It's Friday! (2/16)

[ufcasey]

What have you read this week? What are you currently reading?

QOTW:
With all the upsetting things going on, what are you going to do this year to make this world a better place? Even if it's just an improvement to your family or small community, that still counts.

[Wallflower]

I finished reading A Swiftly Tilting Planet (after reading A Wrinkle in Time in prep for the movie, which lead me to read A Wind in the Door and ASTP ... totally revisiting my teen years). Right now, I'm just re-reading an old romance novel, as I don't have anything particular I want to start.

I've got donations that I've been doing since the 2016 election (ACLU, SPLC, Planned Parenthood). And I'm trying to be a little better about my Facebook pages ... Keeping my outrage to really outrageous things and using reliable sources. If I posted everything that pissed me off right now, my friends (who mostly agree with me) would just get sick of it. And it would just help to keep me upset instead of focused.

When it comes to the school shootings, I feel so helpless to know where to start. I used to live in CO and it always takes me right back to Columbine and those feelings.

[sassypants]

I'm still slogging through From the Forest. If I can get in some good reading time this weekend I might actually finish it. I'm anxious to move on to my next book since it's fiction and lighter.

QOTW: I'm trying to be more active by participating in marches and the like and encouraging people to DO something instead of just pontificating on social media. Thoughts and prayers are a cop out for most people. They type those three words and that's the end of it. DO something!! It's cliche, but be the change you wish to see in the world. Also, I try to spend more time in the real world and less time online.

[rainbowchip]

The Olympics have completely ruined my reading time. Every four years I say that I don't really care about the winter Olympics and then find myself watching hours of biathlon and every other event!

I did manager to read On Tryanny which is scary and real and horrible. It was a short book but really something everyone should read.
I also got a little further in ABOSAA. I could have sworn there was a pregnancy at the end if TFC but it seems like that was a wrong assumption.
And I started Little Women.

QOTW: I live in central Wisconsin and my entire family has basically lived in this area for generations. They are mostly super conservative. I battle them often and have been told by several that I'm fighting the good fight by standing up to them.
On top of that, I do a employee matched donation to several causes bi-weekly.
This year I want to donate to more political campaigns. I never liked donating because I don't think money should have a place in politics but my ideals are not real world so I need to put my money where my mouth is.

I defiantly know that this isn't even close to enough. A quote from On Tyranny "eternal vigilance is the price of liberty" really stuck with me. I need to be more vigilant.

[monkeyfeet]

Despite saying I wanted a break from thrillers, my hold came in on One of us is Lying. I really enjoyed it which says a lot since I was burned out on the genre. I’m starting Little Women next.

I know it’s not much, but I’m trying to raise my children to be kind and compassionate and aware that we are not all treated equal. I like sassy pants response on spending more time in the real world!

[ufcasey]

Read:
The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks - fiction/suspense; 3 stars; two of the major twists were way too obvious and then at the end it just got twisty for the hell of it. The writing in the beginning was good though with interesting dialogue/character developments, so I didn't hate it, just didn't love it.

Total so far for the year: 16

Currently Reading:
Red Sister by Mark Lawrence - fantasy; about 3/4 through the book, and it's been dragging
A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare - historical romance; I picked this up in an attempt to distract myself with something lighter, but it's not working

QOTW:
This week I haven't felt much like reading, my heart just wasn't in it. I live in Florida, not near Parkland, but I've been mad about this crap since Columbine/Sandyhook/Aurora/Charleston/Pulse/Las Vegas etc, and this happening in a school again when one of my children is now school-age just hit home again even harder for me. So I'm committing myself to speak even louder in real life about the need for gun reform in this country and I will financially support any candidate in my area who stands up to the NRA and promises to pass gun legislation if they can. Because only when our votes and our money becomes louder than the NRA will we be heard, because apparently even the voices of children dying in their schools is his area is not enough to drown out the sound of 3 million dollars in campaign contributions from the NRA for Marco Rubio, who can go fuck himself. Other things I am active about - financially contributing to things like the ACLU (suing for the rights of others) and the Washington Post (because quality journalism is very important). And overall just being that person who calls people out on their racist/misogynistic/homophobic shit everywhere I see it or hear it from real people, whether it be friends, family, or acquaintances or even conversations with strangers. The 2016 election has taught me not to be silent, because silence has led us to where we are today. My new motto is "silence is implicit acceptance" and I do not accept many things so I cannot be silent. Rant over.

[snshne322]

I'm finally working through Empire of Storms. I started it a few years ago, but never finished. It's good, but I'm so much more invested in ACATAR.

QOTW: I donated during the 2016 elections, but DH and I just talked today about having a conversation about regular donations we'd like to start making. It's not much, but it's a start.

We've also been much more invested in our local elections and I have been thinking about joining our town's Democratic Committee. I haven't yet because I'm a HUGE (like crazy HUGE) introvert so I've been nervous. On top of that, the owner of the company DH works for is running for Congress and he and his family are very prominent in our town and Republican politics. So I worry about how it may (unfairly) have an impact on DH's job or impact my son in school. We know this family well, like been to family weddings well. It's adding an extra layer of complexity, but I don't want to not do SOMETHING.

[minzy]

I read Norwich - One Tiny Vermont Town’s Secret to Happiness and Excellence by Karen Crouse. Four stars, more for the idea that a community can incubate numerous Olympic athletes than the actual writing. But it was quick and a perfect read with the Winter Games on in the background.

I’m still working on Fire and Fury.

QOTW: My focus the last while has been on donating money and volunteering time in my immediate community - school, library, Scouts, driving for Meals on Wheels. I try to be aware of what’s happening on our neighborhood Facebook page and active in helping others if I can.

Yesterday I picked up someone else’s MOW route and met a woman who seemed so despondent. I asked her if she was ok, and she said she was sad because her (adult) granddaughter had died. We talked about the granddaughter for a few minutes and she told me that her granddaughter had really liked to dance. I gave her a hug and told her it wasn’t much, but that when my kids got home, we would put on some music and dance around in her granddaughter’s memory, and we did. A butterfly’s wings flap in one corner of the world, and all that...

[pinotgrig]

A Beautiful Mind 3* It was sooo long. Interesting, but long and a bit dry at times.

It’s been a slow week and that’s the only one I’ve finished.

I’m almost done with A Gate at the Stairs. It’s terrible and I’m hate reading (listening) it at this point.

Also reading Homegoing and am liking it, though I still get all the characters and generations and sides of the family mixed up. I’m constantly flipping back to the genealogy chart.

QOTW - I’m calling my senators and reps about gun control.

[travella]

I'm still reading Radium Girls.

QOTW: I am extremely active with my kids school. I spend many hours volunteering through the school itself and the PTA (school and district level).

[charlatti]

I’m not very far into a Dangerous Crossing by Rachel Rhys — historical fiction mystery taking place on a ship from England to Australia, just as WWII is starting. It’s good so far.

Qotw: I feel pretty hopeless at the moment. I’m a teacher and I work with a handful of “problem” kids, so I try to reach them and all my kids so they know someone cares. I vote for candidates who support gun laws. I’m in a heavily gerrymandered area so even that often feels futile.

[bex]

My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent. Um.....I don't know. It's really well written, and its the kind of book where you sit down for 5 minutes and get up an hour later and forget you were reading the whole time, but its super disturbing and some of the descriptions/scenes seem a bit gratutious, like I couldnt figure out why they were necessary. (its about abuse and incest/sexual abuse and it's a really tough read in some parts.) So maybe 4 stars?

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. 2 stars. I forgot that I hated this book, lol. I always feel like I like it because I'm supposed to, but man.

I started The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman. I may need to find a really light book after this last round.

[krystee]

I finished Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate and really enjoyed it, and I just started In the Dark, Dark Wood. I keep saying I'm sick of thrillers, but three of the four I grabbed from the library today are in that genre. Mostly this week i am watching the Olympics and loving it.

I serve on the board for a nonprofit helping parents who have experienced pregnancy loss, and I like to do little things in the community like baking treats and bringing them to the local nursing home and visiting for half an hour. I think I'm going to bake some festive treats for Saint Patrick's Day for them. I also have recently started making donations to politics campaigns and I plan to phone bank in 2018 and phone bank/canvass/do whatever I can in 2020. I am also raising two white males, and it is extremely important to me to teach them compassion, make them aware of privilege, teach them about consent, etc. I love to get books to drive these points home (at a three-year-old level) and my favorite so far is The Peace Book. Highly recommend it if you have little kids! It's by Todd Parr.

[dorothyinAus]

I finished Malice at the Palace by Rhys Bowen (a Lady Georgiana, Her Royal Spyness Mystery). It was good, and interesting as I had just read a history of Queen Mary including bits about her children, David (King Edward VII), Bertie (King George VI), and George (Duke of Kent). So it was intriguing to read a book using them as fictional characters immediately after reading the real history.

Then I started A Spoonful of Murder, the next-in-series Murder Most Unladylike mystery. It's hot off the presses, only released on February 8, so I feel like I've gotten it nice and early. It's a fun outing and a different side of the characters than we have seen in other books. If you're looking for a great, easy to read mystery series, this one of excellent. It's written for middle-grade readers, but like the best children's books, adults will enjoy it as well. I cannot recommend the series enough. And the author is really responsive on Twitter, which is great!

QOTW:  I'm not really sure. I am really focusing on strengthening my friendships this year, being there for my friends, and not caring too much whether everything is perfect when I sit down to write them or have them over. My door has always been open to my friends, but I really want them to know it is. That's not really much though. I made a donation to a small, rural library in the town where I spend my Hurricane Katrina hurrication - the librarians were so excited to get the donation and that library is such an important part of the community I was glad I could support them in some small way.

[mrspez07]

I’m reading The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane,
Listening to Little Women, and I also have a hard copy of it. My reading has been sluggish this month. I’ll blame it on the olympics.

One of the mottos of the boys’ school (in spelling out GOLD) is “Offer Kindness”, and I remind them that applies at home too. I also try to practice it as much as possible by smiling at strangers, saying hello to parents and students at school dropoff, etc. I want to help all the kids know they are seen/acknowledged. I also volunteer thru the PTA.
It’s not a ton, and I’m trying to speak up and protest more often, but this is something I can do daily.

[bex]

@tooshort, I'm so glad I'm not the only one, lol. I have never been a fan but I kind of forgot that since I do love some of her other books.

[spedrunner]

This week I read:

*All 4 stars
Stillhouse Lake (Stillhouse Lake, #1)
Caine, Rachel *


The Dark Side of the Light Chasers: Reclaiming Your Power, Creativity, Brilliance and Dreams
Ford, Debbie

On Chesil Beach

currently reading
50 Shades Freer haha. My friends and I go see the movies when they come out, so i am trying to read this one before going. MAN it is super annoying. I cannot stand how much of a child Anna acts like. And "Oh My"......grrr, i want to throw it across the room but its........addicting!


QOTD:
All of this news has been so depressing and terrible and eye opening. I am a teacher and I am really going to focus on being open, honest and helping my students learn more compassion and empathy, that is my focus for myself as well

[booknerd]

I am in the middle of about 4 books right now. I can't seem to focus long enough to finish them. I think I have to talk to my doctor about getting back on my antidepressant.

I am having my wisdom teeth taken out tomorrow morning though, and have about a week off of work. I'm hoping I can use the recovery time to make a big dent in my TBR list.

QOTW: I work in the mental health field as a therapist. I primarily work with children. I have literally worked with kids who were bullied who made threats against their school or made lists of their enemies. Every time I'm very aware that the kid in front of me could be the next one on the news and I strive to get through to them. It is heartbreaking how little schools care about bullying even in this time with everything going on. I shouldn't have to fight so hard to get even a teacher or administrator to call me back. Having said that, I'm trying to make a support group for kids who have been bullied. It's taking a lot of work on my end but I truly hope to provide a safe place for them to talk about their feelings and receive support.

[oliviapope]

Feb 16, 2018 18:39:22 GMT -5 bex said:

My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent. Um.....I don't know. It's really well written, and its the kind of book where you sit down for 5 minutes and get up an hour later and forget you were reading the whole time, but its super disturbing and some of the descriptions/scenes seem a bit gratutious, like I couldnt figure out why they were necessary. (its about abuse and incest/sexual abuse and it's a really tough read in some parts.) So maybe 4

I really did not like this book. The dialogue made me so angry. What teenage boys talk the way they do in the book? And yes the author was way too gratuitous with the details of the sexual abuse. I didn't like the way it was portrayed.

[Nonny]

I finished The Good Girl this week, and it was kind of mediocre, and I didn't even make it to the book club that I was reading it for. Now I'm re-reading All the Ugly and Wonderful Things for my other book club this upcoming Saturday.  It's interesting re-reading it, because my impression is actually a little different now that I know what happens (but I'm still thoroughly impressed by the writing style).

QOTW:
Mostly I'm trying to speak up to my family when they say asinine things.  I tend to be kind of a mouse when it comes to challenging my parents, but I did it over the holidays (regarding the court cases where businesses can't discriminate against gay weddings) when my dad said something stupid.  He tried to challenge me back, but I held my ground and I don't think I changed his mind, but my mom was kind of like, "Oh... huh.. that actually make some sense."

[Nonny]

bex, @tooshort, I don't like Little Women either, I think it's kind of boring. Also, Louisa May Alcott didn't even like it all that much. She wrote it because it was the type of story the publishers wanted for little girls, and she needed the money and to not piss them off so she could keep writing the things she actually wanted to write.