes from Pride and Prejudice, my favorite book. I'm pretty stuck on this idea for a name though my family has tried to talk me out of it several times. I guess it will depend on what my future husband thinks of it. 
2. Aiden or Tozer (as a middle name)- This is for one of my favorite theologians A.W. (Aiden Wilson) Tozer. 
3. Arwen or Eowyn- I feel like these two are more realistic uses of Tolkien's names. They're not too weird. 
4. Anne (as a middle name)- From Anne of Green Gables of course though it could also be for Anne Elliot in Persuasion. 
5. Elinor, Eleanor, Elanor- I can't decide on how I would want this name spelled if I did utilize it. If I spelled it Elinor it could be after Elinor from Sense and Sensibility but if I spelled it Elanor it would be after Sam and Rosie's daughter in LOTR and then Eleanor is just another spelling I like of the name. Too many choices! 

Vehicle

1. Shadowflax- My car actually almost got name Shadowflax but I ended up going with Finn instead (which is not actually for Star Wars but that's a nice side effect).  
2. T.A.R.D.I.S.- Not literally but I did also think about naming my car the T.A.R.D.I.S. and it would have been awesome. 

Pet

1. Strider- From LOTR obviously. I knew a family who named their dog Strider and I always thought that was the neatest idea. 
2. Bilbo- Bilbo is one of my favorite characters and I would definitely name a pet after him. Faramir- Because much as I want to name my kid after my favorite character from LOTR I don't think he would ever forgive me so I'll have to name the dog Faramir instead. 

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Q&A Tag

Lover of Lembas tagged me in the Q&A tag! Thank you!
Here are my answers!

1. Do you play a sport?  Is there a sport you want to learn? No! I'm not a sports person at all. I wish I was a runner and I wish I could play basketball (I have certain height issues that get in the way of that one). 
2. Sunrise or sunset?  Why? Sunset... only because I'm not normally awake or outside (when I'm working) for a sunrise. 
3. What was your dream job as a little kid? To be an author. 
4. What was the last movie you watched you really liked? I really liked Captain America: Civil War. Besides that I'm not sure there's any movie that I watched for the first time that I've really liked recently. I liked (but I wouldn't say really liked) Love and Friendship and Metropolitan which I watched semi-recently. 
5. What songs are stuck in your head? Always the most embarrassing to admit songs. Always. I tend to get the hymn There is a Fountain Filled with Blood stuck in my head. Recently it's been a lot of Can't Stop the Feeling and the parody song The Pancrease Song. 
6. What is something that makes you feel nostalgic? Seeing toys I used to play with as a kid. Walking down to the river. Reading a favorite childhood book. Ruminating on our childhood with my siblings. 
7. If you were granted an extra hour to be added to your day (so you have 25 hours) what would you spend the hour doing? I would like to think I would use it to do something improving like reading a book or cleaning the house but in reality I would probably use it to watch an extra episode of whatever TV show I'm currently watching. :( 
8. What is one of the most embarrassing moments you're willing to share? Ha! One time I left a message on a person's answering machine and at the end of it for unknown reasons I felt fit to add an "amen" at the end of it. 
9. If you could customize your car license plate (for most U.S. readers, that means pick any combination of 5-7 words and letters) what would you want your license plate to say? I'd want the year I was married and the initials of my husband and I probably. Obviously that's not something I could currently put on a license plate.
10. Rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, or the ocean? Streams. There's something nostalgic and romantic about a simple little stream curling through a forest or prairie. 

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It's Monday! Trying Again

I'm kind of starting to miss blogging now. I'm not saying I'm going to start blogging religiously now but I'm going to try and do it a little more. So here's another It's Monday post. :)

Currently Reading

• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (re-read)- I totally fell of the bandwagon with Hamlette's read-along for this book but I am still reading it. I got caught up in too many other books unfortunately.
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (re-read) (audiobook)- I didn't plan to re-read this but this was an audiobook I owned and I never get tired of Pride and Prejudice. 
• Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens- Another read-along I've managed to botch. I might just set this one aside for awhile. 

What I've finished reading since my last It's Monday post

• The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis (re-read)
• Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis (re-read)
• The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis (re-read)
• Waverley by Sir Walter Scott
• Cinder by Marissa Meyer
• Scarlett by Marissa Meyer
• Cress by Marissa Meyer
• Dracula by Bram Stoker (audiobook)
• Great Adventures in Nursing by Helen Wright 
• Leave it to Psmith by P.G. Wodehouse (re-read) (audiobook)

Coming Soon (hopefully)

• Winter by Marissa Meyer
• Tales From the Perilous Realms by J.R.R. Tolkien 
• The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis (re-read)

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The Baptismal Gown

Back in March I announced that I was going to be an Aunt. No the precious child has not arrived yet but she will be here soon!!! I also announced then that I was going to make her a baptismal/christening gown. That has (finally) arrived! It took me several months because I'm a dreadful procrastinator but it is completed. Knowing how much I procrastinate I made my deadline to have it finished the day of my sister-in-law's baby shower so I wouldn't be finishing it up as she was delivering the baby. Naturally, I finished it the day of her baby shower. I'm excited about how it turned out but it burned me out from crochet for a little while I think. The baby shower was absolutely splendiferous. It had a book theme naturally and I helped organize a mad libs game with classic children's stories that was fun.
Now I'm just eagerly awaiting the birth of my FIRST NIECE!!!! :)))))))

eBeth and I with the gown. 

The gown. 

Myself, eBeth and my little sister Betsy.

Final note: If you're interested THIS LINK is for the pattern. It's a free pattern and while it was challenging in parts it's a doable pattern and obviously has gorgeous results.

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So You Want to be a Nurse

Now that I've been a nurse for a little over a year now I feel very qualified to speak on the subject of being a nurse. ;) So you want to be a nurse? Here's what you should know beforehand.

1. It's gross.... Don't ever underestimate the grossness of nursing. On that same note though, you work past it. You get better at handling the smells and the disgusting sights of "who knows what that is!" I wasn't always able to handle it and still some smells make me want to join my patient in puking but it does get better. 
2. It's inappropriate... As a shelter homeschooled child I was shook out of my innocent world by the nursing profession. I've gotten a LOT more at ease with a lot of situations and don't blush nearly as hard as I used to (I'm a really bad blusher) but let's face it... it's still awkward. There's definitely nursing humor which is pretty much never appropriate so learning how to handle that has been an adventure. 
3. It doesn't just take a caring personality... It takes determination and a lot of support from your family. However, please don't go into nursing unless you have a caring personality... I know nurses that aren't very caring and let's just say they shouldn't be nurses. 
4. It's stressful... You come home drained and emotionally exhausted. In just one shift you can have one patient crying on your shoulder, one patient giving you a hug and then one patient hitting you... and then if you're really lucky one patient doing all of that.  You never know. 
5. It's terrifying... Having a person's life in your hands is scary and that never gets old and really never should. 
6. It's worth it.... It really is. As crazy as it is I love it. Every time a patient tells me thank you I forget about the other patient that just shouted at me five minutes before. 

So you want to be a nurse?

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Reading Habits Book Tag and an Update on My Life

It's been almost a month since I've posted. Sorry! I didn't intend to wait this long, though I did say I wouldn't be posting as often. So yes I'm still alive and reading.
A little update on my life is due I suppose. I switched from night shift to day shift recently. I'm still not sure how I'm liking the transition yet. I really loved night shift in a lot of respects so it will probably take some time to adjust. A normal sleeping pattern is much appreciated though. I was able to take a quick trip up to Missouri with a couple of my siblings and a couple other friends to visit some friends that we met on the mission trip we went on in June. It was a lot of fun to reconnect and we also got to experience a great ten mile canoeing/kayaking trip. I'm starting to feel the time crunch to get the christening gown done for my brother and sister-in-law's baby as she's due in October! Better get crocheting! We also have a Japanese exchange student here right now which has been fun. He'll be heading home soon though. The other day a couple of my friends and I went to several antique stores and enjoyed going through them and naturally I found some books but also we found some adorable aprons! So that's basically my life right about now.

Now here's the Reading Habits Book Tag I saw on another blog. I do love a good tag. :)

Do you have a certain place at home for reading?

Normally I read in my bed but sometimes a comfy chair does the trick. 

Bookmark or random piece of paper?

Bookmark normally but I've utilized many random pieces of paper when I was short a bookmark before. 

Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop after a chapter/a certain amount of pages?

In the past I always had to finish the chapter but in the last few years I've gotten better at just putting the book down, though it still isn't easy. 

Do you eat or drink while reading?

It depends but not normally. 

Multitasking: Music or TV while reading?

No! I can multitask with some things but not with reading. Unless it's an audiobook but that's kind of a different scenario. 

One book at a time or several?

I normally have several going anymore though it used to be only one at a time. I normally have one normal book and one audiobook at the same time at least but oftentimes more than that. 

Reading at home or everywhere? 

Growing up we had to take a book whenever we were going anywhere to read in the car or else we would actually get in trouble. Because of that mentality I normally have a book with me when I go somewhere but I'm not as strict about that as I used to be. 

Reading out loud or silently in your head?

Unless I'm reading to someone I'm reading silently in my head. 

Do you read ahead or even skip pages?

Never! It really annoys me when people do that and I have two close relatives that do that.... they're lucky I still claim them as relatives. ;) 

Breaking the spin or keeping it like new?

I own very few new books so normally I don't have to make that decision. Most of my books are beautifully worn already. The couple new books I do have I really don't take the trouble to keep like new as the whole point of having a book is to read it and to break it in. 

Do you write in your books?

No! I have highlighted or underlined in non-fiction books before but even then very rarely. 

It feels good to be blogging again even if it's just this one post for now. I am trying to keep up with y'all in the blogosphere but sorry if I miss anything! 

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The Post I Don't Want to Write

I've felt this post coming on for the last few months actually. My blog has been horribly neglected and my reading has not fared much better. Without meaning to I've made both of them a chore. Especially for the last couple years I've assigned goals and challenges to myself for both blogging and reading. Those aren't necessarily bad but over time I've become more and more obsessed with keeping to deadlines and goals and I'm just not enjoying blogging or reading. I'm behind with my Goodreads yearly reading goal right now not to mention my other challenges and it's stressing me out way more than it should. The sad thing is that I'm more upset I'm not at my goal and not the fact that I've kind of given up reading. Reading is something I've enjoyed as long as I can remember and I'm ruining it for myself by assigning too much structure to it.
I'm not good at doing things by halves so I think to free myself up from this I'm deciding to just let go. If I happen to achieve my Goodreads goal or complete all of my challenges fine, but that's not what I'm reading for. I read for enjoyment or to better myself not because it's another task to complete.

There's another half to why my reading and blogging has been slacking recently though. I've let other things take priority that really shouldn't: Facebook, watching TV shows, ect. While those things aren't bad in it of themselves I've let them take precedence in my life a lot more than they should.

And then there's yet another half (yes I know that's three halves... just shhh!). This half isn't bad in fact I think it's good. I've developed a lot more of a social life in recent months. I actually do things with people now. ;) This has been really good for me as I've never had many friends and it's been great for me to develop good friendships. Most weeks now I have something every evening that I'm not working. This has left me with little free time and what free time I do have I've been filling with the aforementioned second half.

So what does this mean for my blog moving forward? Honestly I'm still not quite sure yet. I might blog I might not. Know though that I'm still reading y'alls blogs and trying to keep up as best I can. Also know that if I didn't reply to your comment I still read it. I can't help it.... I get emailed every time you do. I do appreciate everyone's comments so much and I really should reply more often then I do. I love blogging and I love reading and I'm not leaving either of them behind anytime soon. For now I'm just trying to free myself from the obligations I've imposed on myself with regards to them.
Thank you for your patience in reading this post and don't be a stranger! ;)

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It's Monday! Struggling

While I've been keeping up with my audiobook during my work commute my actual reading has been a real struggle to keep up with. This summer has been surprisingly busy for me plus I can't stop watching Castle! At this point I just need to hurry up and finish it and then not start a new show as obviously it's distracting me way too much.

Currently Reading

• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (re-read)
• Waverley by Sir Walter Scott
• Dracula by Bram Stoker (audiobook) 
• The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens

Coming Soon

• The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis (re-read)
• Don Quixote by Miguel Cervantes 

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