Book Talk: I've Been Reading...

The last post of the year and I'm all caught up on my reading posts.  Cue big sigh of relief.  Now I just have to keep on track and not get behind again... mmm somehow we just all know that that is probably never going to happen.  Still we can live in hope.

As for the reading...

Finally some audiobooks.  I'm pretty sure I'm way down this year compare to previous years but we'll just have to wait and see until I do my review of my reading year in a few days time.   I'm so excited that Big Finish is doing some Space 1999 audios and though I was a little disappointed that Mark Bonnar didn't use his normal Scottish accent - I would have much preferred that he had instead of going for an American.  Still that little quibble aside I really enjoyed this one and hope that they do some more.  

Next... Three new crime writers I haven't read before which means three new detective series for me to get stuck into.  I've had a pretty good year I think on the whole with crime series this year and found some new authors that I really like.

On the other side, I'm not sure but I think my YA reading has declined quite a bit this year.  Unpregnant though was a recent find for me which I really enjoyed.

Also what's with all the cream book covers?   I seriously don't know how that happened.  A new trend in chick lit covers perhaps?  Luckily they were all the perfect summery reads for me which was at least something.  Because as you all know I need me my light fluffy reads.

As were these.  It's hard for me to pick a favourite out of them all but I can say the I Owe You One was probably the worse of a really good bunch.  Somehow the romance part came across as a bit flat with a hero who keeps flicking between two girls which got really old really fast.  I think I would have liked it better if in the end she had given him the flick and walked off into the sunset on her own.

And if that appeals then you'll like The Marriage Clock which is a chick lit with a difference and one that I really did enjoy.

Sadly I'm way behind in my Christmas wish reading list though I did manage to finish these two.  One even has the word Cosy in the title.  So totally perfect for me who loves all things Christmas romancey.

And that as they say is it for this year's reads.  Catch my year in reading review over the next few days to see how many books I read and whether I broke last year's mammoth 250 reads.

Book Talk: I've Been Reading...

So much for Christmas reads... instead I'm busy writing up blog posts, eating a ton of cheese and blueberries and basically just chillin' out now that Christmas is over.   The weather is gloriously fine and not too hot so there's the odd bit of gardening thrown in there too.

Still all this writing means that I'm almost all caught on on my book posts.  Yay me!  Which means that I can start the new year all fresh.

But before I get ahead of myself here's the latest reading round up...

Cosy, summery chick lit reads, the first of which were alright though I did really enjoy A Summer to Remember - about a widow who is determined to stay that way but a year working in Boston might just make her reconsider her stance on getting involved again.

After that it was more Downton Abbey goodness.  I know.  I might have just a slight problem.  Okay maybe a big problem.  I'm seriously caught up in a  Downton hole.  Of which you can totally blame the movie for.  I loved all of these and I'm now seriously contemplating getting some of these books as permanent additions to my very small book collection.

All that Downtonish and it was time for a break and back to some YA's and yet another chick lit novel.  Stronger Than You Know was particularly good and about a girl who was abused and confined by her mother and now has to get use to the big wide world.  I'm definitely going to be looking out for more books by this author.

I mentioned in a previous post that I was trying to get back into my nonfiction reading as it has been quite down this year from last year so I did some hunting and came across these.  I brought myself a bee house so naturally reading a book about making a bee friendly garden made sense.  I'm really lucky as I already have lots of bees in my garden and greenhouse so I'm obviously doing something right already.    

Then it was a funny and quirky travel read and a fascinating book about people who do couponing.  After reading this I seriously know now that I missed by calling.  Cutting out coupons and shopping for deals is so me.  I'm kind of gutted that we don't have this here in New Zealand.  Then again maybe that's for the best...

The Viewing Files: Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow - Christmas Movies I Need To See Right Now

I seriously live in the wrong hemisphere.  Here in the South it's either hot and sunny or hot and wet or hot and windy or a combination of all three.  In other words it's hot.  And that is so not what Christmas should be.  Or at least to me.

Where's the snow?  And the egg nog? And the roaring fires?  And towns where every street is filled with Christmas lights and decorations?  And the mulled wine and the Christmas cookies?  And the Carol singers?  And well pretty much everything else that you would expect from a Christmas.  Or at least the Christmas they show in the movies.

I want that.  With a side order of hot chocolate and Christmas mince pies.

Since I can't have that I'll have to settle for watching all the Christmas movies I can as I try not to sob into my melted ice cubes and dream of cooler weather.

Here then are 25 Christmas movies that I am planning on watching this holiday season.  Well 24 movies and 1 TV episode if we're being totally honest.

Book Talk: I've Been Reading...

The end of the year is just around the corner and here I am still catching up.  Still I am actually making progress even if it doesn't seem like it and I should be all caught up before the new year starts.  Cross fingers.

A mixture of reads this time round just to keep it interesting.

Crime - no surprise there.  Because really you can never have enough gritty crime novels.  All of these were excellent and all by authors I've enjoyed in the past.  It's always nice to have a bunch of authors that you know you can rely on to deliver a good story.

I've become somewhat hooked on Downton Abbey at the moment, mostly due to seeing the movie a few months ago and then undertaking a rewatch of the TV series so naturally I had to hunt out some books related to the show.  The first 2 give fascinating glimpses into the world of servants while the 3rd was an indepth behind the scenes look at the series.

Chick Lit for the win as always.  I loved Our Stop by Laura Jane Williams which has the quirky idea of two people trying to find and connect with each other via a newspaper column.

After all that it was back into some non fiction and ones that were not Downton Abbey related in any way.  I've been very slack with my non fiction reading this year after doing so well last year so it felt good to get back into it with a mixture of a quirky read, a serious read and a book about cats.  Because how could I not.

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells Christmas Reads Galore...

I just love Christmas books.  But then you kind of knew that, didn't you?  And if you didn't well you do now.  There's just something about curling up on the couch with a book about snow and romance and all things Christmasy that is just so snugly.

Which of course means that every year from around November and all the way through to Christmas Day I look forward to all the Christmas romance book releases and this year so did not disappoint.  Because look at them all.  And this isn't even all of them.  And yes I did have to restraint myself... just a little.  Otherwise my never ending To Be Read pile really would take up a whole house and then some.

Picking what to choose is never easy though luckily I have a system... well sort of.  Covers matter.  Don't listen to anyone who doesn't tell you so.  I want covers that invoke Christmas and make me feel all warm and well snugly.  Did I mention the snugly part?  I did?  Well good then.  Snuggle factor is very important.  As are pretty covers.

Titles can matter too though for me I really would still pick up a book that was called 'The Grumpiest Christmas Ever'.  In fact it would probably be the first book in the pile and one I would so want to read.  So if you ever see that book title a) let me know and b) tell the writer they owe me a hot chocolate for the book title inspiration.

As for what's inside I'm not too fussy.  Just don't be religious or overly sentimental.  In fact the less sentimental and sappy the better.  I want realism... but with happy ever after endings.  Books with Christmas Grinches work for me.  As do ones where the opposite happens and the person is a complete Christmas nut who basically lives for Christmas.  I don't mind a little sadness but at the end I want only happy, whether it's with a one true love or family or friends I don't actually mind all that much.

See... not fussy at all.  

Which probably explains this rather huge list of want-to-read-Christmas-reads.  I'll see you on the other side of the egg nog.

Book Talk: I've Been Reading...

And the catching up continues, luckily I haven't been doing much reading lately so cross fingers it shouldn't take me too many posts til I'm all caught up.  Being very hot and sticky as it is here is also helping as it's keeping me indoors where it is nice and cool... well coolish anyway.

This time round crime reads feature strongly which is no surprise as I love me a good murder mystery.

Lisa Gardener is an author I always like and her latest didn't disappoint and I'm now hanging out for her next one which is due out at the end of January.  Can it just be January already.   Jack Jordan is the same, his books generally always have a really good twist that you so did not see coming. Kind of what you need in a good mystery novel.

I also enjoyed finding a new author (to me at least) with the first of Cara Hunter's DI Adam Fawley series.  Which of course gives me a another series to get stuck into.

After that lot it was time for something light and fluffy so chick lit it was, followed by a sci-fi. I'm a big fan of Blake Crouch, his Wayward Pines series was so good.  Don't even bother with the TV series because it was so not the same.  Take it from me - read the books instead. So as you can imagine I had high hopes for his latest and wow it was just so good.  Probably one of my fav books of the year.

 On another note what is it with all the yellow book covers? 

And finally Christmas reads!

I love reading Christmas romance books at this time of the year and this year I have got so many to get through.  The list is huge I tell you.  And I have no regrets about that at all.  All I need now is snow and a gingerbread frappe and I'm set.

Decembers Plans and Novembers Outcomes

And another year is almost over and I've still got so many plans.  Plan Girl it seems is my name now.   

Of course it being December Christmas is probably the number one plan on most peoples list and one which I am once again on top of.  The presents have been brought, the tree and decorations are up and there's very little left for me to do which is good as it helps make the month kind of less manic and more relaxing.

Naturally my brain has decided to add just one or two things extra to the plans because as usual it is the worse and seems to suddenly have these spur of the moment 'lets do this' ideas.

Crafting

I'm putting it on the list.  It's staying on the list.  Even if it's just to torment me.

Being Frugal

Umm... yes... well... Christmas shopping... and Black Friday sales... Kind of explains it all really.  Still it's a new month so onwards and upwards and hopefully less spending and more saving and selling things to add to the savings.

Gardening

Going so well that I really don't need to have this on here at the moment.  The fruit and veg are growing to the point that I've even started picking some strawberries and rhubarb.  The flowers are all blooming and I've currently got a pretty vaseful sitting in my living room.

So a super big win for the month.

Get Fit and Healthy

Also still going well.  Living on smoothies, mashed veg and scrambled eggs really did help with the weight lost (no surprise there really).  Even better it's staying off and still going down.  The walking is also going well despite a few weird illnesses and if I'm not walking I'm gardening which has another advantage of also getting me fit.  Pulling weeds is hard work especially when they are the size of Triffids.

Reading

Christmas reading.  So so much Christmas reading.  I've got an enormous pile of Christmas reads in my TBR folder that this alone will probably keep me pretty busy for the entire month.  I can't wait to get stuck in.

Kondoing My Way

Partly achieved.  So yay go me... finally.  My wardrobe is now all sorted and tidy and I can actually see the shelves and the floor.  Because yes it was that bad.

I also threw out several pairs of holey socks and knickers and have a small pile of clothing to sell.  So double win right there. 

Now I have to tackle the hall cupboards...

Writing 

10,000 words and counting.  I've slowed down in the past month due to having a swollen and throbbing face but now that it is slowly getting better I feel the need to write again.  How many words will I do this month I wonder?

Christmas Movie Watching

Goal for the month is to watch one Christmas movie a day leading up to the 25th.  I may mix this up a bit with some Christmas only TV episodes.  So if anyone has got any recommendations please pass them on.

Book Talk: I've Been Reading...

Catch up time is still happening, mostly due to me feeling under the weather with first a weird swallowing thing and then a weird swollen face thing.  Luckily both weird things seem to be on the mend and I'm feeling a little bit better and the head is filled with words just as it should be.

In the meantime I've still been walking and gardening and watching endless repeats of Downton Abbey and The Blacklist because reasons.  I have though still been adding to my reading pile which means I really do need to concentrate this month and catch up on all my blog posts.

YA features quite a bit this time round.  Because yes I have finally gotten around to reading some of the books that have been sitting in my To Be Read pile.  Surprisingly all of these reads had similarish themes of identity and secrets and change which was weirdly nice and kind of comforting.

I enjoyed all of them in various degrees but my favourites were If I'm Being Honest and If It Makes You Happy, both by authors I haven't read before and of which are both being added to my authors list to watch out for.

After all that YA it was definitely time for some chick lit and romance and these two books by two of my favourite authors fitted the bill perfectly.

From there it was an out of blue but perhaps not so surprising read with a book on gardening.  I generally don't read many of these kind of books but sometimes it's nice to have a browse and pick up some pointers.

All in all a fairly relaxing reading session which was probably a good thing considering the weird illnesses.