As well as a book challenge…. and…
Kill me now. A Christmas tunic I fell in love with but time ran out before I could get it is back. I could probably wear this on a cold weather day, like my snowflake tunic, but… really…
I just…. please.
In other news – Zee reads.
This years challenge was to a) read 24 books (passed it) and b) finish series I had started and not finished. I think I did pretty dang good. I finished –
The Lana Harvey Reapers Inc Series. Started funny and ended serious. There were 7 books total.
I caught up the Crispin Guest Medieval Mystery series. There was a new book released in October but I”m not buying it until the price comes down or I can find it elsewhere. It’s hard to find books elsewhere these days, thanks to the powers that be, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to pay 24.99 for an ebook. Right now, it’s 14.99 and that’s STILL too much for an ebook. Oh and the author is a political putz. And nasty to those who have a differing opinion. I think I would prefer to wait until it goes to print and then buy it used. She whines about people buying used. I love Sir Crispin, but I don’t love her. I believe she mentioned there were 3 of them left, or some such.
Caught up with The Gareth and Garth Welsh Court Mystery series. There is a new one out and I’ll buy it sometime in the New Year. Have no idea how long they will go. Actually started reading them waiting for the next Crispin Guest to come out and enjoyed them muches. Author LOVES 12c Wales. She has another series out that I have quite a few of… There were 7 or 8 of these.
Completed the Iron Druid Chronicles. I loved loved loved this series. Sadly, I didn’t love the final installment and worse, there are a series of shorts you apparently need to read in order to completely understand the last book. I don’t HAVE the shorts, except 1 so there were new characters I didn’t get the gist of, and while I wasn’t shocked that the 2 main characters didn’t stay together in the end, I was deeply saddened that the final parting was so… nasty. There were I think a dozen of these.
I slapped out a couple of Anja Creed books. There are 52 books in that series. Maybe more. That might be a year long challenge I am NOT up to any time soon.
I completely read the Maggody Arkansas Mystery Series. 15 of those bad boys. Most of them were pretty good. For some odd reason, the last 2 or 3 books, the author felt the need to introduce us to more Buchanans. I don’t know why, the ones that had been parading around the previous 14 were inbred enough. I didn’t feel the series was completely over, but the author has passed away, so I”ll just have to deal with that. And by the end, I had a very soft spot for Kevin Buchanan, who proved beyond a shadow of doubt – to me at least – that he was deeper than his family, or his IQ – believed.
Which leaves us with this month’s reads. I only read 2 and considering my remaining series had… oh more than a dozen books in them, I chose NOT to start another series, until I decided what to do this year.
Which, believe it or not, is to try to knock out as many series that I’ve started. That’s STILL quite a few. I might pick one… I HAVE picked one… but more about that later.
I completed TWO books this month.
Labeled a cross between Tolkien and Star Trek, I found a lot of Space Balls in this as well. First, there is only ONE dwarf in this book, he’s a pilot for a decrepit space ship probably the size of the Enterprise. He’s married to the engineer, who happens to be an Elf and a foul-mouthed one as that. Think Gimli married to a cranky-ass Tauriel. Or just go with the flow and think a rude ass growing older Kili married to a cranky ass Tauriel. You wonder what they see in each other, but when the chips are down, they certainly are devoted. Captain is a human female, with more secrets than not. Assassin Guild Elves on board, a Djinn, a stowaway, an Orc for a doctor. It’s FUNNY and you realize at the end that family isn’t necessarily the people who raised you. It’s the people who know you and love you anyway.
I’ve heard something like that before.
The other book I read this month –
I’m currently working on the 2nd in the series of 4. Beautifully written, lush and erotically drawn. Actually, she could have been kind and ended it with a HEA ending. But she didn’t and now I”m halfway into the 2nd one and in tears through the whole thing, because while yes, she COULD have ended it with a HEA ending with the first, she chose to be real and honest and continue it.
And so it goes.
My challenge for 2019 is a whopper. It’s a Harry Potter Board Game Reading Challenge. Now before you think Dear God, hasn’t she read Harry Potter, it’s a BOARD game and if you go through all of the levels, we’re looking at 82 books.
Which is ridiculous and the creator of the challenge even created a board game to go with the challenge. Rules being you don’t have to read everything but….
But that is neither here or there. I’m doing the challenge, not in order and due to reasons – LACK OF TIME – if a book answers 2 or more of the given categories, good for me.
I know you want to see this.
HARRY POTTER BOARD GAME READING CHALLENGE:
Level One:
- Madam Malkin’s: Bookish world to revisit ( )
- Flourish and Blotts: Bestselling book ( )
- Ollivanders: Book with magic ( )
- Magical Menagerie: Animal on the cover ( )
- Apothecary: TBR book you need to read ( )
Level Two:
- Gryffendor : Book with red on the cover ( )
- Ravenclaw: Book with blue on the cover ( )
- Slytherin: Book with green on the cover ( )
- Hufflepuff: Book with yellow on the cover ( )
Level Three:
- Astronomy: Sci-fi/Dystopian ( )
- Charms: Middle grade ( )
- Dark Arts: Villains or anti-heroes ( )
- Defence Against the Dark Arts: Dark fantasy ( )
- Flying: Around the world ( )
- Herbology: Self help ( )
- History of Magic: Authors’ first book ( )
- Potions: Choose a book with your eyes closed ( )
- Transfiguration: Book with shapeshifting ( )
Level Four:
- Arithmancy: Book with a number in the title ( )
- Care of Magical Creatures: Book with magical creatures ( )
- Divination: Takes place in the future ( )
- Astrology: On a different planet ( )
- Cartomancy: Tarot cards and fortune telling ( )
- Dream Interpretation: Book with dreams and visions ( )
- Muggle Studies: Contemporary Book ( )
- Ancient Runes: Historical Fiction ( )
Level Five:
- New Term: First book in a series/duology ( )
- Name in the Goblet of Fire: Recommended by a friend ( )
- Letter from Snuffles: Mystery ( )
- Dobby is Free: Free choice ( )
- Wizard Chess: Book with a contest ( )
- Golden Egg: Book with dragons ( )
- Eat you’ll feel better: Treat yourself! buy yourself a new book! ( )
- Free Space ( )
- Luna Lovegood: Diverse reads ( )
- Black Lake: Book with sea creatures/mermaids ( )
- Harry Potter: Chosen One ( )
- Fred and George: Funny book ( )
- Yule Ball: Fairy Tale retelling ( )
- Neville Longbottom: Brave character ( )
- Hermione Granger: Empowering ( )
- Hedge Maze: A maze or a labyrinth ( )
- Free Space ( )
- Fleur: Romance ( )
- Book from a Jar ( )
Level Six:
- Newt Scamander: Author with your initials ( )
- Cursed Child: Play ( )
- Extendable Ears: Audiobook ( )
- Lavender Brown: Chick Lit ( )
- House: Based on your House ( )
- Fantastic Beasts 3: Book to movie in 2019 ( )
- Beedle the Bard: Male author ( )
- Fantastic Beasts ( )
- Percival Pratt: Poetry ( )
- Avada Kedavra: Horror ( )
- Accio: One word title ( )
- Sybill Trelawney: Female author ( )
- Pottermore: Book club book ( )
- Crimes of Grindelwald ( )
- Dumbledore: Book by a favorite celebrity ( )
- House Cup: Goodreads Awards winner ( )
- Advanced Potion Making: Backlist book ( )
- Molly Weasley: Book your mom loves ( )
- Philosopher’s Stone: Published the year you were born ( )
Level Seven
- Book Hermione would read ( )
- Harry Potter Series: Young Adult ( )
- Mental Health ( )
- Severus Snape: Standalone ( )
- Released in 2019 ( )
- Book of Spells: Classic ( )
- Moody: Based on your mood ( )
- Dursley’s: Nonfiction ( )
- Ginny Weasley: Fierce females ( )
- Free Choice ( )
- Shrieking Shack: Thriller ( )
- Lupin: Paranormal ( )
- Marauder’s Map: Magical book for adults/teens ( )
- Tonks: Character with dyed hair ( )
- Book Harry would read ( )
- Book Queenie would read ( )
- Free Choice ( )
Notice the number of ‘Free Choices’ on there. And yes, the creator has created a BOARD for it. Roll the dice and all that.
Also notice one of the spaces is a Treat Yourself and buy a book. I’m thinking the sequel to Dwarves in Space might be in order there. (Yes, there is a second) I’m thinking Harry would read a sports bio or somesuch and Queenie would read a romance novel involving a witch and a non-magical person. Hermoine will be a challenge. I’m pretty certain she would own a Bestiary for Wizard’s – and I have that, believe it or not, but I’m not so sure I want to read that. It’s really an encyclopedia of mythological creatures and the damn thing is HUGE!
Apparently, I”m going to need to find the screenplays or books based on the first 2 movies of the reboot. I don’t know about anyone else, but I was in tears at the end. The third movie will kill me. IS there going to be more than 3?
I will take consideration of ALL suggestions.
And now, I’m going to go back and finish this chapter of William Edward’s so I can get it to the beta tonight or in the morning.
Oh. Need to fix dinner. Chicken Pot Pie in an Iron Skillet. Yum!
Here. Have some Richard for sitting through all of this.
zee's muse 
My head is spinning right now! Where do you have time to read? I feel like I waste a lot of time in comparison to you! I’m not a HP person blasphemy I know 😱🤔😮
I know what HEA means !! I’m all for that!!
As of late, the majority of my reading has been at night when I go to bed. It relaxes me and helps me go to sleep. Some nights, I get a lot read. Other nights I’m nodding off. Also if we’re traveling, Spawn drives and I read.
Oh the Nyquil kicked in last night so I forgot to ask: you did get the snowflake and plaid tunic (a print yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) right?
Yes, I succumbed to the temptation. Actually, I rewarded myself because I finished the next chapter of William Edward’s sage and it’s sent to both the beta and the pre-reader. Hoping to hear back from both today and I can post it at DreamerFiction tonight and then everywhere else tomorrow.
It’s dark and gruesome and at times my stomach turned writing it. I had thought to just SKiP those 8 pages and pick up where the FitzGisbornes have come home from that ordeal and pick up the pieces, but then that mean little voice in my head said – nope. This is part of WHO and WHAT he is, so there ya go.
Ok I like that tunic and that is a great combo color on you so hopefully you will wear it and post pics here. I confess I am behind even with your other “recommendations” a few months ago so that is what I will be a tackling once I finish Master from my master blue eyed boy… maybe he is smarter than us.. hmmm???? I think if he ever read Manna he would just fall in love with you..
How are your sinus? Blood Sugar (dare I bring that up)? How did Spawn do on that calculus test or whatever math test he had a few weeks ago?
Great pics here. you spoil us so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Would I love to dip my head in that basin with him…
Right now my sinuses are clear, for the most part. I have morning issues, but they clear up quickly.
Master?
God I would DIE if that man read Manna.
Blood sugar is up, but down from 2 weeks ago. It’s been sitting between 350-450 since after Labor Day. Right now, it’s in the 250’s.
Spawn will be retaking Calculus. Some classes should not be taught through online courses. That’s one. He will be retaking it at the Savannah Campus, so we’ll ride in together and save gas than if he were going out to Statesboro.
I loved the tunic and was heartbroken when the sale was over and it was taken down. I would have loved to wear it to school in December, but… I think I can get away with it this month. Tomorrow, it’s going to be VERY warm – upper 70’s, close to 80, but will nosedive later this week. I feel like we are rewelcoming winter all over again. I’m looking at temps in the 50’s to low 60’s after Thursday for a while. We need it to get COLD so the pest population won’t be so much this summer.
Master and Margharita mr Blue Eyes recommended it awhile back and I decided over Thanksgiving to read it the conventional, smell the pages way instead of digitally. Listen as I keep saying you need to convert Manna to a fictional novel and then he will read it!!!
I think you will get a lot of mileage out of the tunic. It is super cute!!! I never took calculus in high school b/c we moved from a Grade A school to a military shit hole school where calculus wasn’t really offered when I graduated high school. I did love Algebra 2/Trig but hated geometry with a passion. I think that explains a lot about me.
I more than admire your reading and writing skills. When I grow up I want to be like you (not politically speaking hahahahahahaha) but you know what I mean!!!!!
Spawn wants to go into computer programing when he graduates, so he needs the Calculus.
Ah yes, he did mention that book. Who wrote it? I might have downloaded it and it got lost in the pile…
You wanna hear something funny?
I’m not one to wear makeup often, but I have SO MUCH RED in my closet, I went out and bought red lipstick last night. Not glaring British Red Coat Red (yes, that is a color for either Revlon or L’Oreal. I had it and it was garish on me!) but a more muted, but still red – dark red – lipstick. I might wear it in a few years. lol!
Gosh my lipsticks are sooo old. I love red lipstick and I know when I meet a guy I really LIKE and start wearing lipstick it is serious!!! I don’t wear lipstick at all. The twins comment on that regularly and my sis in law will throw in a zinger there. My sis has always been the make up guru, not me. I like accessories but I buy cheap make-up like whatever is on sale and my color foundation is always off. I like British red that would be awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wear make up so rarely, I live out of trial sizes for the most part. I bought a trial size liquid foundation… oh… in April of 2016 and I STILL have some in it. Lipsticks last FOREVER!
And I mean forever! LOL!
I stay away from Maybelline and Cover Girl. They don’t like my face and never have. I wore Mary Kay growing up and into my early 20’s. Mom sold it and I liked it, but dang if I can afford it now – NOT!
In recent days, I”ve been enamored of bling – although I have plenty but I still don’t really wear it.
Such is.
I need to do my pill cases but the cats are asleep and snoring on my bed, where I do them. I guess I’ll have to wait. Meh.
My sis wears Mary Kay-I never liked it. Made my face look orangey and blotchy. It is over priced I think!!
Bling-not for me. But I like earrings and necklaces now just not expensive ones.
Master is by Mikhail Bulgakov a Russian.. I mean its intriguing … I’m reading it imaging Richard doing a Russian accent in my ear ahh….. dreams……
The Mary Kay went well for me. And yes, it IS very expensive. I lived out of my mom’s consultant tubes. When she stopped, we lived out of them until they ran out. Years. It’s way too expensive for me, even then.
When I say ‘bling’ I mean earrings and necklaces and bracelets… I need a new pair of 14ct gold posts. I can only wear 14ct gold in my ears, and I’ve lost the ones I have.
Between my name tag and my badge, I have so much hanging around my neck as it is, necklaces get lost. 😦
I need to look Mikhail up. I want to say I looked him up before, but I don’t remember.
I got the book at Barnes and Noble using my brother’s discount card. I mean I’m reading slow. I had hoped to finish it and write a blog post about it within the coming weeks but now I’m gonna finish it after Flat Richie’s arrival soon.
Also, in the challenge, you’re not reading HP books. Just books that answer the criteria. I see romances and apoc and magic, but not HP romances or Apoc or Magic. I rather like the one about Fierce Females. I’m reading one of those right now. It’s also blue on the cover. So yay!
Haha hope you enjoy the challenge! It’s a lot to handle, I know but the goal is just to read and enjoy. So I hope it is for you! 💙
I enjoy reading challenges. Muchly!
Also, this is amazing and that you created a board for it… just Wow!!!
Thank you so much!
Some of the series you mentioned sound like I want to get into them. I love series books and If a good one is found It is hateful to see it end, plus I tend to buy all of them in the series in older to keep reading good material. Like you I read a lot and I am tired of not finding one well written. Last one I read was a romance/comedy and had me laughing out loud. I often wonder if the people in the apt next door can hear me and think oops, better control myself. I read the knight series you posted on your story of Manna from Heaven and now I will look into the ones you have written out here. Thanks for the suggestions.
Do you read on a nook or kindle? Ping me at – don’t laugh – zeedrippyvessel at gmail and I’ll tickle your funny bone.