Two Years Now...

Well, this first month of 2022 has ended. Don't know how the rest of this year is going to be, but the virus is still looming and people are still required to wear masks in public. Almost two years now.

Has anyone seen these yet? Did this occur to you?

I'm still going to stores for food and other stuff. If I see something I want on Amazon, I'll get it if I want (Haven't bought anything this year from Amazon as of yet). 

Whenever I drive past the empty building and parking lot in town where Kmart used to be, I keep thinking of when the store was closing down two years ago at this time. The store looked like this (photos below) And the building is still empty two years later.

x

Already two years now.

Sending Out My Stories

I had sent out one of my stories in February 2020. Then the pandemic hit and I did not expect to hear anything, but received an email saying my story had been rejected. Then I got too depressed by the events of 2020, that I didn't get around to sending my stories out again. And in 2021, I also flaked out on sending them out, even though I was intending to send them.

One thing I almost never do is try to make resolutions for the new year. However, at the end of December at the center, our facilitator came up with the idea of doing a project for art centered on making such a decision. It was called "Turning over a new leaf," and she had write our resolutions on leaves printed on colored paper. No one was allowed to back out of this activity, so I had to come up with something, and getting around to sending out my stories again was what I chose.

Well, I have begun doing it again, and have already heard from two of the agents I sent the manuscripts to (found on this site). Both said no 😢  And another said if I don't hear from them within eight weeks, that means that they will be rejecting my story. And that is all I have heard as of yet.

2022 Reading Challenge @ Foggy Pine

I'm trying not to sign up for too many more of these, but I liked doing this one, so I will be in again. I'm not seeing too many more I want to do.

Main Challenge

1. A book by a disabled author: The Kiss Quotient--Helen Hoang

2. A book with a purple cover: Kamala: Feminist Folktales From Around the World--Ethel Johnston Phelps

3. A book with magical realism: The Time Traveler's Wife--Audrey Niffenegger

4. A modern experimental novel: Breath, Eyes, Memory--Edwidge Danticat

5. A true crime book: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil--John Berendt

6. A memoir by a BIPOC author: How to Be an Antiracist--Ibram X. Kendi

7. A book by a British author: The Cactus--Sarah Haywood

8. A book that has been translated from its original language: Strange Tales From a Chinese Studio--Pu Songling

9. A book by an author from North Carolina: Calypso--David Sedaris

10.  A historical fiction that takes place BEFORE 1800: Guenevere Queen of the Summer Country--Rosalind Miles

11.  A classic novel: Castle Rackerent and The Absentee--Maria Edgworth

12.  A winner of The John Newbery Medal (2010-2021): When You Trap a Tiger--Tae Keller

Extra Credit

1. A YA book with a queer protagonist: Jay's Gay Agenda--Jason June

2. A contemporary romance novel: The Summer of Jordi Perez--Amy Spalding

3. A nonfiction graphic novel (any age level): Dancing at the Pity Party--Tyler Feder

4. A biography of a queer person: People of Pride--Chase Clemesha, MD

5. A book about self-care: The XX Brain--Lisa Mosconi, PhD

6. A book of poetry by an American poet: Call Us What We Carry--Amanda Gorman

   
   

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    Magical Realism: a literary genre or style associated especially with Latin America that incorporates fantastic or mythical elements into otherwise realistic fiction
   Experimental Novel: a novel that breaks the conventions of it’s time, often playing with genre definitions or various conventions established within the literary canon. They’re typically meant to express new ideas or explore established ideas in new ways
   BIPOC: Black, Indigenous, Person of Color
   For our purposes, we consider classics to be books that are still held in high regard in public opinion that have been published 50 years ago or more
   Link – John Newbery Medal winners for years 2010-2021
   

   
   

   
   
   Challenge completed on November 14

2022 Reading With Muffy Challenge

Again, since some of the challenges I've done in the past aren't happening, or don't appear to be, I decided to try some new ones. This one, at Kohl Eyed Me, looks like a good one.

January: The Mockingbirds--Daisy Whitney

February: Dancing at the Pity Party--Tyler Feder

March: This Woven Kingdom--Tahereh Mafi

April: Never Always Sometimes--Adi Alsaid (new-to-me author)

May: The Omnivore's Dilemma--Michael Pollan

June: The Summer of Jordi Perez--Amy Spalding

July: Journey Under the Sea--R.A. Montgomery

August: Gandhi--Juhi Saklani

September: Maigret and the Headless Corpse--Georges Simenon

October: The Taking of Jake Livingston--Ryan Douglass

November: The Burgess Boys--Elizabeth Strout

December: Little Fires Everywhere--Celeste Ng

ADD-ONS:

Second Book in a Series: The Rivals--Daisy Whitney

Set on a mode of transportation: Station Eleven--Emily St. John Mandel

Question word in the title: Where To, Little Wombat?--Charles Fuge

Longest book on TBR: Dragonfly in Amber--Diana Gabaldon

One-sitting read: Easy Crafts for the Insane--Kelly Williams Brown

South Asian literature: The Island of Sea Women--Lisa See

Title that has all the letters of your name in it: Jemima J--Jane Green

Legal thriller: While Justice Sleeps--Stacey Abrams

Only words on the cover: How to Be an Antiracist--Ibram X. Kendi

Goodreads 2021 Awards winner: The Anthropocene Reviewed--John Green

Challenge completed on December 9

Back to the Classics 2022

 Doing this again.

1. A 19th century classic. Any book first published from 1800 to 1899: Castle Rackrent And The Absentee--Maria Edgeworth

2. A 20th century classic. Any book first published from 1900 to 1972. All books must have been published at least 50 years ago; the only exceptions are books which were written by 1972 and posthumously published: Martin Eden--Jack London

3. A classic by a woman author: The Masqueraders--Georgette Heyer

4. A classic in translation.  Any book first published in a language that is not your primary language. You may read it in translation or in its original language, if you prefer: Strange Tales From a Chinese Studio--Pu Songling

5. A classic by BIPOC author. Any book published by a non-white author: Native Son--Richard Wright

6. Mystery/Detective/Crime Classic. It can be fiction or non-fiction (true crime). Examples include Murder on the Orient Express, Crime and Punishment, In Cold Blood:

Maigret and the Headless Corpse--Georges Simenon

7. A Classic Short Story Collection. Any single volume that contains at least six short stories. The book can have a single author or can be an anthology of multiple authors: The Quiet Little Woman--Louisa May Alcott

8. Pre-1800 Classic. Anything written before 1800. Plays and epic poems, such as the Odyssey, are acceptable in this category: The Merchant of Venice--William Shakespeare

9. A Nonfiction Classic. Travel, memoirs, and biographies are great choices for this category: Hiroshima--John Hersey

10. Classic That's Been on Your TBR List the Longest. Find the classic book that's been hanging around unread the longest, and finally cross it off your list!: DID NOT complete this category

11. Classic Set in a Place You'd Like to Visit. Can be real or imaginary -- Paris, Tokyo, the moon, Middle Earth, etc. It can be someplace you've never been, or someplace you'd like to visit again: Anne of Avonlea--L.M. Montgomery

12. Wild Card Classic. Any classic you like, any category, as long as it's at least 50 years old!: Ringworld--Larry Niven

Calling challenge complete on November 20

Bookbloggers Fiction Reading Challenge 2022

Here is a new one to me. It's at Fictionphile and has only six prompts.

Title contains a reference to temperature: The Coldest Winter Ever--Sister Souljah

Tilte contains a reference to precipitation: The Wind in My Hair--Masih Alinejad

Title contains a word associated with royalty: The Red Queen--Philippa Gregory

Collection of short stories: When It Happens to You--Molly Ringwald

Title contains "good" or "evil": Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil--John Berendt

Title contains numerals: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore--Robin Sloan

Challenge completed on June 13

Melbourne Mama Reading Challenge 2022

 I'm going to do this one again. 

MUST READ BOOKS FOR 2022 READING CHALLENGE

• A book with 22 letters in the title: Several People Are Typing--Calvin Kasulke
• A book with an animal on the cover: My Patients and Other Animals--Suzy Finchman-Gray
• A bestseller from the 1990s: Dragonfly in Amber--Diana Gabaldon
• A book with a pretty cover: Moloka'i--Alan Brennert
• A book with “good” or “bad” in the title: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil--John Berendt
• A book recommended by someone on Instagram or Facebook: Lessons in Chemistry--Bonnie Garmus
• A book written by a local author: Retro Rhythms--Francesca Damkar
• A book with a color in the name: The Red Queen--Philippa Gregory
• A book with gold lettering: Game On--Janet Evanovich
• A book with more than 600 pages: Glass--Ellen Hopkins
• A book that has been translated from another language: Strange Tales From a Chinese Studio--Pu Songling
• A book being made in to a movie this year: Conversations With Friends--Sally Rooney

EXTRA BOOKS TO READ

• A historical fiction book: Castle Rackrent and The Absentee--Maria Edgeworth
• A book published in 2022: The Homewreckers--Mary Kay Andrews
• A guilty pleasure book: First Trip--Cheryl Taylor
• A book that will improve your life: How to Be an Antiracist--Ibram X. Kendi
• One of my favorite reads from 2021: The Good Sister--Sally Hepworth
• A different book by an author that you read in 2021: The Fixer Upper--Mary Kay Andrews

Challenge completed on December 3

Chapter Break Bingo – January 2022

 Here is the card for January.

My Books:

1. Die, Snow White! Die, D*** You!--Yuri Rasovsky (5 squares): Audiobook, Simply a Fun Read, Demon/Hunter, Reluctant Change, New Beginning
2. When It Happens to You--Molly Ringwald (5 squares): Physical Book, Book Club Read, Family or Chosen Family, Not in a Series, Free Book
3. Pride and Premeditation--Tirzah Price (3 squares): Ebook, In a Series, Murder/Mystery
4. Castle Rackrent and The Absentee--Maria Edgeworth (3 squares): Shelf Love, Historic Setting, Meant to Read in 2021
5. Moloka'i--Alan Brennert (2 squares): Silhouette/Shadow on the Cover, Free Space
6. The Twin Princes--Tedd Arnold (1 square): Twins
7. The Mockingbirds--Daisy Whitney (2 squares): Library Book, Secret Society
8. Kitchen Confidential--Anthony Bourdain (2 squares): Diet/Exercise, Bar/Bartender
9. When You Trap a Tiger--Tae Keller (1 square): Award-Winning

25 squares completed on January 22

The 2022 Children's Books Reading Challenge -- for Adults

 Another I enjoyed doing last year.

Last year while browsing my TBR shelves to prepare for my 2021 reading challenges, I found something unexpected: I had a lot of children's books there. I began this challenge to motivate myself to read some of them and I actually did finish a few. I've still got some leftover and have added a few throughout the year, so I think it's a good idea to give this one a second run!

I know a lot of adults really enjoy reading youth or young adult fiction but, other than the occasional classic, I've never really been into it in my adulthood. Still, I must be somewhat interested or I wouldn't have 10-15 or so children's books hanging out on my TBR!

So, I've created the Children's Books Reading Challenge...for Adults! Sure, I read with my kids all the time---but this year I'm challenging myself to read more children's books by myself.

My Books:

1. The Twin Princes--Tedd Arnold
2. Martina the Beautiful Cockroach--Carmen Agra Deedy
3. Out of My Mind--Sharon M. Draper
4. Afternoon on the Amazon--Mary Pope Osborne
5. Mulan: The Legend of the Woman Warrior--Faye-Lyn Wu
6. Kamala: Feminist Folktales From Around the World--Ethel Johnston Phelps
7. Unicorn on a Roll--Dana Simpson
8. Flat Stanley and the Lost Treasure--Jeff Brown
9. Dogs in the Dead of Night--Mary Pope Osborne
10. Hour of the Olympics--Mary Pope Osborne
11. Twice Upon a Time: Rapunzel: The One With all the Hair--Wendy Mass
12. The Girl Who Drank the Moon--Kelly Barnhill
13. Poor Unfortunate Soul--Serena Valentino
14. Vacation Under the Volcano--Mary Pope Osborne
15. Book Fiesta!--Pat Mora
16. Lumberjanes: Friendship to the Max--Noelle Stevenson & Grace Ellis
17. A Cat Story--Ursula Murray Husted
18. By the Shores of Silver Lake--Laura Ingalls Wilder (reread)
19. Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp--Philip Pullman
20. Journey Under the Sea--R.A. Montgomery
21. Anne of Avonlea--L.M. Montgomery
22. Pet--Akwaeke Emezi
23. Mom and Me, Me and Mom--Miguel Tanco
24. Hansel & Gretel--James Marshall
25. The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt--Megan McDonald
26. Seasons--Annabelle Lynch
27. Remember the Ladies--Cheryl Harness
28. Unicorn Princess--Shannon Gilligan
29. The Last Kids on Earth--Max Brallier
30. Thump, Quack, Moo--Doreen Cronin
31. Where To, Little Wombat?--Charles Fuge
32. Halloween Fraidy Cat--Abby Klein
33. Rumpelstiltskin--Paul Galdone
34. Coco: Miguel's Guitar--RJ. Cregg
35. Vivi Loves Science: Sink or Float--Kimberly Derting
36. What Was I Scared Of?--Dr,. Seuss
37. You're My Little Pumpkin Pie--Natalie Marshal
38. I Am a Witch's Cat--Harriet Muncaster
39. A Box Full of Love--Anne Sawan
40. Omar's Halloween--Maryann Kovalski
41. Drawing Lessons--Tracy Mack
42. Thanksgiving on Thursday--Mary Pope Osborne
43. The Story of Blue-Beard--Charles Perrault
44. Who Was Jane Austen?--Sarah Fabiny
45. Maccabee!--Tilda Balsley
46. Panda's Christmas Gifts--Tara Jaye Morrow
47. Christmas--Dorothy Goeller
48. The Nutcracker--Jan Brett
49. Kwanzaa--Martin Hints 
50. The Christmas Coat--Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve
51. Miss Mary's Christmas Mittens--Trinka Hakes Noble
52. The Oxford Treasury of Christmas Poems--Michael Harrison
53. Dreidels on the Brain--Joel Ben Izzy
54. The Clay Marble--Mingfong Ho

Calling challenge completed on December 27

Blydyn Square Books Reading Challenge 2022

 Will be doing this again.

1. Time of day in the title: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil--John Berendt
2. First name in the title: Martin Eden--Jack London
3. Book that is the author's first book/publication: The Time Traveler's Wife--Audrey Niffenegger
4. Animal in the title: When You Trap a Tiger--Tae Keller
5. Blue cover or spine: A Curse So Dark and Lonely--Brigid Kemmerer
6. Set in a country that isn't your own: The Power of One--Bryce Courtenay
7. Book where no one dies: I'll Be the One--Lyla Lee
8. Starring a female protagonist: The Rivals--Daisy Whitney
9. Adjective in the title: The Little Paris Bookshop--Nina George
10. Book you've read at least once before: By the Shores of Silver Lake--Laura Ingalls Wilder
11. Been on your TBR list at least a year: Eight Hundred Grapes--Laura Dave
12. Recommended by a friend or colleague: A Crack in the Sea--H.M. Bouwman

Challenge completed on June 20

Foodies Read

 Another favorite is now up.

We love books about food. It can be cozy mysteries set in a bakery, romances between rival candy makers, science fiction set in a cafeteria in outerspace, nonfiction about chefs, cookbooks, or any book where food is a major part of the story. We’re always looking for more recommendations and we love to see what you’ve been reading.

My Books:

1. Kitchen Confidential--Anthony Bourdain
2. Eight Hundred Grapes--Laura Dave
3. Caramel Pecan Roll Murder--Joanne Fluke
4. The English Breakfast Murder--Laura Childs
5. The Omnivore's Dilemma--Michael Pollan
6. The Little Paris Bookshop--Nina George
7. Fast Food Nation--Eric Schlosser
8. Arsenic and Adobo--Mia P. Manansala
9. Homicide and Halo-Halo--Mia P. Manansala
10. Lessons in Chemistry--Bonnie Garmus
11. The Soda Fountain--Gia Giasullo
12. The Brightest Star--Fern Michaels
13. With the Fire on High--Elizabeth Acevedo
14. Black Cake--Charmaine Wilkerson
15. Postcards From the Dead--Laura Childs
16. The Book of Salt--Monique Truong
17. Devonshire Scream--Laura Childs
18. A Box Full of Love--Anne Sawan
19. The Christmas Pearl--Dorothea Benton Frank
20. Candy Slain Murder--Maddie Day
21. Glitter Bomb--Laura Childs
22. Drop Dead Chocolate--Jessica Beck

Challenge completed on December 31