Sticking to My Shelves: My Read My Books Challenge Experience

Erin and Dani co-hosted a challenge during the month of June with a very simple, straight-forward premise: read only books you own. Easy enough, right?

I'm happy to report that I actually stuck with this challenge! Need proof? See my screenshot below:

(You can ignore the 8 books I have on hold, though. They were all paused for the month of June, so I didn't have to worry that something I'd been waiting for would suddenly become available.)

Seriously, though, this challenge was harder than I thought it would be. As I said in my last post, I think there was probably a reason a lot of these books had been sitting untouched on my shelves. 

Sometimes their size intimidates me (I'm looking at you, Carrion Comfort ... I didn't even consider attempting that one in June!). Sometimes I'll reread the blurb on the back and feel very "meh" about it (Mister Sandman is a great example). Sometimes I have every intention of reading it, but just get sidetracked by a shiny stack of library books (I've seriously packed The Silent Wife in my bag on the last five trips I've taken, and every time I've chosen to read one of the library books I've packed instead).

When I started the challenge, I didn't have a definite goal in mind. I really just wanted to finish as many books as possible. I think my ideal was 8 or 9 (as you can see from one of my book "photo shoot" pictures below), but I didn't get through quite that many.

Before I share my final book count, though, I feel like I should tell you three things:

1. I didn't officially start this challenge until June 2. I was finishing up a library book (Hurt People by Cote Smith, which I highly recommend!), and couldn't get through it until June 1. I don't consider that "cheating," but I was technically reading a library book at the beginning of the month.

2. I didn't finish my final book until July 9. I started it at the very end of June, and it was honestly so boring that I wasn't inspired to pick it up most of the time ... So it took me forever to finish it. I'm still counting it as a book completed for this challenge, though, because it's a book I own and I started it in June. 

3. Half of the books I read were newer purchases. (I bought them in April.) They obviously still qualify as books I own, but I probably should have focused a little more on some of the books that I've owned for years. 

Now that that's out of the way, here's my final list:

1. Wreckage by Emily Bleeker - 4 stars

(Read my short review here, in-depth review here, and check it out on Goodreads here.)

2. The Magic Toyshop by Angela Carter - 2 stars

(Read my short review here, in-depth review here, and check it out on Goodreads here.)

3. Forsaken by Andrew Van Wey - 2 stars

(Read my short review here, in-depth review here, and check it out on Goodreads here.)

4. The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison - 4 stars

(Read my short review here, in-depth review here, and check it out on Goodreads here.)

5. Hillary: Tail of the Dog by Angel Gelique - 3 stars

(Read my short review here, in-depth review here, and check it out on Goodreads here.)

6. Mister Sandman by Barbara Gowdy - 2 stars

(Read my short review here, in-depth review here, and check it out on Goodreads here.)

As you can see, half of the books I read were only worthy of 2 star ratings. I guess it's nice to know that I don't need to keep them (I clearly won't be rereading those), but it's also a little frustrating. I mean, who wants to waste money on shitty books? 

I know I won't stop buying books, but this challenge made me appreciate my library even more than I already did. If I check a book out from the library that sucks, it's no big deal. Yes, I wasted some of my time, but it's not taking up space in my apartment and I didn't spend any money on it. 

Overall, I'm happy with my results. I stuck with the challenge, and managed to cross off three categories for the Semi-Charmed Summer 2016 Book Challenge (including one of the two book categories) in the process. I would have been happier if I'd loved all of the books I read, but at least I got through them.

Thanks to Erin and Dani for co-hosting this challenge! 

Book Challenge by Erin 5.0 Picks

Erin announced the categories for her latest book challenge a month ago, and I'm finally posting my picks. As usual, I spent a lot of time searching my "To Read" list, Goodreads, and my library's website for the perfect book for each category. Several of these categories were tough for me, though, so it took a little longer than I anticipated. (A category that was surprisingly difficult? A book that begins with the letter "R." Apparently I don't want to read very many "R" books.)

I've also been ridiculously behind on all things blog related lately, so I hadn't had much time to sit down and write this post until now. I swear I'm going to get caught up one of these days!

1. A Book That Is At Least 200 Pages Long - 5 pts

The freebie categories are always tough because there are just so many books I want to read. My "To Read" list is almost at 500, and it's always growing. I eventually chose a book that I've actually checked out from the library previously but never read. I had to return it because the waiting list was long and I just didn't have the time for it. I really want to read it, though, and I've had my hold at the library paused for so long that I should get it pretty quickly once I resume my place in "line" ... So it seemed like the best choice.

My pick: Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter

2. A Book That Begins With The Letter "R" - 10 pts

As I said before, this was an oddly difficult category for me. There were a few books on my "To Read" list that would work, but I opted for something that sounded entertaining, fun, and maybe even a little trashy. I've been reading a lot of really dark novels lately, and, while I love them, sometimes I just need something completely different.

My pick: Real Happy Family by Caeli Wolfson Widger

3. A Book With A Five Word Title - 10 pts

I almost chose another book for this category, but it's under 200 pages (according to Goodreads). So instead I went with a book that has intrigued me ever since I stumbled across it on my library's website several months ago. I don't know why it's taken me so long to pick it up, but I'm glad I could fit it into one of these categories!

My pick: The Truth and Other Lies by Sascha Arango

4. A Book That Has A (Mostly) Blue Cover - 15 pts

I was hoping I'd be able to work the last book in the Deanna Madden trilogy into this challenge, and, thanks to its blue and black cover, it will actually be worth more than 5 points!

My pick: If You Dare by A.R. Torre

5. A Book Featuring Twins As Characters - 20 pts

Last year I read several books featuring twins, so it was actually kind of difficult to find a book I'd be interested in that I hadn't read recently. One of my all-time favorite books, Geek Love by Katherine Dunn, has twin characters, but I was saving my one reread in this challenge for another category. (I highly recommend that book if you haven't read it, though! I've read it three times, and I will happily read it again in the future.) Anyway, after looking through lists on Goodreads and changing my pick a couple of times, I finally settled on a book that sounded really unusual and unlike anything I've read before. Hopefully it doesn't disappoint!

My pick: Among Others by Jo Walton

6. A Book From This List Of Books Being Made Into Movies - 20 pts

I'd actually already read quite a few of the books on this list, and had even chosen The Silent Wife for the other book challenge I'm currently participating in. As I was scrolling through the list, I was thinking, "I think I'm just going to have to pick something random for this category." Then I noticed a book that I'd recently added to my "To Read" list and got excited ... Any time I can cross something off that list, I'm happy!

My pick: The Merciless by Danielle Vega

7. A Book Set In A Country I've Always Wanted To Visit - 25 pts

I love traveling, but I still haven't experienced so much of the world. There are a lot of places I dream of visiting. In the end, I chose a book set in England for two reasons: I've wanted to visit London since I was a little girl and I've had my hold on this book paused at the library for a while so I should be near the top of the list. I really need to clear out my paused holds (I have 8 paused right now), and this is a great way to do it!

My pick: What She Knew by Gilly Macmillan

8. A Historical Fiction Book - 30 pts

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I don't love historical fiction. However, that doesn't mean that I never enjoy it. The Nightingale, for example, was absolutely amazing. I'm hoping I'll have similar success with this book.

My pick: Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

9. A Music Related Book - 30 pts

The book I chose for this category has literally been sitting on my bookshelf for years. It was given to me as a gift a long time ago (I can't even remember who gave it to me), and, for whatever reason, I just never bothered to read it. I didn't read it during the Read My Books challenge last month, so it's nice to continue getting through some of my own books while participating in other challenges.

My pick: Love is a Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield

10. A Book Originally Published Over 100 Years Ago - 35 pts

As I said earlier, my "To Read" list is insanely long (and it just keeps growing). However, I still like to revisit books I've previously enjoyed from time to time. I think I reread at least a couple of books last year, and I planned to do the same this year. Since it's allowed in this challenge, I've decided to reread one of my favorite classic novels. I got a beautiful copy of this book from my mom for Christmas last year, and I've been looking forward to reading it again. I haven't read it since my senior year of college (2005/2006), so it's almost like reading it for the first time. Almost.

My pick: Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

I'm really excited to start working through the books on this list!

Book Challenge Picks: Read My Books and Semi-Charmed Summer 2016 Book Challenge

It's the first of June, which also means it's the start of two of the three book challenges I'm participating in this summer!

The first challenge is co-hosted by Erin and Dani. This is a very simple, straightforward challenge: no point system, no categories, no minimum number of books to read. The only real requirement is that you stick to reading only books you already own during the month of June. No library books, no books borrowed from friends.

This is perfect for people who aren't usually into book challenges or for people (like me!) who get distracted by all the amazing books at the library and neglect the books that have been sitting unread on their shelves. (You can read Erin's latest post about it here, if you haven't already checked it out.)

In honor of this challenge, I had Eric take some pictures of me a couple of weeks ago (when I actually had makeup on!) with just a few of my unread books:



After taking those pictures, I realized I'd forgotten a couple that I really wanted to try to get through. So I made him take another one:



And yes, I realize these are silly and I'm a huge dork for taking them.

There are a few other unread books on my shelves, but these are the books I'm going to try to get through in June. (And, quite honestly, I'm not sure I'll be able to read all of them in a single month ... But I'll definitely try!)

The second challenge kicking off this month is hosted by Megan. (The official rules for this challenge can be found here.) I missed out on completing the Semi-Charmed Winter 2015 Book Challenge by only one book, so I'm really hoping I can finish this time around!



1. Freebie! Any Book That Is At Least 150 Pages Long - 5 pts

This is clearly the broadest category in the challenge, so I knew I'd be picking a book I already own. Since I actually want to finish this challenge and get through as many of my own books as possible, I tried to overlap as much as I could. These broad categories are usually difficult for me because there are just so many books I want to read, but the need to overlap really helped me narrow it down. (And, at 326 pages, my pick definitely satisfies the 150 page requirement!)

My pick: The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison

2. A Collection Of Short Stories Or Essays (Either By The Same Author Or Different Writers)  - 10 pts

I have to be in the right sort of mood to read short stories/essays, so I'm glad this category will actually force me to pick up at least one of the collections on my "To Read" list. I was torn between a couple of books, but, since I loved White is for Witching when I read it last year, I decided to go with Helen Oyeyemi's most recent work.

My pick: What is Not Yours is Not Yours by Helen Oyeyemi

3. An Adult Fiction Book Written By An Author Who Normally Writes Books For Children - 10 pts

I had a difficult time with this category because I initially thought books that fell under the "YA" category would be considered "children's" books for the purpose of this challenge. After I saw Megan's response to a question about this, though, I realized I was mistaken ... So I had to scrap my original pick. I wound up choosing another short story collection for this category, though that was mostly because I wanted something that was readily available at my library.

My pick: Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life by Roald Dahl

4. A Book Set In Appalachia - 15 pts

Cormac McCarthy has been on my radar for several years, but, for whatever reason, none of his books have ever made it to the top of my "To Read" list. After reading Erin's review of this book, I knew I had to read it eventually. And when I realized it was set in eastern Tennessee, this category became the perfect excuse to finally check out one of McCarthy's novels.

My pick: Child of God by Cormac McCarthy

5. A Book With A Cover I Personally Find Unappealing - 15 pts

I'll admit it: lately I've been adding a lot of books to my "To Read" list based solely on their covers. Thankfully, I own at least a couple of books with less than beautiful covers so I was able to overlap books for this category! I chose a book I'm really excited to read (despite the terrible cover) ... Hopefully it doesn't disappoint!

My pick: Hillary: Tail of the Dog by Angel Gelique

6. A Book I've Previously Only Seen The Movie Of - 20 pts

This was a tough category for me, but only because I was having a really hard time choosing only one book! I prefer to read the book before watching the film adaptation, but that doesn't always happen. When I was thinking about possible picks, I realized I've seen a lot of movies that made me want to check out the books that inspired them. I finally decided to go with the book that inspired a movie I absolutely loved (and I'm referring to the original, not the American remake ... I haven't seen that version) by an author I've previously read and enjoyed.

My pick: Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist

7. A Book With A Punny Title - 25 pts

There are a lot of books that would work for this category. Unfortunately, I have no desire to read at least 95% of them. I finally settled on this book when I was searching for a book for the previous category. (And, if you were wondering, I have seen the movie but haven't read the book.)

My pick: Thank You for Smoking by Christopher Buckley

8. A Microhistory - 30 pts

I hadn't heard the term "microhistory" prior to this challenge, so I was a little intimidated by this category at first. Once I looked it up, I realized I've read a couple of books that fall under this category. Although I'm not a huge fan of nonfiction, I actually enjoyed those books ... So I decided to go with yet another book by the same author.

My pick: Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach

9. A Book With A "Good" Word In The Title And A Book With A "Bad" Word In The Title  - 30 pts

I liked that this category was so open-ended because I was able to work in two more books I already own! I went with more general "good" and "bad" words here ... Not necessarily something I enjoy (or dislike), but words that simply seemed positive and negative.

My picks: The Magic Toyshop by Angela Carter (good) & Wreckage by Emily Bleeker (bad)

10. Two Books Containing The Same Word In The Title, One Singular And One Plural - 40 pts

I considered just going with two books with "girl/girls" in the title because it would be ridiculously easy to come up with multiple options from my "To Read" list. (Seriously, why do so many books I want to read have "girl/girls" in the title?) After looking through my list, though, I realized I could actually use a more unique word for this category. Both books have been on my list for at least a couple of years, and I almost used one of them for the movie category until I realized I could use it here.

My picks: The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides & The Virgins by Pamela Erens

I'm really excited to get started with both of these challenges! I'll be posting yet another book list in a few weeks when I figure out what I want to read for Erin's next challenge. (If you're interested in participating, it starts July 1 and the rules/categories can be found here.)



Here's to a great book-filled summer!

Monthly Goals: September Results

Since I knew September was going to be kind of a busy month for me, I kept my goals really simple. I didn't even make any fitness or healthy eating goals because I knew it would be too hard to stick with them while we were traveling. (I probably should have made at least one health related goal, though. I mean, did you see the shit I ate and drank while I was in Minnesota?)



My goals for September were:

1.  Finish the Literary Ladies Summer Book Challenge.

2.  Watch at least 3 movies for the Fall Film Challenge.

3.  Try to come up with a schedule for reading/commenting on blogs.

Here are the results:

1.  Done! I actually finished with a few days to spare. I could have easily finished it much earlier, but I kept getting distracted with books that weren't part of the challenge. Oh, the struggles of a book nerd! (If you haven't seen my Literary Ladies Summer Book Challenge results and would like to, check out this post.)

2.  Done! I watched a total of 5 movies in September (so maybe there's hope that I'll actually get through most of my movie picks for this challenge!). I reviewed 3 of them here, though if you haven't read that post, I'll go ahead and tell you that my movie reviews aren't nearly as in-depth as my book reviews. I'm not cut out to be a movie critic, I guess. I watched a fourth movie for the challenge after I posted those reviews, and my fifth movie wasn't part of the challenge. (It was just a Netflix DVD that had been sitting in my apartment for way too long, and I didn't want to just send it back without watching it.)

3.  I was kind of 50/50 with this one. I've been a little better when it comes to keeping up with my blog reading and commenting (and responding to comments on my own blog, of course), but I still haven't figured out a great schedule for this. Sometimes I feel like I have a lot of extra time and manage to (mostly) get caught up on my reading/commenting, but then I'll have a busy week and the next time I open Bloglovin', I have 100+ unread posts. This is a work in progress, I guess.

September wasn't a bad month for me, but I also made things pretty easy on myself. I'd like to challenge myself a little more in October.

I'll be posting my October monthly goals in the next few days. I can't commit to a day yet because I haven't really thought about them that much ... I need some time to figure out what I'd like to do.

I know these posts aren't the most popular anyway, so I doubt anyone is going to be overly disappointed if I post my goals on, say, Sunday instead of Friday. These posts are mostly for me. If I share my goals in a public space, I'm more likely to work on them. Trust me, it's never fun to come back a month later only to write something like, "I really didn't accomplish much last month because I got busy/lazy/other random excuse."

Literary Ladies Summer Book Challenge Results

With the end of summer comes the end of the Literary Ladies Summer Book Challenge, and I'm happy to say that I finished it (with a few days to spare!).

I'm kind of weirdly anal, so I stuck with my original book list. I figured that since I took the time to search Goodreads for the "perfect" book for each category, I should probably read them. (And, hey, I wanted to cross several of these off my "To Read" list anyway.)

I'm not going to share detailed reviews in this post (if you want to read more of my thoughts on these novels, I'll be linking to the reviews I've already shared), but I'll at least let you know if these are worth picking up.



1. A YA Book: Identical by Ellen Hopkins (565 pages)
Date Completed: 07/16/2015
My Goodreads Rating: 3/5 stars
My Quick Review: I liked this book, but it's definitely not for everyone. If you're not the kind of person who enjoys dark and disturbing stories, you should probably pass on this one. If, however, you're intrigued by books that deal with heavy subject matter, you might want to add this to your "To Read" list.
My Detailed Review: Identical is the first book reviewed in this post.
For More Information: Check it out on Goodreads.

2. A Book By A Non-U.S. Author: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty (458 pages)
Date Completed: 07/07/2015
My Goodreads Rating: 5/5 stars
My Quick Review: I absolutely loved this book! It's one of my favorites so far this year. I stayed up late to read "just one more chapter" several times because I just had to know what was going to happen next.
My Detailed Review: Big Little Lies is the fifth book reviewed in this post.
For More Information: Check it out on Goodreads.

3. A Book That Was Recommended By Another Blogger: Last Train to Babylon by Charlee Fam (335 pages)
Date Completed: 09/16/2015
My Goodreads Rating: 3/5 stars
My Quick Review: I really enjoyed this book, but I didn't fall in love with it the way I thought I would. Although it didn't fall under the "completely amazing" category for me, it made me remember the girl I was in my early 20s (and, as a result, stirred up a lot of intense emotions).
My Detailed Review: This hasn't actually posted yet. If you're interested in reading more of my thoughts on Last Train to Babylon, I'll be posting my review when the next Show Us Your Books! link-up rolls around.
For More Information: Check it out on Goodreads.

4. A Book That Has Been On My "To Read" List For A Year Or More: White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi (227 pages)
Date Completed: 08/03/2015
My Goodreads Rating: 5/5 stars
My Quick Review: This book had been on my "To Read" list for several years, and I'm so glad I finally took the time to read it. It was haunting, heartbreaking, and beautifully written ... It was everything I'd hoped it would be (and more).
My Detailed Review: White is for Witching is the fifth book reviewed in this post.
For More Information: Check it out on Goodreads.

5. A Book With A Kickass Female Character: The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey (403 pages)
Date Completed: 07/02/2015
My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 stars
My Quick Review: I wasn't sure if I'd like this book since it falls under the zombie genre (and I'm not a fan). And, while it had some of the usual shit you'd expect in a book about zombies, it also focused on things like ethics, scientific discovery, and themes of identity. It wasn't a perfect novel, but it was an enjoyable read.
My Detailed Review: The Girl With All the Gifts is the fourth book reviewed in this post.
For More Information: Check it out on Goodreads.

6. A Book That Is (Or Will Be) A Movie Or TV Show: Under the Skin by Michel Faber (311 pages)
Date Completed: 07/14/2015
My Goodreads Rating: 3/5 stars
My Quick Review: This was another book that had been on my "To Read" list for several years. It was a really unusual story, and the writing was spectacular ... But I did feel it was lacking in some way. If you decide to pick this one up, please avoid any spoilers. (Don't even read the extended summary on Goodreads!) This is one of those books that's best if you go in knowing as little as possible about the plot.
My Detailed Review: Under the Skin is the seventh (and final) book reviewed in this post.
For More Information: Check it out on Goodreads.

7. A Book Written By A Comedian Or Celebrity (Or A Memoir): Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? by Jeanette Winterson (230 pages)
Date Completed: 08/18/2015
My Goodreads Rating: 3/5 stars
My Quick Review: I don't read a lot of nonfiction, but this memoir was interesting enough to hold my attention. Winterson's early life experiences were heartbreaking, but this memoir was also filled with hope.
My Detailed Review: Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? is the second book reviewed in this post.
For More Information: Check it out on Goodreads.

8. A Book With A One Word Title: You by Caroline Kepnes (422 pages)
Date Completed: 08/30/2015
My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 stars
My Quick Review: This book is dark and fucked up in the best way possible. (Though, to be fair, I tend to like my entertainment dark and fucked up.) It wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but that wasn't a bad thing. I really enjoyed it, and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series!
My Detailed Review: You is the fourth book reviewed in this post.
For More Information: Check it out on Goodreads.

9. A Suspenseful Book (Mystery, Thriller, Etc.): The Demonologist by Andrew Pyper (285 pages)
Date Completed: 06/25/2015
My Goodreads Rating: 2/5 stars
My Quick Review: I was really looking forward to reading this book, but it was fucking terrible. It read like a really bad action flick with cheesy dialogue. I definitely had an "I want to throw this fucking book out the window" moment with this one.
My Detailed Review: The Demonologist is the third book reviewed in this post.
For More Information: Check it out on Goodreads.

10. A Book About Summer, With Summer In The Title, Or In Any Way Related To Summer: Summer House with Swimming Pool by Herman Koch (387 pages)
Date Completed: 07/27/2015
My Goodreads Rating: 5/5 stars
My Quick Review: I didn't expect to love this book as much as I did. It's even more surprising that I loved it when you consider that it centers around the lives of really repulsive characters. But it's well written, entertaining, and I had a hard time putting it down. It's probably not for everyone, but I thought it was wonderful!
My Detailed Review: Summer House with Swimming Pool is the third book reviewed in this post.
For More Information: Check it out on Goodreads.

I had so much fun with this challenge! I read a couple of things I probably would never have chosen for myself, and realized I actually might kind of like YA. (Well, some of it anyway.) And I'm really glad that of the 10 books I chose, only one of them was a dud.

I'd never participated in something like this before, and I'm sure there will be more book challenges in my future!

Keeping it Simple: My September Goals

Since I didn't do a great job sticking with my August goals, I've decided to make things a little easier on myself this month. While I think I could probably push myself a little harder (and I probably should), I don't want to get overly ambitious and then come back at the beginning of October to report that I barely accomplished anything.

My September 2015 Goals:

1.  Finish the Literary Ladies Summer Book Challenge. I stuck with my original list (which can be found here, if you're interested), and I've completed 9 out of 10 books. I still need to read my pick for "A Book That Was Recommended By Another Blogger," and I need to do it by the time this challenge ends on September 21.

2.  Watch at least 3 movies for the Fall Film Challenge. (You can check out my list here.) I think this is a realistic number of movies to watch in a month. If I want to complete the challenge and watch 25 movies in 3 months, I should actually be watching a lot more than 3 movies in September. I know how busy things can get, though, and I already have plans for 3 of the 4 weekends this month ... So I'll stick with 3.

3.  Try to come up with a schedule for reading/commenting on blogs. For a while I was keeping up with my favorite bloggers and commenting within at least a day or two of the original post. Lately, though, I've been letting posts pile up in my Bloglovin' feed for days. I always catch back up, but I feel like it's a huge time suck to spend a night or two reading everything everyone has posted for an entire week (or sometimes longer) and then take time to comment on the things that really stand out. When I don't have a schedule, sometimes I let things slide for too long. I need structure.

I was going to try to come up with a couple more goals, but I think I'll keep things simple this month. Besides, I'm already in vacation mode ... Labor Day is coming up, and I took off a couple of extra days to visit my friend Danielle in Minnesota. I'm so excited to have a 5 day weekend, and I'm looking forward to spending time with Danielle and exploring a new area! 

Monthly Goals: July Results

I kept my goals for July pretty simple. Although I wasn't quite as busy as I have been in recent months, I still knew I'd be spending a long weekend out of town ... So I didn't want to overwhelm myself with a bunch of things I knew I probably wouldn't do. I mean, what's the point of creating goals for yourself if you're not even going to attempt to achieve them?

My goals for July were:

1.  Make an effort to comment on other blogs.

2.  Remember to reply to comments on my blog via email (and not just in the post).

3.  Read at least 5 books from start to finish, 3 of which must be for the Literary Ladies Summer Reading Challenge.

4.  Cook healthier meals at least 3 times every week.

I think I did a pretty good job overall:

1.  I get a definite pass on this one. I've started trying to schedule some time each week to devote solely to reading and commenting on other blogs. I don't always do it on the same days or at the same times, but I've just been making an effort to make it a regular part of my routine. 

2.  I definitely get a pass on this one as well. It's such a silly little thing, but I actually didn't realize for the longest time that people probably weren't receiving the responses I left on their comments. I don't know why I didn't figure it out sooner, but oh well ... The problem has been solved and now I always respond via email!

3.  Done! I actually went above and beyond on this one and finished 7 books (yes, 7 ... I think this may be a new record for me!). If you're curious, I read Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, The Good Girl by Mary Kubica, Under the Skin by Michel Faber, Identical by Ellen Hopkins, A Pleasure and a Calling by Phil Hogan, Summer House with Swimming Pool by Herman Koch, and Last Days by Brian Evenson. 4 of these were for the summer reading challenge: Big Little Lies, Under the Skin, Identical, and Summer House with Swimming Pool. Reviews for Big Little Lies, The Good Girl, and Under the Skin can be found here. I'll be posting my reviews for the rest of these novels (and at least one or two more!) next week for the Show Us Your Books! link-up.

Oh, and since I like to include at least one picture on every post, here is a photo of me with Under the Skin (it was posted on Instagram previously, so it may look familiar):

4.  Well, I'm just going to go ahead and LOL all over this one. I mean, did you see this post about my weekend with Kevin? Clearly I ate all the food and drank all the cocktails and beer and Starbucks and didn't give a fuck if I couldn't fit into my pants anymore. (Well, not until my pants were actually a little too tight the following Monday.) I also pigged out when I went over to another friend's house the weekend before. She ordered pizza and chicken wings and also had tons of popcorn and beer and Jell-O shots (because we like to pretend like we're back in college sometimes). I did try to make some healthier meals throughout the month, but not enough to give myself a pass. Better luck next time, I guess.

Overall, I think I did pretty well. I wish I'd done a little better with the food goal, though, since I'd like to eventually lose a little weight and form some healthier eating habits. I originally wanted to eat a little better in July because Eric and I knew our annual health screen was coming up soon (this basically gives us an opportunity to get discounts on our health insurance through his employer). We actually were able to push it back to late August, though, so maybe it's not such a bad thing that I didn't stick with my healthy eating goal last month. It's not good, but I'm not going to fail my health screen or anything.

I'll post my August goals tomorrow.

A Random Assortment of Things to Accomplish: My July Goals

I was planning to post my goals for July on Friday since I had the day off work, but I got busy with cleaning and reading. Then Eric got home from work and I decided I'd rather spend the evening cooking dinner with him and watching Netflix together than working on my blog. It happens.

Ashley left a comment last month telling me she'd be continuing the monthly goal link-up in July, so I'll be linking up with her today. I'm a few days late, but, again, it happens.

Image provided by Unsplash (unsplash.com) and edited by me.

My July 2015 Goals:

1.  Make a real effort to comment on other blogs. Sometimes I go on commenting sprees (last Thursday was a perfect example ... I think I probably left at least 12-15 comments on various posts), but there are too many times when I read something and think, "That's great!  I'll have to comment on this later when I have more time." And then I forget. This was also one of my New Year's Resolutions this year, so I'd really like to get into the habit of commenting regularly. I don't know why this isn't easier for me!

2.  Going along with my first goal, I need to remember to reply to comments via email (unless, of course, the person is a no reply blogger ... Then I'll reply to the actual comment). I'd always just assumed the person would receive my response if I replied to the comment, but I guess this isn't the case. Obviously I'm still kind of a newbie blogger. I may have started Divulge and Indulge over a year ago, but I didn't go out of my way to really join the blogging community (link-ups, commenting, etc.) until more recently. Thanks to Kristen for helping me realize my original assumption was incorrect ... Now people will actually know that I do make an effort to respond to every comment!

3.  Read at least 5 books this month. At least 3 of these should be for the Literary Ladies Summer Reading Challenge. I'm only counting books read from start to finish during these 31 days to make it a little more challenging. (In all honesty, this shouldn't be as difficult as it sounds. I'll be flying to Ohio later this month, so I'll have plenty of time on flights and during layovers to read.)

4.  Cook healthier meals at least 3 times every week. Eric and I have to complete an annual health screen to be eligible for discounts on our health insurance through his employer. That's coming up soon, so we should probably stop pumping fatty shit into our bodies and start looking for healthy recipes. I know we can't change ourselves overnight (or even within a month), but I think since we already go to the gym regularly, we'll see some results if we cut back on the carbs, cheese, Chipotle/Qdoba burritos, etc. Last year I got a 95 out of 100 on my health screen, so I'd love to do at least that well (if not better!) this year. (I do realize this goal will basically be shot to hell during the time I'm in Ohio. I'm visiting my best friend, and we're both big fans of pasta and alcohol ... So yeah. However, I can eat healthy while I'm still at home that week, so maybe it won't be as bad as I think.)

I kind of wanted to make more goals this month, but I don't want to go too crazy trying to complete everything. They're kind of scattered, I know, but these are the things I most want to accomplish in July. (As you could probably tell from my oh-so-original title for this post.)

Oh, and in case anyone is wondering why I'm not recapping my fabulous Fourth of July weekend, it's because it was incredibly low key. Eric worked Friday through Sunday, and I was in a massive cleaning/organizing frenzy the majority of the weekend ... So we were both exhausted and not really in the mood to go out. (Not to mention the fact that last month was insane and we were busy every single weekend. It was kind of nice to just hang out at home in the evenings.) We did watch some fireworks from our balcony on Saturday (along with some idiots a couple of buildings away who clearly did not read up on firework safety), though.

Literary Ladies Summer Book Challenge

I know that today is Father's Day. I don't really celebrate this day (other than with my father-in-law), so I won't be sharing any related stories or pictures. One day I might discuss the reason why I don't celebrate Father's Day, but that's another post for another time.

Today I'm going to be talking about something that actually makes me happy: reading.

I'm starting my first ever "official" reading challenge. I say "official" because it's not a self-imposed, generic "I want to read x amount of books in x amount of time" kind of challenge. This is a challenge I discovered while reading Kristen's blog. (Can't go wrong with another Kristen who loves reading, traveling, and yoga!)

I won't recap all of the rules because they can be found here. I will, however, be posting my preliminary reading list today and linking up!

1.  A YA Book

I don't read a lot of YA fiction. I just don't. I didn't even read a lot of YA fiction when I was a young adult. (Side note: I said something along those lines to a friend at work the other day and he said, "You're still technically a young adult." I was like, "Dude, who are we kidding here? We're in our 30s. We're not old, but we're not that young anymore!")

That being said, there are a few YA books on my "To Read" list ... So it wasn't too difficult to come up with something for this category.

My pick: Identical by Ellen Hopkins

2.  A Book By A Non-U.S. Author

I was really debating which book I should choose for this one. Several of my choices for this challenge fall into multiple categories, but I wanted to make sure I was able to get through some of the books I'd already placed on hold at the library. My pick for this category is a novel I'm currently waiting for (I'm number 21 on the waitlist right now, so hopefully I'll get it soon!), and one I've wanted to read for a while.

My pick: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

3.  A Book That Was Recommended By Another Blogger

I really really wanted to choose The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay for this one. It was recommended by both Kristen and Steph in the recent Show Us Your Books! link-up, and it sounded like the perfect book for me. Unfortunately, they don't have it at the Omaha Public Library. I'm planning to request that they order a copy (along with a few other books that are high on my "To Read" list!), but I refuse to buy any more books until I read everything I have on my shelves at home. (A few of these books were purchased at least 3 or 4 years ago, so I don't think I'm being unreasonable.)

I've added several books to my "To Read" list since I got involved with that link-up, though, so it wasn't difficult to find something else for this category ... I just really wanted to read The Sea of Tranquility.

My pick: Last Train to Babylon by Charlee Fam (also recommended by Steph in this post)

4.  A Book That Has Been On My "To Read" List For A Year Or More

For this category, I should have chosen one of the aforementioned books that I've owned for several years but never read. That would be the smart thing to do. In reality, I was like, "Oh, I have this new library card so I'll just get something there."

The book I picked for this category has been on my "To Read" list for at least 3 or 4 years. I really hope it lives up to my expectations!

My pick: White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi

5.  A Book With A Kickass Female Character

This was a difficult category for me because I actively avoid reviews with spoilers when I'm searching for new books to add to my "To Read" list. Without spoilers, though, sometimes it's hard to determine whether a character will be awesome (or even likable). So I decided to just base my choice on the title and the little knowledge I have of the book, and pick something I actually really wanted to read anyway. Hopefully the main character is as kickass as I imagine she'll be!

My pick: The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey

6.  A Book That Is (Or Will Be) A Movie Or TV Show

There are quite a few books that would fall into this category on my "To Read" list, so I went with one that has been on the list for many years. (I seriously don't even know how long ... Probably at least 5 years.) I don't know a ton about the story because I get the impression that this is one of those "the less you know beforehand the better" kinds of books, and I've definitely avoided the movie because I wanted to read the novel first. I'll probably watch the movie at some point after finishing the book, though, to see how they compare.

My pick: Under the Skin by Michel Faber

7.  A Book Written By A Comedian Or Celebrity (Or A Memoir)

I decided to go the memoir route here, mostly because I already had one on hold at the library. I don't typically read much nonfiction, but I was in the mood for something a little different ... So I decided to look around the online library catalog for a memoir I might enjoy. This was before Kristen posted the rules for this summer reading challenge. When I saw this category, I was so glad I'd already chosen something that would fit perfectly!

My pick: Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? by Jeanette Winterson

8.  A Book With A One Word Title

My pick for this category came from another of Steph's recommendations (which can be found in this post). Everything about it sounded like something I would love. I'm such a fan of dark, fucked up books and movies ... I had to add it to my "To Read" list!

My pick: You by Caroline Kepnes

9.  A Suspenseful Book (Mystery, Thriller, Etc.)

You'd think that since I love this type of book, this would be the easiest category for me. It wasn't. My problem is that I want to read all the books, so narrowing it down to one was ridiculously hard. (I did mention in a previous post that I can be pretty indecisive!) I picked up a large stack of books from the library yesterday, so I wanted to choose something from that group. The problem is that several of them could easily fall into this category.

I decided to go with the one I think (and hope!) will scare me the most. I'm one of those weird people who gets a thrill from being scared, and I'm hoping this book will do for me what The Good and Happy Child did a few years ago. (Don't pay attention to the incredibly mixed reviews. I highly recommend that one. It gave me nightmares, and that's saying a lot!)

My pick: The Demonologist by Andrew Pyper

10.  A Book About Summer, With Summer In The Title, Or In Any Way Related To Summer

I couldn't figure out what to choose for this category, and almost gave up in favor of substituting a Literary Ladies Book Club pick. But then I randomly stumbled across a book written by Herman Koch (of The Dinner fame, which I reviewed here) with the word "summer" in the title. I really enjoyed The Dinner, so hopefully Koch can deliver another great novel!

My pick: Summer House with Swimming Pool by Herman Koch

I also noticed that Kristen chose Big Little Lies and You, so I'll be looking forward to reading her thoughts on those books. It's always interesting to see how different people react to the same books (which is one reason why book clubs are so popular, I'm sure).

I started The Demonologist today, but I doubt I'll zip through these as quickly as some of the other people participating in the challenge. Even if I don't win a prize, that's okay ... I think it will be fun regardless!