#AMonthofFaves
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#AMonthofFaves: I resolve to ... & I challenge myself to ...

  • Monday, December 28, 2015


A Month of Faves is an awesome event is hosted by GirlXOXO, Traveling with T and Estella's Revenge. Check out the full sked here.

Wooh! I know this is really late but I pop in and out of this event at will so I guess it doesn't really matter, does it? :)

 Wed. | Dec. 23 – Challenges {The Year End Updates on Reading Challenges, Personal Goals, Resolutions}– how did you do? Are you going to do more challenges next year?

How I fared, challenge-wise

This was an interesting year by way of challenges. I took part in quite a few but never really stressed myself out in any of them, a far cry from my usual ohmygawdihaventgottenanythingdone mode during challenges.



Bloggiesta - I took part in the Spring, the mini one in June, and the Fall one too. I love this event because I always manage to get quite a number of things done and it's always fun to check in with fellow book bloggers!

During the Fall Bloggiesta, I challenged you to clean up your email boxes ... and I wasn't disappointed. I am also still at Inbox Zero so it looks like I am sticking to this system. 

I look forward to joining again in 2016. I'm thinking of hosting another challenge so let me know if you have any ideas.



Travel the World in Books - this is one of my perpetual challenges so my Book Map is the best indicator of how I've been doing. I've continued to read across the world although I notice I still get plenty of temptation when book tours roll along.

I was pretty excited when the hosts invited me to co-host the Travel the World in Books Readathon in October and I honestly was on the roll during the month! Check out all my posts including some freebie printable bookmarks!

With this being a perpetual challenge, 2016 holds reading adventures galore. Can't wait to dig through my TBR and see where else I'm traveling.

***

I joined in a few themed challenges and got in a few books read and reviewed. The downside to joining these challenges is that my TBR is now at ridiculous proportions... I know you know I'm not kidding!
  • Diversiverse - this ties in really nicely with Travel the World in Books you'd think this would be a cinch. My second year, I managed to knock off The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy off my TBR. It was a book that I started-stopped and needed to be read ... I'm so glad I did!
  • Paris in July - finally got crime-thriller The Bones of Paris by Laurie R. King read! 
  • Austen in August - it's no secret that I shy away from classics, so joining in this challenge through an easy-to-digest coffee table book at least made me resolve to join in again next year. 
  • RIPX - my first time trying this challenge and I realized that scary reading is not really in my thing. However I eased into the genre with a children's book inspired by Edgar Allan Poe. 
  • Nonfiction November - oh, a bust. I wanted to read one book but didn't get it done.
  • Foodies Read - another perpetual challenge. I love foodie books and only managed one book this year.


My Reading Resolutions

My resolutions are simple. I dislike stressing myself out over reading and blogging so I've resolved that:
  • Less is more - I enjoyed that fact that my reading was slower in 2015 and hope to carry on like this next year. I want to enjoy the act of reading and not have to rush through things so much. The world is busy as it is; I don't want my reading life to feel like a chore but to bring me enjoyment.
  • Read what I want - Be picky, really picky. I want to keep reminding myself to pick up books that I know I really want to read ... and other reasons should be secondary. Secondary reasons include but is not limited to: Everyone reading it. I can't pass up a free book in a tour. Someone is pressuring me. The publisher/author is really nice/persistent/annoying.
  • Join only challenges that truly appeal to me - In the same vein as above, the challenges I will join in the new year are ones that are aligned to my desired reading. I am continuing Travel the World in Books, joining in #ReadMyOwnDamnBooks (because I have so many books unread here!), and focusing on getting at least one Nobel Prize winning book read for the Read the Nobels, a challenge I have neglected. 

Let's see what else I end up joining!
What about you? How did 2015 go and what are your reading plans for 2016? 


#AMonthofFaves: Reading Outside My Comfort Zone & Surprise Finds This Year


A Month of Faves is an awesome event is hosted by GirlXOXO, Traveling with T and Estella's Revenge. Check out the full sked here.

Mon. | Dec. 14 – Reading Outside My Comfort Zone – Surprise Find(s) This Year

I am a very eclectic reader to begin with, but the reason for my starting this blog was specifically to get myself out of the rut i.e., comfort zone. So I try to read widely and diversely as I can. But then, baby steps too, as I find I still shy away from a few things:
  • Classics: I personally have a hard time getting myself to read classics. Although my experience generally is that I enjoy classics but just can't start.
  • Books that deal with uncomfortable subject matter - if there's violence or brutality, I waver. I find though that the payback for reading these "tough" books is always very high. They're challenging but enlightening
  • Book forever on the TBR, just languishing. And books that have been lying around my home that I never seem to get around to. I know this is probably a disease among book bloggers!   

Jane Austen Cover to Cover by Margaret C. Sullivan

Why I was iffy: It's Austen. It's a classic. I liked Jane Austen Cover to Cover because it is a peek into Austen, but not quite a plunge. I think I am ready to take the plunge next year because looking at the evolution of covers and the backstories and trivia packed in this coffee table book piqued my interest.

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

Made me iffy: Uncomfortable subject matter including rape, brutality, abuse, etc. I can't shake how powerful this book is. So here I am again singing praises of Yanagihara's A Little Life.


The Incarnations by Susan Barker

Made me iffy: Uncomfortable subject matter including a castration. Eeep. But I loved The Incarnations because I wasn't expecting to like this but loved loved loved it. It is a masterful story build around the theme of reincarnation, highlighting the fascinating people and the brutal history of China.

***

Finally, here are some books I've had just lying around the house, I admit, for years, taunting me. I finally got around to reading them and loved them! This reminded me that I got them for a reason; I should pay attention to the books I already have!


The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy




Have you been reading out of your comfort zone this year?

5 Fave “New to Me” Author Discoveries for 2015 #AMonthofFaves




Now this is really late ... in fact it's embarrassingly late. But check out the topic:

Thu. | Dec. 10 – 5 Fave “New to Me” Author Discoveries This Year #AMonthofFaves

A Month of Faves is an awesome event is hosted by GirlXOXO, Traveling with T and Estella's Revenge. Check out the full sked here.

Every year, I discover amazing authors because of specific books. I've definitely got more than five new discoveries this year but I've decided to highlight the following because I want to read more of their work.

Jojo Moyes

I've heard of Jojo Moyes many, many times but never really got around to reading any of her work. I was able to get a copy of her One Plus One and I promptly fell in love because it was sweet, feel-good, and just fun. I've got my eye on her other books now!

Hanya Yanagihara

You've heard me -- and everyone else in the book blogging community -- go on and on about Yanagihara's A Little Life, right? Well, the hype is well deserved! If you're ready for a brutal and affecting read, this may be the book you're waiting for.

Jonathan Lethem

I love short stories so when Lethem's Lucky Alan and Other Stories crossed my path, I was happy to make his acquaintance. Lethem's stories are very creative and rather oddball with a certain wry humour and weirdness that grew on me.

Susan Barker

The Incarnations was one of those surprising books that I wasn't expecting to like. It is a masterful story build around the theme of reincarnation, highlighting the fascinating people and the brutal history of China.

Muriel Barbery

With The Elegance of a Hedgehog, a translated work from the French, I got a story that will stay with me because of its simple yet profound messages: to never judge a book by its cover, to take time to appreciate the beauty around us and the people who touch our lives.

Tell me if you've read and enjoyed any of these authors' other books and I'll likely pile it on my heaving TBR!

#AMonthofFaves: This Is How I Blog: Tools, Resources & a few fails


So I am still on some other clock than most! :)

A Month of Faves is an awesome event is hosted by GirlXOXO, Traveling with T and Estella's Revenge. Check out the full sked here.

Wed. | Dec. 9 – This Is How I Blog {The Digital Edition} – Essential Computer Programs, Browser Plugins and/or Websites That Rock for Blogging

I couldn't resist this question, so here I am!

Non-negotiables, we all have them! This blog cannot function without Gmail and Google Drive and I am finding basically the suite of tools offered by Google. I've set up my Gmail so I'm practically always at Inbox Zero and I even made a tutorial about this for a Bloggiesta mini challenge (check it out here)! It's tamed my Inbox and email is a non-stressor now. Google Drive can't be beat for storage. I even have a back-up of my blog on Google Drive!

For blog graphics, Canva is da bomb! If you've never heard of it, you must try it. I know how to use Photoshop but honestly, why go to the trouble of starting from scratch when Canva is there? The designs are extremely professional (assuming you use the ones there), there are lots of templates which take out the guesswork, it's easy to use, and the best thing ... it's free. I used to love PicMonkey and still use it on occasion but Canva is now my default.

Need a good photo? My new fave is unsplash.com ... again, totally free, beautiful, and even available in high res, should you need them to be! I created these printable bookmarks for Travel the World in Books Readathon using images from this wonderful site (download them here: set 1, set 2).

Trello is still my go-to for scheduling, list creation, and just keeping track.

For general reading and inspiration, I have two huge crushes:

  • Amy Lynn Andrews' Useletter because it is exactly that: useful tips for bloggers that go straight (and free) into your mailbox. 
  • Smashing Magazine because it's the best way to get curated tips on design, coding, blogging, and everything in between.  

I have scaled down drastically on the tools that I use and have decided to keep things pretty simple simply because I found that being overly tooled drove me a little bonkers -- too much to keep with, and extremely distracting for my reading ;) Don't get me wrong - these tools are perfectly good but they have to work for you. And they just didn't work for me.

Some tools I have abandoned include Triberr (felt really spammy, or maybe because I was just in the wrong "Tribe"), Buffer and Hootsuite (both I just tired of).

I'm looking forward to seeing what else is out there ... what's the next shiny toy I should play with? :)

#AMonthofFaves: Hyped & deserving


I seem to be on some other clock :) A Month of Faves is an awesome event is hosted by GirlXOXO, Traveling with T and Estella's Revenge. Check out the full sked here.

Wed. | Dec. 2 – 5 Popular Books Worth the Hype

I'm not going to make it to five books based on my slim reading list this year, so here are my three:
Another thing is that I wasn't expecting to like them as much as I did. Books can always surprise ... and it's the best surprise, isn't it?

#AMonthofFaves: My Reading Year (so far!)


So I am a day late. Forgive me, life happens! I really enjoyed last year's A Month of Faves and decided that it's a great way to sum up what's been happening over the past year on Guiltless Reading.

This event is hosted by GirlXOXO, Traveling with T and Estella's Revenge. Check out the full sked here.

Tue. | Dec. 1 – #AMonthofFaves {My Reading Year} – eg. Number of books read so far, genre you read the most from, picture of favorite (or most often used) reading location, most read author, % eBooks, hardcovers, paperbacks and/or audiobooks, hint at what your favorite read of the year is (let us guess), types of books you wish you read more of, month you read the most and least)


Ooooh, so many questions! I used Goodreads to get the stats, oh but of course!

Number of books read so far 
28, not bad because I was going for just 25 this year and I am in the middle of two books right now, so this number is definitely at least 30 for the year.

Genre you read the most from Overall, it's fiction. I only read only 3 nonfiction books:


I read 3 books that were short story collections which I guess makes it my most read genre. I loved all three and have a hard time saying which collection is my fave:

Picture of favorite (or most often used) reading location
Sorry, I'm shy. But it's definitely in bed!

Most read author (for this year only!)
This year it was George RR Martin because I read book 1 and book 2 of A Song of Ice and Fire.

% eBooks, hardcovers, paperbacks and/or audiobooks
Meh, can't be bothered. Zero ebooks and zero audiobooks, that much I know!

 Hint at what your favorite read of the year is (let us guess)
Eeep. I can't decide as it's a toss up between 3 titles: one blue-covered book read early in the year, a short story collection in orange, and an award-winning book. If you can guess all 3 titles, I will sweep your floors for life. Haha!  (or maybe not)

Types of books you wish you read more of
Definitely foodie books.

Month you read the most and least
It's pretty even across the year with 1-3 books a month.

I'll get to the other questions when I have a chance. Even with a few books read this year, I am finding that deciding what my faves are is pretty challenging!

#AMonthofFaves: 5 Fave Winter Reads


I went hmmm ... what the heck did I read last winter? Thank goodness handy dandy Goodreads is there to remind me. These books are so non-wintery in subject matter or setting or anything for that matter! So without much ado, 5 of my favourite books that I read last winter:

The Round House by Louise Erdrich 
(fiction, US, native American lit)
Suspense, mystery, mysticism, justice and a young boy coming into his own, I found this relevant, heartbreaking and deeply moving.

Someone Else's Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson
(fiction, USA-Southern lit)
Sweet, non-conventional romance with Southern flair!

Mountainfit by Meera Lee Sethi non-fiction, essays, Sweden 
Bonuses: 2 author guest posts: Seeing the World from the Back of a Goat and My Wild Friends
Fall in love with the natural world in this little nature field guide-travelogue. Reveling in Meera's words and her sense of wonder is the next best thing to being out there on the slopes of Sweden. 

The Death of Bees by Lisa O'Donnell 
(fiction, UK)
I compared this to getting my "Breaking Bad" fix. Dark, weird, disturbing, appalling. A macabre tale hard to put down.

This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Anne Patchett 
(non-fiction, essays)
Read any of Patchett's work? Here's an intimate look into her life by way of essays on life, love and commitment. Written in such a friendly voice, it feels like sitting down for a chat with the author.

Got any good winter reads? Let me know!


Get more info for A Month of Faves hosted by the awesome gals Estella's Revenge, Girlxoxo and Traveling with T. Go get it here.

Want more fave winter reading?
Link-up is over at Estella's Revenge!


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#AMonthofFaves: Top 10 Books That Blew My Mind in 2014

Today is all about mind-blowing books! The link-up for Top 10 Books That Blew My Mind in 2014 is over at The Broke and Bookish's Top Ten Tuesday.

I agonize over the definition of "mind-blowing" since it could go in so many ways. I am going with "intensely affecting the mind or the emotions." 

Here's my quick list, in no particular order. I'm mind-blown by ... because ....


The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
- Disclaimer: I love everything by Gaiman.
- This adult version of Coraline left me deeply saddened yet totally in awe of Gaiman's storytelling.

The Trickster's Hat: A Mischievous Apprenticeship in Creativity by Nick Bantock
- Disclaimer once again: I love Nick Bantock's art!
- Practically art and creativity lessons from Nick Bantock himself. How cool is that?

Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan
- Out of the mouth of babes, the horrors they face in conflict-ridden Africa is a tough read. But it's a necessary one which sheds light on the harsh reality that many children in the world live through every day.
- Heartbreaking. I remember each of these five stories vividly.



- Makes mythology sexy. I'll never think of The Iliad in the same way again.
- While technically a re-read for 2014, the love story affected me so much more the second time around. 

- A chunkster that never felt like a chore. Masterful and engrossing storytelling. 
- What a fascinating, chameleon of a woman! And yes, she was a real person.
- Wait ... this is historical fiction? It feels so real!

- High school required reading put on its head. Who knew Juliet's nurse with the insider track of the Romeo and Juliet love story - and her own love story - would be so much more interesting?


- I'd never thought I'd enjoy reading short stories of the medical field. I LOVED these!
- These stories are bizarre and surreal. Sometimes absurd, sometimes uncomfortably disturbing. But I couldn't stop reading them!

The Frangipani Hotel: Stories by Violet Kupersmith
- Reminded me so much of my own roots where culture, folklore and superstition meld together in strange mysterious ways. I lapped up each of these Vietnamese ghost stories.

Man V. Nature: Stories by Diane Cook
- Because these stories distill human nature to its basest, these made for unsettling reading. It's disturbing yet illuminating. 



Cain by Jose Saramago (unreviewed)- Growing up Catholic, these alternate versions of oft-told Biblical stories really shook me up ... and even made me laugh!
- Provoking, challenging, logical ... I reveled in all Saramago had to offer.


Get more info for A Month of Faves hosted by the awesome gals Estella's Revenge, Girlxoxo and Traveling with T. Go get it here.


Link-up is over at The Broke and Bookish's Top Ten Tuesday
#AMonthofFaves at Guiltless Reading:
5 Fave Non-Bookish Things


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#AMonthofFaves: 5 Favorite Non-Bookish Things


This post will be of few words. I'll let you figure out why I love these things:

Royce Nama Chocolate


Cooking with Dog Youtube Channel

Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps

Shoji Sayaka and her rendition of Sibelius.

Novica.com


Get more info for A Month of Faves hosted by the awesome gals Estella's Revenge, Girlxoxo and Traveling with T. Go get it here.

#AMonthofFaves at Guiltless Reading:

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#AMonthofFaves: Top 10 Fave New-to-Me Authors for 2014


One of the main reasons I adore book blogging is discovering new book and new authors! I love joining book tours because they give me to access to all things new. This year has been pretty spectacular on the "new author front" for me.

Here I have 10 new-to-me-authors and the books that made me favourite them. One criteria for my "faving" them: if I see any of their books pop up in Goodreads, old or new, I'll want to read them!

Short Stories

Kodi Scheer / Incendiary Girls 
Diane Cook / Man V. Nature
Kevin Fortuna / The Dunning Man 
Violet Kupersmith / The Frangipani Hotel

In a previous post I kept saying that this was the year of the short story for me. These collections stood out for me not only were they memorable but each author had a very unique voice:

Kodi Scheer explores the confluence of body and mind. Diane Cook peers into the human soul as it battles ... itself. Kevin Fortuna tells the stories of everyday people and there is sometimes extraordinary in the ordinary, if you look hard enough. Violet Kupersmith melds Vietnamese folklore in her otherwordly stories that explore the immigrant experience.

Fiction

Phillip Margulies / Belle Cora
Lois Leveen / Juliet's Nurse
Mona Simpson / Casebook
Fred Venturini / The Heart Does Not Grow Back

I was flabbergast when I'd realized I'd read close to 600 pages in Phillip Margulies' unputdownable fictionalized story of a real woman, a pioneer and chameleon. It takes a special author to do that!

I read very little classical literature but Lois Leveen's spunky retelling of Romeo and Juliet really got me engrossed in the politics, religion and social status of the Renaissance.

Mona Simpson's mother-son tale really touched me and it grew on me with its tender storytelling melded with mathematical philosophies and comic book humour. 

Meanwhile, Venturini hooked me with his extremely creative story about a man who regenerates bdy parts. My first thought putting this down: now that was weird. But I loved it, in a weird, wonderful way.

Nick Joaquin / May Day Eve and Other Stories 
The Summer Solstice and Other Stories*

This year, I resolved to get in touch with my Filipino roots by reading more Philippine-authored books. While I'd heard about Joaquin, a Philippine National Artist for Literature, I'd never read any of his work. I was able to read two of his books and promptly loved how he captured the nuances of Filipino attitudes and how entrenched these are with family, religion, and culture.

Non-Fiction

James Vescovi / Eat Now, Talk Later
I wanted to get some non-fiction in here, and Dale Carnegie and James Vescovi were standouts for me. 
Dale Carnegie's classic self-help book (and the wildly popular spinoffs) have stuck around because its message is simple and enduring: it's not about manipulation, it's about being genuinely interested in people. 

James Vescovi's memoir about his immigrant Italian family is really special. I hope it inspired yu, as it did me.

Sorry to sound like a broken record if you see the same books and the same authors in my faves posts.... that's just the way of faves ;) I look forward to seeing your lists!

*unreviewed

Get more info for A Month of Faves hosted by the awesome gals Estella's Revenge, Girlxoxo and Traveling with T. Go get it here.

More Fave New-to-Me Author at The Broke and Bookish's Top Ten Tuesday
(and it's my first time posting to this meme!)

#AMonthofFaves at Guiltless Reading:
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