DFED Takes On 2016!

Hello and welcome everyone! My name's Dawn and this will be my 8th year in the 75 Book Challenge Group! I live in Lexington, KY with my husband, I work in the horse industry and I love to read memoirs, horse books and cookbooks!

I can't wait to get started reading this year and my primary challenge will be rescuing bookmarks from abandoned tomes (i.e. work on that TBR list - especially the ones in my own home)!

Here's the link to my 2015 thread if you are interested:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/185911#5399421

Welcome back!

Happy you're here! Happy Reading!

Welcome drneutron and aktakukac!!

Well, my first reads of the year are in:



#1 - Hi Fella by Era Zistel, 120 pages (own). This is a childhood book of my husband's, found on a recent attic clean out. The sweet story of a lost puppy.



#2 - Anna of Byzantium by Tracy Barrett, 224 pages (own). Anna of Byzantium was destined to be empress...until her brother was named Emperor instead. Interesting insight into a queen I didn't know anything about.



#3 - Driving the Saudis by Jayne Amelia Larson, 208 pages (library). Larson becomes a chauffeur in L.A. when she's between acting jobs. She receives an offer to ferry around a Saudi family for a month, with the hope of a big bonus at the end. I could certainly commiserate with her, as I used to have a high-stress job where my time was not my own!



#4 - Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools by Victoria Twead, 210 pages (own). An English couple retires and decides to experiment with a "5-year plan" by moving to Spain and rennovating a house in a small village. Hilarity ensues. I've read quite a few books lately about Spain and it certainly seems to be an interesting country!

>5 DFED: I love the title of that one about Spain!

#5 - The French Beauty Solution by Mathilde Thomas, 272 pages (own). An Early Reviewer book, review to follow.



#6 - The Diamond Caper by Peter Mayle, 211 pages (library). I love these light mysteries.



#7 - The Railway Children by E. Nesbit, 272 pages (library). I read Voracious last year and it mentioned this children's book that I'd never read. Boy, they just don't write books like these anymore, do they?



#8 - Maman's Homesick Pie by Donia Bijan, 272 pages (own). I just love books about immigrants to America with a culinary theme!

#9 - Pony Cavalcade by Norman Thelwell, 302 pages (own). I've finally gotten around to "reading" this collection of Thelwell cartoons. I doubt there's a horse lover alive that doesn't have a book of these on their shelves!



#10 - Everyday Super Food by Jamie Oliver, 309 pages (library). Another lovely cookbook by Jamie Oliver with lots of great, healthy meal ideas.



#11 - The Leopard Hat by Valerie Steiker, 336 pages (own). A lovely tribute to the author's love of her mother.



#12 - The Log of a Cowboy by Andy Adams, 387 pages (own). One of the reviews on the back of my copy said that all other books about cattle trails on the range could disappear except this one - I have to say, I agree!



#13 - The Awakening of Miss Prim by Natalia Sanmartin Fenollera, 272 pages (library). Though an enjoyable story, I'm afraid much of this went over my head...

>7 DFED: Maman's Homesick Pie caught my attention when it was released because of the immigrant and culinary angles. I'm not sure if it stayed on my wish list or not.

I have been sooo bad at updating my thread this year! To be fair, I've taken on quite a project. I used to record the books I've read on shelfari.com but got the notice that they're merging into Goodreads, of which I'm not a fan. So, I've been spending my spare time entering everything onto LT, a big job! Think I'm finally getting to the end of it, which means more time for reading:



#14 - Kitchen Gypsy by Joanne Weir, 287 pages (library). A lucky find at my library - I'd heard of Joanne Weir, but had never seen any of her cookbooks. And, I always love cookbooks with a story!



#15 - Tucky Jo and Little Heart by Patricia Polacco, pages (library). If you want a good cry, give this children's book a read!



#16 - Jack and Jill by Louisa May Alcott, pages (own). Another lucky find at a used book store. I hadn't heard of this (moral) tale by Alcott before.



#17 - Spark Joy by Marie Kondo, pages (library). The follow-up book to The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up. This book addresses a lot of the concerns I've seen others mention when reading the first book. And, it's lit the fire back under me to get working on "tidying" my house again!



#18 - Step Aside, Pops! by Kate Beaton, 166 pages (library). A suggested read from another LT'er. Some of this was a bit lost on me, but the rest sure made me laugh.



#19 - Carrying Albert Home by Homer Hickman, 398 pages (library). You may know Hickman from Rocket Boys and other books. This is the fictionalized (?) account of his parents and their alligator/wedding gift.

>10 DFED: I remember seeing her (Joanne Weir) on TV. I think she's still on PBS Create although I'm not exactly sure what time.

#20 - Locally Laid by Lucie Amundsen, 336 pages (own). An Early Reviewer book - review to follow.



#21 - The Other Daughter by Lauren Willig, audiobook (library). I'm enjoying Willig's non-Pink Carnation books just as much!

#22 - Almost Amish by Nancy Sleeth, 245 pages (library). Surprisingly, this author lives in Lexington! A bit preachy but a Christian view of taking some Amish principles and applying them to your own life.



#23 - The Kitchen Diaries by Nigel Slater, 392 pages (library). Why have I never read Slater's cookbooks?? Gorgeous photos, great descriptions and one recipe that I know for sure is a hit!



#24 - West Against the Wind by Liza Ketchum Murrow, pages (own). I have a soft spot for all Oregon Trail related books.

#25 - I'll Take the Back Road by Marguerite Hurrey Wolf, 171 pages (own). I don't understand my love for books about Vermont - I've never been there! But, this was a lucky find at a local bookshop.



#26 - Here Comes the Easter Cat by Deborah Underwood, pages (loan).



#27 - Small Bunny's Blue Blanket by Tatyana Feeney, pages (loan). These two children's books were "loans" from my local bookstore. I was trying to find an Easter book for my nephew. I chose the Blue Blanket book :)



#28 - Slices of Life by Leah Eskin, 408 pages (library). A lovely collections of "Home on the Range" columns by the author, who writes for the Chicago Tribune. I wish we got this column in our own paper! And, I think this book is going to be on my "to purchase" list.

#29 - At the Edge of the Orchard by Tracy Chevalier, 289 pages (library). This book surprised me because I had no idea it was out and luckily caught an interview with Chevalier on NPR! She's one of my favorite authors and this was one of her typically good works.



#30 - Dorothea's Eyes by Barb Rosenstock, pages (library). I saw this book recommended somewhere as a good new children's title - and it was. Now I want to research more about Dorothea Lange.



#31 - It's Hard Not to Hate You by Valerie Frankel, 242 pages (own). I've read Frankel's Thin Is the New Happy a few years ago and enjoyed it. This is about analyzing her "love" of hating almost everything in her life and her slow change in thinking.

#32 - The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker, audiobook (library). Wow, what a book! It kept up a steady stream of suspense throughout and I love the point of view of Julia.



#33 - The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg, 371 pages (library). I've been meaning to read this book for quite some time and I'm so glad I finally got around to it.

#34 - Love Style Life by Garance Dore, 255 pages (library). I picked this up from my library on a whim and now I'm following Dore's blog.



#35 - Horsekeeping by Roxanne Bok, 360 pages (own). The Bok family purchases a rundown farm in CT in order to preserve land and fulfill the author's dream of owning a horse farm. An honest look at horses from the naive (but quick learning) author.

#36 - French By Heart by Rebecca Ramsey, 320 pages (own). The Ramsey family moves to France for several years from South Carolina - and right across from the notorious Madame Mallet. A realistic look at what it takes to raise a family in a foreign country.



#37 - Cocktails For Three by Madeleine Wickham, 304 pages (own). I love Wickham's books and, though I initially wasn't into this one, I really enjoyed the tale of three friends in the end.

#38 - Dinner With Edward by Isabel Vincent, 224 pages (own). An Early Reviewer book, review to follow.



#39 - Where's My Wand? by Eric Poole, 263 pages (own). Poole's unique tale of his 70's childhood.



#40 - Pie In The Sky by Jane Smiley, 257 pages (library). The "latest" book in Abby Lovitt series.

#41 - Leah's Pony by Elizabeth Friedrich, pages (library). Leah's pony plays an important part in saving her family's farm during the Great Depression.



#42 - Riding Freedom by Pam Munoz Ryan, 138 pages (library). I enjoyed Esperanza Rising a lot and looked forward to reading another of Ryan's books - especially when it features horses!



#43 - Eat, Pray, Love Made Me Do It by Various, 220 pages (library). A collection of essays from those who's lives have been affected by the book Eat, Pray, Love. It's been long enough since I've read the book - and I wasn't all that affected by it at the time - that perhaps it's worth a re-read?



#44 - Coal Miner's Daughter by Loretta Lynn, audiobook (library). On a recent vacation to AR, we drove through Nashville and passed Loretta Lynn's ranch and restaurant - which we stopped at on the way back! There, I saw she had a book on her life, which I proceeded to check out of our library. Though I didn't know much about her until now, she's definitely had an interesting life!



#45 - Four Seasons In Five Senses by David Mas Masumoto, 288 pages (own). I've "savored" this book for a while! If you've not yet had the chance to pick up one of Masumoto's books yet, I urge you to do so. And, strangely enough, he was featured in this month's Better Homes & Gardens.

#46 - Home by Ellis Carson, pages (library). A recommendation from someone on LT! This is definitely on my purchase list for my nephew!



#47 -Not A Penny More Not A Penny Less by Jeffrey Archer, 320 pages (loan). A co-worker was telling me how much she enjoyed this author and gave me a few of his books to read. I have to say, I enjoyed this one!

>21 DFED: Oh, I *love* Home! It's beautiful, isn't it?

scaifea - yes - absolutely gorgeous!!



#48 - The Love & Lemons Cookbook by Jeanine Donofrio, 291 pages (library). If you haven't visited the Love & Lemons blog yet, I urge you to do so. It's chock-full of gorgeous photography and healthy, vegan recipes! That being said, I was super excited about this cookbook only to realize it wasn't quite what I was expecting



#49 - The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly, audibook (library). Calpurnia is growing up on the cusp of the 20th century in Texas. She becomes attached to her naturalist grandfather - a contemporary of Darwin - and learns that women are capable of much more than simply being wives and mothers.

#50 - Top With Cinnamon by Izy Hossack, 208 pages (own). From the blog of the same name, this was an impulse purchase when I had a coupon for my local bookstore. A great addition to my collection!



#51 - Finding Emilie by Laurel Corona, 427 pages (library). A historical tale told through the eyes of Lili du Chatelet, daughter of Emilie du Chatelet, mathematician, physicist and contemporary of Voltaire. A fascinating look into a woman well ahead of her time, though I think Corona was a bit "modern" in her take on things.

#52 - Tender by Nigel Slater, 618 pages (library). My new favorite cookbook author! I swear I'm going to get my hands on copies of his books! And, I especially appreciated the gardening advice included with the recipes.



#53 - Only In Naples by Katherine Wilson, 287 pages (library). American Wilson moves to Naples for a year abroad, essentially falls in love with local family (especially their handsome son) and basically never leaves Italy again!



#54 - The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly, 312 pages (library). I was so excited to see a follow up to The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate!



#55 - Provence, 1970 by Luke Barr, audiobook (library). This was a book where I kept waiting for something to happen and probably would have been better appreciated in book form, not audio. That being said, it outlined a time where some famous cookbook authors such as Julia Child, James Beard and MFK Fischer "broke" ties with France to branch off into their own cuisines/styles. The best part? The author is a grand-nephew of Fischer!

#56 - The Circuit by Francisco Jimenez, 116 pages (library). Jimenez's family emigrated from Mexico to the US and wound up becoming migrant farm workers in CA. This is his tales of growing up on "the circuit"



#57 - The Farmette Cookbook by Imen McDonnell, 361 pages (library). McDonnell married an Irish farmer and has had to learn to cook for herself - mostly milk products from the farm's cows. There are some lovely recipes in this book.

The Farmette Cookbook sounds pretty interesting so it's going on my reading list. I should read Calpurnia Tate sometime, as it has been on the list for ages!

#58 - It's All Easy by Gwyneth Paltrow, 267 pages (library). Another lovely cookbook from Paltrow. This one is on my to-be-purchased list.



#59 - Disrupted by Dan Lyons, 258 pages (library). Lyons rips the tech start-up industry a new one based on his experiences working for HubSpot. This book actually has me worried because it looks like tech start-ups might be headed for another stock market crash?



#60 - The One and Only: Maryellen by Valerie Tripp, 217 pages (library). A new American Girl is on the scene!



#61 - Life Without A Recipe by Diana Abu-Jaber, 267 pages (library). Abu-Jaber is a lovely writer and I'll be reading more of her books.

#62 - Breaking Through by Francisco Jimenez, 195 pages (library). The follow-up to The Circuit. I was glad to hear the continuation of the author and his family's story.



#63 - Big Girl by Kelsey Miller, 278 pages (library). This one really made me think. I've been struggling with weight issues for awhile now (though not nearly as bad as Miller) and she definitely gave me food for thought (ha!) via her journey to go "diet-less"



#64 - The Road to Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson, audiobook (library). I've seen quite a few reviewers mention that Bryson is rather cranky in his latest book. And, it's true. But, funnily so! Enough that I bought this for my dad's Father's Day gift since he's turning crotchety in his old age too :)

>29 DFED: You liked the Bryson book better than I did.

#65 - A Fine Dessert by Emily Jenkins, pages (library). I head about this lovely children's book on inge87's thread.



#66 - Champagne Baby by Laure Dugas, 316 pages (library). Dugas grew up in a champagne-producing family. But, she didn't become truly interested in wines until she traveled to the US on a promotional tour for her uncle's wine.



#67 - The Sky's The Limit: My Journey with Maryellen by Valerie Tripp, 193 pages (library). A choose your own adventure book! I haven't read one of these in ages!



#68 - Julia Reed's South by Julia Reed, 224 pages (library). Anything Reed writes, I want to read! I had the pleasure of seeing her speak earlier this year and she was anxiously awaiting the publication of this book.



#69 - Heroes and Horses by Philip Ardery, 119 pages (own). A slightly meandering memoir of the author who grew up in horse country, Bourbon County, KY.



#70 - Home Cooked by Anya Fernald, 295 pages (library). Fernald has an interesting and enviable background which translated into a very nice cookbook.

#71 - Mind Your Manors by Lucy Lethbridge, 114 pages (library). I just did not get this book. Does it contain helpful tips for today's housekeeper? Is it an overview of crazy cleaning tips from way back when? Is it just anecdotes from former servants? Who knows??



#72 - My Bonny Light Horseman by L.A. Meyer, audiobook (library). A Bloody Jack book - just as exciting as ever!



#73 - The Selected Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder by William Anderson, 395 pages (library). A few years ago, when my husband and I took a bucket list trip to Wilder's home in MO, I heard one of the volunteers mention a book was in the works - I think it was this one! What a cool look into Laura's process for writing her books and I especially enjoyed her correspondence with her fans. I've wished in the past that I could have written to her myself, though it seems like she may not have answered me...



#74 - Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond, 341 pages (library). This one's been on "currently reading" status for some time! I used to be an avid fan of The Pioneer Woman and would check her website every day - where she started this story but then wound up turning it into a book. So, when I initially picked this up, I'd heard much of it before. A few years later, I picked it up again to finish!

One more!

>32 DFED: I remember hearing about the Wilder book of letters. There was a time when I would have picked it up to read. I might or might not read it. I've got so many other things to read, and books of letters, some of which would interest me and others that wouldn't, isn't at the top of the list. I can take or leave the Pioneer Woman. However, she's one of the few non-contest cooking shows on TV now so I guess it's probably one of the ones I watch more often. I've pretty much completely quit watching the contest shows. I'm really upset they moved Barefoot Contessa to such a horrible time. She's my favorite, and I'll rarely, if ever, get to see her when she's on now.

thornton37814 - Laura's letters are worth the read if you get the inclination. They're strange because she refers to the Laura in the books as a separate person! I do enjoy Pioneer Woman's show too but really don't check out her website anymore - it just seemed to get too big with too much going on. I've never watched Barefoot Contessa but am definitely a fan of the PBS cooking shows (Jacques Pepin, Lidia Bastianich, etc).

drneutron - here it goes!



#75 - Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski, 193 pages (library). Thanks to foggidawn for bringing this book to my attention. I'm am a Florida Cracker (born and raised!) and I enjoyed this look into as aspect of Florida's history.



#76 - Fritz and the Beautiful Horses by Jan Brett, 31 pages (library). I came across this cute children's book on my library's website.



#77 - Eat. Nourish. Glow. by Amelia Freer, 271 pages (library). Another diet wake-up call! I've looked over her other book Cook. Nourish. Glow and enjoy her take on health and nutrition.



#78 - Bonjour Kale by Kristen Beddard, 337 pages (library). Beddard moves to France with her new husband and quickly finds out - there's no kale in Paris! So she takes kale on as her cause and promotes growing, buying and cooking with it in France.

Congrats!

#79 - Rapture of the Deep by L.A. Meyer, audiobook (library). The further adventures of Jackie Faber - I'm absolutely loving these right now!



#80 - Man Made by Joel Stein, 304 pages (own). I convinced my husband to purchase this book because I knew we'd probably both enjoy it. I read it first and laughed out loud soo many times!

I'm a bit behind on posts, but congrats on reaching 75!

alsvidur - thanks so much!



#81 - One of the Lads by Susan Gallier, 176 pages (own). A lucky find in a bookshop, this was an interesting look into the lives of grooms, aka lads, in England in the 80's.



#82 - Everybody Bonjours! by Leslie Kimmelman, pages (library).



#84 - Pony Island by Candice Ransom, pages (library).

Two cute children's books I picked up!



#85 - Housebroken by Laurie Notaro, 270 pages (library). Another book that had me snorting with laughter!

#86 - The Wake of the Lorelei Lee by L.A. Meyer, audiobook (library). The next exciting book in the Jackie Faber series! I had to take a break from these audibooks, they're just too much sometimes :)



#87 - Indian Captive by Lois Lenski, 298 pages (library). After Strawberry Girl, I wanted to read another book by Lenski. This book was written very disjointedly but considering the material, no wonder.



#88 - From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess by Meg Cabot, 182 pages (library). Oh, Meg Cabot, how I love your Princess Diary books (and their spin-offs)!!

#89 - Being a Rockefeller, Becoming Myself by Eileen Rockefeller, 336 pages (own). The youngest daughter of six children in David Rockefeller's family, Eileen clearly dealt with lifelong feelings of instability by being part of that famous family. A touching look at her journey to accept herself, her family and her purpose in life.



#90 - The Alice B. Toklas Cookbook by Alice Toklas, 288 pages (library). I know very little about Toklas (or Gertrude Stein) but I saw this cookbook recommended somewhere, and with a foreword by one of my favorite cookbook authors, how could I resist? What I do know about Toklas and Stein is that they were partners so it was a little weird that throughout the book, Stein was referred to as "Gertrude Stein." How many Gertrude's could Toklas have known?? Also, yes, this edition contained the infamous pot brownies recipe. This recipe was referred to in the intro. to the book but I found it an exceptionally odd addition to the recipes, as it was definitely not written in Toklas' style...

#91 - The Admissions by Meg Mitchell Moore, 384 pages (own). A surprisingly good book, this was a quick pick from a book event I attended earlier this year.



#92 - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, 327 pages (own). Had quite an adventure buying this book and then I had to let it "age" for the right moment to read it :) Would LOVE to see the play!!



#93 - Royal Wedding Disaster by Meg Cabot, 282 pages (library). More Princess Diaries!



#94 - Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld, audiobook (library). A re-telling of Pride and Predjudice, I thought it was nicely done.

#95 - The Red Notebook by Antione Laurain, 159 pages (library). A man finds a purse left in a trashcan. How will he ever find it's owner?



#96 - Blue Willow by Doris Gates, 172 pages (library). The tale of a girl's Blue Willow heirloom plate during the Depression. Whisper1's got so many great book recommendations on her thread!

#97 - Lola And The Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins, audiobook (library). The follow up to Anna and the French Kiss, that I've meant to read for a long time now. I didn't enjoy Lola's character as much as Anna but I enjoyed the love story!



#98 - The Adventures of Miss Petitfour by Anne Michaels, 124 pages (library). What a lovely little book - I'm already planning on buying a copy for my sister.

100 Books!! I hardly thought I'd read that many this year!!



#99 - Man With a Pan by John Donohue, 326 pages (own). Essays from a variety of male authors about cooking dinner for their families. A treat and it's added a few books to my TBR list!



#100 - Adventures In Persia by Ronald Sinclair, 224 pages (own). I dare anyone to read about this author and not want to pick up this book! The adventures of Sinclair's trip in the 20's in a Model A Ford (they just don't make cars like they used to) from Beirut to India.

>45 DFED: Congrats on reaching 100! Maybe you will be able to read a lot more books in the last three months of the year? Adventures in Persia sounds interesting. I will add it to my list!

aktakukac - thanks - I hope I'll read a lot more too :) My bookshelves are slowly but surely being consumed!



#101 - Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo, pages (library). I've been finding the best children's book recommendations care of Whisper1's thread.



#102 - The Mark of the Golden Dragon by L.A. Meyer, audiobook (library). Man I love these books! I'm getting toward the end of the series and I'm really going to miss them.



#103 - Train To Somewhere by Eve Bunting, 32 pages (library). Another Whisper1 recommendation.



#104 - A Pioneer Christmas Collection by Kathleen Fuller, 446 pages (library). This book just called to me - sometimes you just need a comfort read (or a series of them!)

#105 - Meet Me At the Bamboo Table by A.V. Crofts, 216 pages (own). An Early Reviewer book (and a great one at that!) - review to follow.

#106 - Junk: Digging Through America's Love Affair With Stuff by Alison Stewart, 284 pages (library). Why so much stuff America? What does junk mean to you? Why do we have shows based on hoarding and storage units? Lots to think about in this book but it could've used some better editing.



#107 - The Plums Hang High by Gertrude Finney, pages (own). What a horrible title for a book, but that's exactly the reason why I picked it up at my local library's big book sale this week! But, what a pleasant read!



#108 - Sneaky Blends by Missy Chase Lapine, 285 pages (library). Lapine's idea has essentially been lurking around in my head for some time, so I might actually follow through on it! What if you had a cleanse of veggie and fruit purees?



#109 - Keys to the City by Joel Kostman, 144 pages (own). A poignant look at inhabitants of New York City through the eyes of a locksmith.

#110 - Viva Jacquelina! by L.A. Meyer, audiobook (library). The further adventures of Bloody Jack.



#111 - The House At the End of Hope Street by Menna van Praag, 280 pages (library). A magical book, perfect for book lovers!!

#112 - D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths by Ingri D'Aulaire, 192 pages (library). I've always loved Greek myths and I saw this book mentioned several places lately so I thought I'd give it a read. Lesson learned? Don't tick off Zeus!



#113 - Summer Birds by Margarita Engle, pages (library). Another children's book recommendation from Whisper1's thread.



#114 - At Her Majesty's Request by Walter Dean Myers, 160 pages (own). An African princess is rescued by a British naval captain from human sacrifice and becomes a ward of Queen Elizabeth - what a life!

#115 - Constance: A Story of Early Plymouth by Patricia Clapp, 232 pages (own). The story of Constance, loosely based on a ancestor of the author, an original settler of Plymouth. An enjoyable read!



#116 - How to Celebrate Everything by Jenny Rosenstrach, 288 pages (library). I'm a big fan of Rosenstrach's blog, Dinner: A Love Story and was excited to read her latest cookbook.



#117 - The Extraordinary and Unusual Adventures of Horatio Lyle by Catherine Webb, 311 pages (library). An steam punk novel (my first, I think?) with a strange writing style. I'm not sure if I'll continue the series...

#118 - Boston Jacky by L.A. Meyer, audiobook (library). The second-to-last book in the Bloody Jack series :(



#119 - Fair Weather by Richard Peck, audiobook (library). Could Peck's books be any sweeter or more entertaining? I just love them!

#120 - Lea Dives In by Lisa Yee, 151 pages (library). A new American Girl story.



#121 - Grace, Not Perfection by Emily Ley, 226 pages (library). A semi-preachy book about bringing a little grace into your life. Ley writes from a mom's perspective but I found nuggets in this applicable to anyone.



#122 - A School For Brides by Patrice Kindl, 251 pages (library). A cute Jane Austen-esque book of a school for girls in search of husbands. Apparently, this was a sequel so I've already got the first book on hold.



#123 - Wild Rover No More by L.A. Meyer, audiobook (library). Is this the end for Jackie?? Not gonna lie, I cried a little.



#124 - The Happy Cook by Daphne Oz, 336 pages (own). I won this in a contest and I've already cooked so many recipes from it!!

#125 - Happy Birthday Or Whatever by Annie Choi, 239 pages (own). I picked up this book because it had a blurb from an author I've enjoyed. A fun look into an immigrant Korean family's life and interactions. I seem to be big on mother/daughter biographies lately :)



#126 - The Bridge Ladies by Betsy Lerner, audiobook (library). I know nothing about Bridge (though I do now!) but I loved this look at a mother/daughter and inter-generational relationships.

Wouldn't it be nice if 2017 was a year of peace and goodwill.
A year where people set aside their religious and racial differences.
A year where intolerance is given short shrift.
A year where hatred is replaced by, at the very least, respect.
A year where those in need are not looked upon as a burden but as a blessing.
A year where the commonality of man and woman rises up against those who would seek to subvert and divide.
A year without bombs, or shootings, or beheadings, or rape, or abuse, or spite.

2017.

Festive Greetings and a few wishes from Malaysia!

PaulCranswick - Thank you, and I certainly hope so!!



#127 - Lea Leads the Way by Lisa Yee, 142 pages (library). Lea's adventures continue in the rain forest.



#128 - How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind by Dana White, 223 pages (library). Thank you to whoever recommended this book. It gave me much to think about - on par with Marie Kondo's books! I'm already instituting her first steps around the house, as I think a cleaning routine is where I'm most usually hung up.

#129 - Velva Jean Learns to Fly by Jennifer Niven, 412 pages (own). This is the second book in a series but what a lovely character. I was really cheering on Velva Jean and can't wait to catch up on the rest of the series!



#130 - Bluegrass Champion by Dorothy Lyons, 264 pages (own). A Christmas present from my husband, I loved this novel about Saddlebreds, illustrated by Wesley Dennis!



#131 - The Girl From Botany Bay by Carolly Erickson, 234 pages (own). I kept setting this one aside so I'm afraid my recollection isn't very coherent, but I enjoyed reading about Sydney's colonial beginnings and the life of Mary Bryant, an escapee from the colony.



#132 - The Good Food Revolution by Will Allen, 304 pages (own). Allen is an amazing person that has done (and continues to do) a lot of good work in the Milwaukee area. He's certainly given me plenty of food for thought (ha!).



#133 - Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler, audiobook (library). Handler makes me laugh, and this book was no exception.



#134 - Lea and Camila by Lisa Yee, 169 pages (library). The last of Lea's American Girl stories.

That wraps up my year of reading! I apologize that I wasn't very chatty on my thread this year - I didn't have as much time as I'd like to be on LT but here's hoping 2017 will be a great year!

I've started my new thread here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/245192

I guess 2016 isn't quite wrapped up yet! I've forgotten one book I read over Christmas break:



#135 - Molly On the Range by Molly Yeh, 283 pages (library). A great cookbook - one on the "to be purchased" list!