Lovelyluck tries again attempt #4

I will try to keep up with the category challenges - I think I made it through to March of last year... Not sure that I will actually join the other challenges this year - but I will make my own up

I will think and think and think - and get back to you on my own challenges!

My category challenges for 2016

DeweyCat
RandomCat
TIOLO
BingoGenre
Cooking
AlphaBio
Color Cover

Dewey Challenge

000
Attempted - Java for Dummies - got too complicated for me about 1/2 through I gave up

100

200

300 - 354

355 - 399

400

500

600

700

800

900 - 939

940 - 999

RandomCat Challenge

January - Embrace Your Uniqueness

Marnie the Dog: I'm a Book

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

TIOLI

January

#1 Read a book whose ISBN has at least one number in its correct numeric position
Sharpie Art Workshop ISBN 9781631590481

#3 Read a book published in 2015 where someone has mentioned the book was underrated, deserved to do better or might have been missed
Act of God

February

#2 Read a book where a word in the title suggests damage
Burning Blue

#3 Read a work of fiction that has reached number one on NY Times bestseller list during the 2010s

#5 Read a book where a word in the title can be an action

#11 Read a book that is part of a series that has been (or is about to be) adapted into a television show

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Fantasy The Wicked Will Rise
Drama Perfect and Unbelievable
Romance Tall, Dark and Wicked

Cooking Challenge

January Ethnic Foods
Cracking the Coconut

February Chili

March Side Dishes and Salads

April Breakfast

May Drinks and Snacks

June Pies and Cakes

July Cookies

August Lunch

September Slow Cooker Meals

October Savory

November One Pan Meals

December Soups and Stews

AlphaBIO Challenge

January N/P
P Up Close: Elvis Presley
N Yes My Accent is Real

February H/W

March M/T

April I/O

May S/F

June A/J

July G/Y

August V/K

September U/Q

October C/E

November D/B

December R/L

Color Cover Challenge

January - Blue

Hot Guys and Kittens


February - Green

March - Pink

April - Red

May - Brown

June - Violet

July - Indigo

August - Orange

September - White

October - Grey

November - Black

December - Brown

1.


Title: Up Close: Elvis Presley
Author:Wilborn Hampton
Date Finished: 1/2/2016
Genre: BIO
Notes: AlphaBio Challenge P
Opinion: It was a quick biography about the King - simple and easy - not a lot of detail... just enough to get an idea of Elvis's life and death.... I'm still no expert and I have read enough to know that I'd like to read something with a little more substance - but I did choose this book based on the it's small size
Rating: 5/10
Pages: 205
Source: Checked Out
Format: Paper

I like the challenge of challenges idea and congrats on having your first book of 2016 already competed!

Good luck with your challenge this year! It certainly looks like it will be an interesting one :)

>11 lkernagh: Thanks Lori we shall see how it works out - and since this morning I have several more to add - just as soon as I get a chance :)

>12 rabbitprincess: Thanks - So far it is shaping up nicely

Title: Sh*tty Mom: The Parenting Guide for the Rest of Us
Author: Laurie Kilmartin and others
Date Finished: 1/3/2016
Genre: Humor
Notes:
Opinion: Oh my God - I'm a Sh*tty Mom - as was my mom before me LOL - but we are super funny us Sh*tty Moms - my favorites.... "From Chapter 48 When Seeing an Infant Triggers a Mental Illness That Makes You Want to Have Another Baby: DON'T HAVE SEX - Your womb cannot be trusted - it wants a baby. Every month that you don't let your womb have a baby, it cries red tears" - and - "From Chapter 46 Animals That Need to Be Fired from Their Job at the Zoo: MONKEYS - Monkeys are triple threats: They fly, they swing, and they masturbate... They hoot, they make creepy eye contact, and lick their lips salaciously. Monkeys live the life that a sex offender can only dream of." - Caution some of this book may be offensive - to be sure you can hang with the Sh*tty Moms take the Sh*tty Mom quiz at the beginning of the book - and come on the title in and of itself should be a warning to the moms without a sense of humor....
Rating: 8.5/10
Pages: 176
Source: Checked out
Format:Paper

>14 lovelyluck: Hah! This looks funny.

3.


Title: Marnie the Dog: I'm a Book
Author: Shirley Braha
Date Finished: 1/3/2016
Genre: Humor
Notes: RandomCat January
Opinion: Marnie is just tooooooo cute - I liked the brief story of how the cutest dog ever (besides my own) was adopted - and the cuteness meter just kept going up - I think it's because of that little pink tongue and head tilt!
Rating: 7/10
Pages: 144
Source: Read In house
Format: Paper

4.


Title:Grumpy Cat No-It-All
Author: Grumpy Cat
Date Finished: 1/3/2016
Genre: Humor
Notes:
Opinion: I super love Grumpy Cat - but there are better Memes on the internet - this one is good for an afternoon spent browsing the shelves at Barnes and Noble because you are poor from paying the bills but can't seem to stay away from books or checking out from your local library (if they have a copy) but other than the Official NO stickers in the back it isn't worth the price IMO... eh
Rating: 6.5/10
Pages: 96
Source: Read In House
Format:Paper

>15 Tara1Reads: You are a sneaky one :) It was pretty funny - I totally couldn't help my Kool Aid grin at the park this morning while I was reading it and the other parents were giving me nasty looks for reading a book titled Sh*tty Mom while at the park

The best was from the Troll (My daughter) "Mommy why are you reading a parenting guide called this?" as she points to the book "You don't want to be that - you are a good mom"

Double whammy





Title: Hot Guys and Kittens and Hot Guys and Baby Animals
Author: Audrey Khuner
Date Finished: 1/3/2016
Genre: Humor
Notes: Color Cover Blue
Opinion: It was pretty lame - all the animals were totally adorable - but my definition of hot guys and the authors are not one in the same - only a couple of hotties and the small descriptions on the side weren't all that funny - giving it a 2/10 for overall animal cuteness
Rating: 2/10 - both
Pages: 80 each
Source: Read In House
Format:Paper

Title: Sharpie Art Workshop
Author: Timothy Goodman
Date Finished: 1/03/2016
Genre: Art
Notes: January TIOLI #1
Opinion: It was interesting see how others use Sharpie markers for art - I just recently started using them with my Zentangle - but I might paint the Troll's wall white and make sharpie picture frame outlines and then let her doodle her own art work on the wall - am I the only mother that encourages wall drawing?
Rating: 7/10
Pages: 127
Source: Checked Out
Format:Paper

Picture Books -


Ten Little Fish 7/10 - cute, rhyming, and quick - a decent read


The Birthday Queen 6/10 - it was a little boring but the surprise ending revealing who the birthday queen is - just amazing


How to Be a Dog 9/10 - oh my gosh - the Troll loved this one - we read it in the library but had to bring it home to teach Belle (our brown beagle) how to be a dog - of course I loved the inappropriateness of the dog greeting visitors, using the can, and meeting the neighbors - we love bathroom humor in our house! - don't know what I'm talking about - go check out this book

>18 lovelyluck: "You don't want to be that - you are a good mom"

Awww. How sweet!

>22 Tara1Reads: I know right! Sometimes the Troll just knows how to pull my heart strings :)

Title: Tails from the Booth
Author: Lynn Terry
Date Finished: 1/3/2016
Genre: Humor (I think) - maybe photography/art?
Notes:
Opinion: So cute - some of the faces I came across from these dogs would have made me spit out a drink had I been drinking while reading - which fortunately I wasn’t because I can’t afford to pay for a damaged library book right now… so all the dogs where super adorable and made amazing pictures - I wish I could get some super cute pics of the Puppies in a photo booth - but they wouldn’t ever sit still long enough
Rating: 8/10
Source: Checked Out
Format: Paper

Title: Dirty Bow Wow
Author: Cheryl Katz
Date Finished: 1/3/2016
Genre: Humor - maybe photography/art?
Notes:
Opinion: Another super cute book with super cute dogs in it - this one is of the dogs with there lovies - my dogs don’t have lovies - seriously I think our dogs might be aliens :)
Rating: 8/10
Source: Checked Out
Format: Paper

Title: Things I’ve Said to My Children
Author: Nathan Ripperger
Date Finished: 1/3/2016
Genre: Humor
Notes:
Opinion: I have not once nor do I ever hope to say to the Troll “Please don’t eat the Goldfish crackers you’ve put in your butt” - as with many of the things this man has said to his children I did not relate - and I am pretty sure I’ve said some silly things to my child and the children I worked with in the preschool - and many of these “Things” he has said to his children were not even funny - come on now - so that is a big fat NO for this book for me - I’m taking No-It-All advice from Grumpy Cat and telling everyone else to just say NO - but if you must it is super quick
Rating: 3/10
Source: Checked Out
Format: Paper

Click Clack Peep - 6/10 - I liked Click Clack Moo and this one was cute too - baby duck can’t sleep and only Duck knows what to do


Waddle! Waddle! - 7/10 -Penguins are cute - and the penguins in this one are no exception! But can one of the penguins find is dancing friend without being eaten?


Motor Dog - 2/10 -Uh NO - the best part of this book for me was the picture of the rocket cat on the last page - I just didn’t care for it all that much


Shh! We Have a Plan - 6/10 - Plans don’t always work out though do they?

>24 lovelyluck: Awwww puppies! :)

I like your choice of categories, looks promising! Enjoy your reading!

>27 lovelyluck:
Click Clack Moo is a genius book!!

>28 rabbitprincess: Puppies are always cute!

>29 Chrischi_HH: Thanks - I think they are pretty simple and maybe a little easier to follow along with than I have attempted in the past.

>30 -Eva-: Yes - totally


Goodbye/Hello - 4/10 it was okay - I think great if you are moving and have a small child that needs help coping


Nobody's Nosier Than a Cat - 6/10 - I thought it was cute... some rhyming aspects and the Troll even pronounced words correctly that I thought she may get wrong so there is a plus to me.

You are motoring along quite smartly already this year! Well done!

Have you ever seen the videos of Henri, Le Chat Noir? Look for them on Youtube. I laugh so hard whenever I watch them.

>32 mamzel: Henri is cute - I just watched him before I head out to the desk for the next 3 hours - and his video brought a big smile to my face :) Thanks!

Loved your Sh*tty Mom review - and your daughter's response!

>34 LisaMorr: thanks - she is a sweetheart - most times :)

Title: Perfect
Author: Sara Shepard
Date Finished: 1/11/2016
Genre: YA fiction
Notes:3rd in the pretty little liars series
Opinion: I have really enjoyed listening to the Pretty Little Liars series on audio - I will be sad when I have reached the last on that overdrive has to offer in my system... guess that would mean I would have to checkout the CD or read the actual books
Rating: 7/10
Source: Checked Out
Format: Audio

Title: The Wicked Will Rise
Author: Danielle Paige
Date Finished: 1/14/2016
Genre: YA fiction
Notes: 2nd in Dorothy Must Die
Opinion:I'm not really sure how I feel about this series yet - it is ok - the second book was a little easier for me to get through - but I really hate build up to hardly anything and then BAM cliffhanger
Rating: 6/10
Source: Checked Out
Format: Paper

Title: Tall, Dark, and Wicked
Author: Madeline hunter
Date Finished: 1/18/2016
Genre: Romance
Notes:
Opinion: Awe.... I liked the characters and the story... it was a fast, simple, and enjoyable historical romance
Rating: 6/10
Pages: 400
Source: Checked Out
Format: Paper

Naked! - super cute and adorable - all the dogs at the pawsitive reading last night that The Troll read this book to seemed indifferent but I thought it was absolutely adorable

The Troll also read How to be a Dog to each of the therapy dogs - again they seemed indifferent... with the exception of the "rotten brown dog" as his owner called him because after reading this to him he gave kisses to The Troll and me - we were officially slobbered :)

Title: Yes My Accent is Real: And some other things I haven't told you
Author: Kunal Nayyar
Date Finished: 1/23/2016
Genre: Bio Alpha challenge
Notes:
Opinion:It was great - I liked it.... I wrote a review for the library that will be featured in the paper - I will post a link when it becomes available...
Rating: 7/10
Pages: 272
Source: Checked Out
Format: Paper

Title: Unbelievable
Author: Sara Shepard
Date Finished: 1/26/2016
Genre: ya fiction
Notes: Pretty Little Liars 4
Opinion:I'm still liking the Pretty little Liars series.... on to book 5
Rating: 7/10
Pages: 335
Source: Checked Out
Format: Paper

Title: Act of God
Author: Jill Ciment
Date Finished: 1/26/2016
Genre: fiction
Notes: January TIOLI #3
Opinion: I really enjoyed it until the end.... and then it was "that's it?"
Rating: 5/10
Pages: 192
Source: Checked Out
Format: Paper

Title: Cracking the Coconut
Author: Sumei Yu
Date Finished: 1/27/2016
Genre: cookbook
Notes: January cookbook/cooking challenge ethnic foods
Opinion: There weren't really any pictures - I need pictures in my cookbooks!
Rating: 5/10
Pages: 336
Source: Checked Out
Format: Paper

>40 lovelyluck: A published review! Nice! Looking forward to seeing it :)

Title: Confessions of a Scary Mommy
Author: Jill Smokler
Date Finished: 2/3/2016
Genre: Non fiction
Notes:
Opinion: Some funny parts - not as funny as Sh*tty Mom to me but still had moments that I said to myself "yep, done that" - not a complete waste
Rating: 6/10
Pages: 176
Source: Checked Out
Format: Paper

Title: Wicked
Author: Sara Shepard
Date Finished: 2/4/2016
Genre: YA fiction
Notes: number 5 in the pretty little liars series
Opinion: I am still liking this series - but unfortunately my library only has the next 3 books available as audio through over drive and that makes me mad :( - I will have to check out the CDs and rip them to the computer and then download them to the ipad? i don't even know how to do that - I really don't want to read them but I am enjoying listening to them in my car on the drive to and from work everyday.
Rating: 7/10
Pages: 312
Source: Checked Out
Format: Audio

January Stats

Books attempted: 24
Books read: 17
Pages read: 3470

Paper: 22
E-Book: 0
Audio: 2

Fiction: 7
Non-fiction: 17

Owned: 0
Checked Out: 20
Read In-House 4

Ratings
1 - 5: 6
5.5 - 8: 10
8.5 - 10: 1

Title: Scarlet
Author: Marissa Meyer
Date Finished: 2/4/2016
Genre: YA fiction
Notes: number 2 in lunar chronicles
Opinion: I loved this one more than the first - especially the character of Wolf - I always love the rebel bad boys :) can wait to pick up the next in the series!
Rating: 9/10
Pages: 454
Source: Owned
Format: Paper

When a Lobster Buys a Bathrobe - 9/10 so super cute... rhyming poetry and the best part was the unicorn and rainbow :)

Lilly and I had a read a thon tonight - mainly because all the library books are due to be returned :) and I already paid them $10 so here is the list of what we read tonight


The Little Bear Book 3/10 - eh - we didn't care for this one too much


Frog and Fly Six Slurpy Stories - 8/10 - I think of all the stories we read tonight this was our mutual favorite!

,img width = 300 src = https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/054504216X.01._SX142_SY224_SCLZ...;
Cat Dreams - 5/10 - We have read better cat books than this one - but the pictures were cute and some a little funny.


Dogs on the Bed - 6/10 - I liked the pictures of the dogs best - it was cute but not great...


Socksquatch 6/10 - somewhat cute - I liked it alright


Little Owl Lost - 7/10 - a little similar to Are You My Mother - but quicker - little owl was cute and we liked him and squirrel


Inside Mouse Outside Mouse - 5/10 - the pictures were cute - I did not like how the story wen from one mouse to the other the way it did - I would have done most of inside mouse then most of outside mouse and had them meet at the end - but eh


Bulldog's Big Day - 7/10 - I liked this one because it reminded me of my customers at the library who are looking for jobs - I spend a great deal of time looking over resumes and help people revise and create them... a lot of the time customers are discouraged because they haven't heard back from anyone - but they need to be like Bulldog and believe that today is going to be the big day and try - but on the kid side it was a cute book and we liked it - The Troll from the start kept saying Bulldog should be a baker

Title: Burning Blue
Author: Paul Griffin
Date Finished: 2/7/2016
Genre: YA fiction
Notes: TIOLI #2 Read a book where a word in the title suggests damage
Opinion: It was interesting - with a serious twist at the end that I didn't expect... I may have rated it higher if I enjoyed the dialogue - but I didn't understand most of the slang used - and had to read it a couple of times trying to figure things out - eventually moving on luckily most of the dialogue didn't tell the story
Rating: 7/10
Pages: 291
Source: Checked Out
Format: Paper

Wow! That was quite a readathon - fun night!