johanna414 reads again!

DiscussieROOT - 2014 Read Our Own Tomes

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johanna414 reads again!

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1johanna414
Bewerkt: apr 9, 2014, 2:38 pm



My girl, Scout, helping me decide what to read next!




I met and exceeded my reading goals for last year, so I am going to repeat those same goals this year and try to read 20 books purchased before 2014. Considering the sheer number of books I bought last year, I don't anticipate a problem with that! I am trying to put myself on a buying ban for at least a few months at the beginning of the year (I didn't work for a few months last year while I did my student teaching, so I am broke!) so that I can save up a little money before I start doing any frivolous spending again. Plus, I'm trying to save for my wedding next summer, so I don't have to ask my parents to pay for everything...

2johanna414
Bewerkt: dec 30, 2014, 8:01 pm

January:
1. Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
2. Naked in Death by J. D. Robb
3. Wool 2: Proper Gauge by Hugh Howey
4. The Hero by Robyn Carr
5. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
6. Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper

February:
7. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
8. Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
9. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
10. Mort by Terry Pratchett
11. A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. LeGuin
12. Under the Black Flag by David Cordingly

March:
13. The Female Thing by Laura Kipnis

April:
14. Divergent by Veronica Roth
15. The Wretched of Muirwood by Jeff Wheeler
16. Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop

May:
17. The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

June:
18. Beauty by Robin McKinley

July:
19. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
20. Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi
21. The Sweetheart's Knitting Club by Lori Wilde

August:
22. Not Your Ordinary Wolf Girl by Emily Pohl-Weary

October:
23. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

November:
24. Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
25. Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews
26. Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews
27. Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews
28. How to Knit a Love Story by Rachael Herron

December:
29. The Husband's Secret by Laine Moriarty

3connie53
jan 5, 2014, 4:37 pm

Welcome back, Johanna!

4rabbitprincess
jan 5, 2014, 4:54 pm

Welcome back and good luck! Scout is beautiful!

5VivienneR
jan 5, 2014, 8:10 pm

Scout is adorable, and quite like my tortie!

6Merryann
jan 6, 2014, 2:05 am

Such a lovely cat!

7johanna414
jan 6, 2014, 1:57 pm

Thanks everyone! Scout is actually my parents' cat, but she was my favorite growing up. Even though my fiance and I have two of our own, and I love them dearly, Scout just has such a funny personality that she's still my favorite. I think torties do tend to be awesome cats in general...

Scout has a habit of stealing clean, folded socks and hiding them all over the house. She does the same thing with Christmas ornaments, but only at night when everyone is sleeping. She's very careful not to be caught, but on the rare occasion that she is, she casually drops the sock and sneaks away. It's the most hilarious thing!

8Merryann
jan 10, 2014, 12:46 am

I agree, but then I'm biased. My beautiful soft mama cat is a tortie. :)

I hope you're enjoying reading your second ROOT of the year!

9johanna414
jan 25, 2014, 1:46 pm

I have been getting a lot of reading done! I've been house/animal sitting since the 9th, so I've had plenty of free time to read. So far I've tackled 9 books total this month, 4 of which count as ROOTs! At this rate I'll be done before summer!

10connie53
jan 25, 2014, 6:07 pm

Wow, you are really going, Johanna!

11MissWatson
jan 26, 2014, 3:11 pm

What an inspiration for us!

12Tallulah_Rose
jan 31, 2014, 10:55 am

Congratulations on this start! Hope you'll be able to keep it up. Any more house or pet sitting periods in sight? ;-)

13johanna414
feb 2, 2014, 8:28 pm

12> haha yes, actually I do! I've got a week coming up at the end of the month, so I'm sure I'll keep up the pace for awhile...

14johanna414
Bewerkt: feb 4, 2014, 9:46 pm

I guess one of the good things about spending way too much money on books last year is that I have so much I want to read already in my possession that I have not been venturing to the library that much... I think i will be finishing up my goal of 20 books early in the year. I may need to readjust that goal and get a little more ambitious!

Daughter of the Forest was an absolutely beautiful fairy tale retelling. I love the way Marillier writes; I will definitely be reading more of her work!

15rabbitprincess
feb 4, 2014, 9:50 pm

Yay, eight books done! Great work! :)

16MissWatson
feb 5, 2014, 4:31 am

At this rate you will reach your goal before Easter. Good for you!

17connie53
feb 5, 2014, 10:38 am

Was this your first Marillier, Johanna? I think I've read all her books, but one. That one is on the TBR!

18johanna414
feb 5, 2014, 2:38 pm

17> Connie, that was my first Marillier! I downloaded this book last year after reading a review but never got around to reading it. Now I'm wondering what took me so long! The first thing I did after finishing Daughter of the Forest was walk over to my library (its right across the street) and see if they had any of her other books. They didn't, so I ordered one through ILL. Can't wait to get it!!!

19connie53
feb 5, 2014, 5:35 pm

Aha, you have all the joy of reading Marillier before you still!
I have 16 of her books (the translated ones) and I've read 15. They are all kind of fairylike. All in the same world, just her isle of light series is a bit different. Enjoy!!

20johanna414
feb 13, 2014, 10:07 am

Connie, I just finished Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier. It was very different from Daughter of the Forest, but still absolutely stunning. I love her writing style!

21johanna414
Bewerkt: okt 12, 2014, 3:06 pm

My non-ROOTS this year:

January:

1. Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
2. Naked in Death by J. D. Robb
3. Wool 2: Proper Gauge by Hugh Howey
4. The Hero by Robyn Carr
5. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
6. Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper

February:
7. Legion by Brandon Sanderson
8. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
9. Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier
10. Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier
11. The Selkie Spell by Sophie Moss
12. Charlie All Night - Jennifer Crusie
13. Hounded - Kevin Hearne
14. Deerskin - Robin McKinley

March:
15. Child of the Prophecy by Juliet Marillier
16. The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
17. Austenland by Shannon Hale
18. Dragon Prince by Melanie Rawn
19. Entreat Me by Grace Draven

April:
20. Rhapsody by Elizabeth Haydon
21. Heir to Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier
22. The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey
23. Seer of Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier
24. Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

May:
25. Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
26. Crank by Ellen Hopkins
27. The Rosie Project - Graeme Simsion
28. Wild Montana Sky - Debra Holland
29. Heart's Blood - Juliet Marillier
30. The Changeling Sea - Patricia McKillip

June:
31. Poison Study - Maria V. Snyder
32. Perfect Timing - Catherine Anderson
33. Sunshine - Robin McKinley
34. The Selection - Kiera Cass
35. The Elite - Kiera Cass
36. The Girl of Fire and Thorns - Rae Carson
37. The Selection Stories: The Prince & The Guard - Kiera Cass
38. Fangirl - Rainbow Rowell
39. Flame of Sevenwaters - Juliet Marillier

July:
40. Cast in Shadow - Michelle Sagara
41. Eleanor & Park - Rainbow Rowell
42. The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating - Elisabeth Tova Bailey
43. Cast in Courtlight - Michelle Sagara

August:
44. Attachments - Rainbow Rowell

22Merryann
feb 14, 2014, 1:38 am

Nice bunch of reading!

23johanna414
Bewerkt: jun 28, 2014, 12:59 pm

I bought a lot of books in 2013… with that in mind, I had hoped to cut back on my buying this year and focus on the several dozen books I bought last year and haven't read. So far I'm sort of failing in that endeavor. I've been reading my own books, but I have also been buying a lot.

Although to be fair, I did get a lot of Amazon gift cards for Christmas and what else would I spend them on?!

Books Purchased in 2014:

JANUARY
1. Storm of Swords - George R.R. Martin^
2. Legion - Brandon Sanderson^
3. House of Leaves - Mark Z. Danielewski*
4. Crash - Lisa McMann^
5. Wild Montana Sky - Debra Holland^
6. She's Come Undone - Wally Lamb^
7. Flowers in the Attic - V. C. Andrews^
8. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - James Thurber^
9. Geekomancy - Michael R. Underwood^
10. A Shade of Vampire - Bella Forest^
11. The Rosie Project - Graeme Simsion^
12. The Forest House - Marion Zimmer Bradley*

FEBRUARY
13. Ship of Magic - Robin Hobb^
14. The Selkie Spell - Sophie Moss^
15. The Selkie Enchantress - Sophie Moss^
16. The Husband's Secret - Laine Moriarty^
17. Grimm's Fairy Tales - Jacob & Wilhelm Grimm^
18. Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Anderson^
19. Wolfskin - Juliet Marillier*
20. Blade of Fortui - Juliet Marillier*
21. Pyramids - Terry Pratchett*
22. Heart's Blood - Juliet Marillier^
23. Through the Door - Jodi McIsaac^
24. Kushiel's Dart - Jacqueline Carey^
25. The Goose Girl - Shannon Hale^
26. Entreat Me - Grace Draven^
27. The Fairy Godmother - Mercedes Lackey^

MARCH:
28. Grave Mercy - Robin LaFevers^
29. Halflings - Heather Burch^
30. When Beauty Tamed the Beast - Eloisa James^
31. The Thirteenth House - Sharon Shinn*
32. Hades' Daughters - Sara Douglass*
33. The Wayfarer Redemption - Sara Douglass*
34. Enchanter - Sara Douglass*
35. Starman - Sara Douglass*
36. Alanna: The First Adventure - Tamora Pierce*
37. In the Hands of the Goddess - Tamora Pierce*
38. Son of the Shadows - Juliet Marillier*
39. Rhapsody - Elizabeth Haydon*
40. The Girl of Fire and Thorns - Rae Carson^
41. Assassin's Apprentice - Robin Hobb*
42. Cold Magic - Kate Elliott*
43. The Assassin King - Elizabeth Haydon*
44. Kushiel's Mercy - Jacqueline Carey*
45. The Last Light of the Sun - Guy Gavriel Kay*
46. The Rowan - Anne McCaffrey*
47. Seer of Sevenwaters - Juliet Marillier*
48. Heir to Sevenwaters - Juliet Marillier*

APRIL:
49. Primavera - Francesca Lia Block*
50. Elegy for a Lost Star - Elizabeth Haydon*
51. The Curse of the Mistwraith - Janny Wurts^

^ indicates e-book
* indicates paper book
bold indicates books I have read since purchase

24Merryann
feb 17, 2014, 9:46 am

What a nice bunch of new books you've gotten!

25connie53
feb 18, 2014, 12:05 pm

And some very good ones! They don't deserve to end in a box to be read somewhere in the future!

Martin, Sanderson, Lamb, Zimmer Bradley, Hobb, Marillier, Carey! All very good.

26johanna414
feb 18, 2014, 4:12 pm

I am very excited to get going on some of these new titles! First though, I need to finish a few of the titles I am currently reading...

I did manage to finish one today, while Tony and I were enjoying a lazy snow day. And it was even a ROOT!

27rabbitprincess
feb 18, 2014, 6:07 pm

Nice haul! :)

28johanna414
feb 20, 2014, 5:12 pm

Finished a non-ROOT last night, and a ROOT this morning - trying to finish a few of the 10 books I was in the middle of... So now I get to start something new!

29MissWatson
feb 21, 2014, 3:29 am

Happy reading!

30connie53
feb 21, 2014, 3:16 pm

Hi Johanna! And what new book did you start? Just curious to know.

31johanna414
feb 21, 2014, 6:45 pm

I started Deerskin by Robin McKinley. I'm not very far into it yet, but I'm enjoying it so far!

32connie53
feb 22, 2014, 5:51 am

Ahh, Fantasy, my favorite genre! Enjoy!

33johanna414
feb 22, 2014, 11:26 am

Thanks! I never really got into fantasy until I met my fiancé and that was all he read. He introduced me to a few of his favorites and I've been loving it ever since!

34connie53
feb 22, 2014, 11:27 am

What is there not to love about Fantasy!

35johanna414
feb 23, 2014, 11:01 am

Finished Deerskin last night and LOVED it! This morning I started Child of the Prophesy by Juliet Marillier.

36connie53
feb 23, 2014, 2:01 pm

Another good one, Johanna!!

37johanna414
feb 25, 2014, 12:37 pm

I had to go to the public library last night to pick up a book for a student at school (because she would prefer to read the paper book than on her iPad... imagine that!) and naturally came home with three books for myself. Despite the huge stack of my own books I'm dying to read, I always manage to do that...

38streamsong
feb 25, 2014, 12:43 pm

I do that too! (Maybe we all do, which is why our TBR piles grow and grow).

Yesterday, I went to the library to return a book and pick up another I had on reserve (which was a carefully planned March read). I bought two more from the FOL shelf.

Beautiful cat!

39johanna414
feb 25, 2014, 2:06 pm

I tell myself that I'm just doing my part to keep the library's circulation statistics high...

40rabbitprincess
feb 25, 2014, 5:39 pm

I tell myself that too!

41MissWatson
feb 26, 2014, 4:49 am

Libraries need all the support they can get, so kudos to you both for keeping us in business!

42connie53
feb 26, 2014, 2:27 pm

That's why I terminated my membership of the Library. Otherwise I would never read my own books.

43johanna414
feb 26, 2014, 8:09 pm

As a librarian, I cant really terminate my membership... so I guess I just need to accept that I will always be bringing home more library books than I'll ever be able to read!

44Tess_W
feb 26, 2014, 8:46 pm

The "friends" of my local library love me, twice a year they have a sale of old books, and I'm there with my $5. Can usually bring home 10-20 books for that price! However, in 2014, I've pledge NOT to go to the sale. I will have to leave town for that weekend. I will clear a bookshelf and not bring anything home this year.....I will....I will....I will....

45MissWatson
feb 27, 2014, 4:43 am

>44 Tess_W: Haha. Good luck with that, Tess. My determination crumbled in the first week of January. It's all these book bullets whizzing by...

46johanna414
feb 27, 2014, 12:52 pm

I'm VP of our Friends of the Library group and organize our biannual used book sale. We are fortunate that we have a room dedicated solely for this sale and can collect and shelf books throughout the year. The problem is that I am constantly buying books as they come in… I keep an envelope in the desk and slip in a dollar here, a dollar there. They're not always for me, often I'm grabbing something for my nieces or mom, but I still feel a little guilty about it.

47johanna414
mrt 2, 2014, 1:37 am

Just finished my first book of the month, although it is not a ROOT. Child of the Prophecy took a little longer to capture me than the first 2 in Marillier's series, but by the end I could not put it down. Fainne was a very different character than either Sorcha or Liadan but was in many ways more complex. She was not always sure of her path, she made mistakes and hurt those she loved. Watching her grow in confidence and realize that she could be her own person was what finally drew me in. Another win from Juliet Marillier!

48connie53
mrt 2, 2014, 12:12 pm

Just 12 more to go, Johanna. At least if you would read the Dutch books ;-))

49johanna414
mrt 2, 2014, 1:41 pm

And I see she has another coming out this year! I am going to try to take a little break from her though, just to keep myself from reading all of her books too quickly. I know I will be mad at myself if I read them all within 6 months and then have to start waiting new ones to be published… Maybe I can draw out the pleasure of reading her books for the first time over a couple of years...

50connie53
mrt 2, 2014, 2:46 pm

You can read one serie at a time and take a break in between.

51johanna414
mrt 2, 2014, 9:18 pm

That's sort of what I was thinking. Right now I'm going to work on finishing a few of the books I had started before I got distracted by Juliet Marillier!

52connie53
mrt 3, 2014, 5:11 am

Which one did you choose, Johanna? Or do you read more books at the same time?

53johanna414
mrt 3, 2014, 8:31 am

I'm usually reading several different books, and choose what I want to read at any given time based on my mood or where I am. Right now I'm focusing on finishing The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater and a non-fiction book my brother gave me called Under the Black Flag: The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates. The pirate book is good for those days when I have a lot of down time at work, and I'm basically just babysitting a classroom of teenagers while they take a test or work on a project.

54connie53
mrt 3, 2014, 10:07 am

You can read while you sit in a class with teenagers taking tests? Wow. I have tried a sudoku but I have to watch the whole class all the time. When I don't they are exchanging answers with the people next to them.

55johanna414
mrt 3, 2014, 10:33 am

It depends on the class; some are more trustworthy than others. The kids I'm working with today are all pretty good... plus I make sure they are spread out around the room and cant' see their neighbor's test! Usually I make a point to read a page or two and then walk a circuit around the room. I have taken tests away from students before for whispering to each other, so they're all pretty scared of me ;)

I don't even dare try doing anything while I'm working with middle school ages though... 12-13 year olds are not to be trusted! I'll take a group of 17 year olds over pre-teens any day!

56connie53
mrt 3, 2014, 10:40 am

Exactly my idea, those older kids know what they are working for most of the time. Our classes are so packed. Sometimes 32 to a room. I can put the tables apart but then there is only 40cm between tables. I can hardly squeeze through when I walk a circuit. But I do of course.

57johanna414
mrt 3, 2014, 12:08 pm

32!?!?!? We think a class is too big when we've got 22! I work in a very small school district though... usually each graduating class is about 50-70 students. It's a really rural area, mostly farm land, so the school district is comprised of kids from 8 different towns. Some of them have a 30 minute drive to school, if their parents bring them. Or over an hour on the bus!

58connie53
mrt 3, 2014, 12:17 pm

Well 28 is the standard, but it can be 32 (or even 33).

My school is a school for students between 12 and 18/19. We have about 1550 students and some of them come from little villages and have to bike for 30 to 40 minutes. We don't have a culture of bringing our kids to school once they are over 12 years old and moving to secondary school and we don't have schoolbuses, just a regular busservice from one town via the villages to the other town.

59johanna414
mrt 3, 2014, 1:04 pm

I'm sure our administration would love to do away with school buses and save a little money, maybe keep a few teaching positions that are otherwise being cut! Unfortunately, things are just way too spread out here... there is no public transportation. We also happen to be the 2nd most poverty stricken county in New York and have a lot of the social issues that go along with that, so in many cases it becomes the school's responsibility to care for the students (especially the little ones) and make sure their basic needs are being provided. Fridays are always a little difficult when half the students have to take meals provided by the school home in their backpacks just so they will be able to eat over the weekend.

60connie53
mrt 3, 2014, 1:08 pm

Wow, that sounds really awful. You are living in a whole different world then I am.

61johanna414
Bewerkt: mrt 3, 2014, 1:46 pm

It's not the whole school population, but a little less than half is well below the poverty line. And since we are so rural, there are not enough foster homes available. Kids are often stuck in homes where they really are not being cared for and there's nothing you can do but send home so food over the weekend, give them a coat and hat in the winter... It can be really heartbreaking to see.

Of course, it's not all bad here... No one has much money so the cost of living is very low. And there are parents who genuinely care for their children and will do everything they can to provide for them. It's the rest of the parents who just make me so mad.

I am 24 and while I have no children, the majority of my high school classmates already have a child or two, or three. For some reason, we have a culture where we marry and start families very young here. Most of them are good parents and work hard but there is one girl who makes me cringe every time I see her. She had a child a couple years after high school. Then she had another child. Turns out she was leaving the 2 and 3 year old babies home alone all day, sometimes all night so they were taken away from her and placed with a very nice foster family. In response to that, she immediately got pregnant again and had twins. Her drug habit caused them to be born very prematurely and they have been in the hospital with severe health problems for months. She goes to visit them once or twice a month and has no understanding of how absolutely horrific her actions have been. None of the fathers are in any way involved. So when these children (and many more just like them) are old enough to start school, we are expected to hold them to the same standard as everyone else and achieve certain test scores despite the fact that none of their basic needs have been met first. They probably haven't been fed unless they got their free breakfast at school, they may or may not have slept because no one is putting them to bed at a reasonable hour, and who knows if they even have a real home to live in. But if the school cannot get test scores that are high enough, it's the fault of the teachers and our funding gets cut at the state level. Then teachers get layed off because there is no money, class sizes get larger and then no one has the time to notice that little Susie has been wearing the same clothes all week because mom got kicked out of her apartment and they are living in their car... She slips through the cracks, ends up dropping out of school at 16, gets pregnant but can't support her child because she does not have a high school diploma to qualify her for any jobs and becomes one more person in this awful cycle...

Sorry for the rant, but how frustrating is that? I love my job (even if I just sub part time while I finish up my Master's degree) and I love the kids but it can be so hard to see every day. Especially since I work with all age levels and have to seehow the sweet 6 year old turns into an angry teenager.

62connie53
mrt 3, 2014, 2:35 pm

That is so sad a story, Johanna. And rant all you like. I totally understand. I only am thankful you can tell your story and unburden your hart a little, because I think you always will feel that way. I guess there are stories like that in every part of the world. Only in the poorer parts of that world the situation is getting worse due to the 'crisis'.

I'm happy you feel comfortable enough with a 'stranger' to tell that story, thanks for that. Hugs.

63Tess_W
mrt 3, 2014, 7:42 pm

Johanna, I'm a teacher too, grades 9-12, although I teach in a private affluent school. I know your frustration as I have friends in your same situation. In fact, I have the privilege and pleasure of attending a National Humanities Seminar in upstate New York this past summer, Shakers-Mt. Lebanon. There were many local teachers and they were telling me how bad it was, especially around Albany. Are from near there?

64johanna414
mrt 4, 2014, 5:56 pm

I am located in Western New York - Allegany County. It's right near the PA border.

65Tess_W
mrt 4, 2014, 8:54 pm

Yes, I know of the area. A cousin in Jamestown, NY.

66johanna414
mrt 11, 2014, 12:42 pm

Tony and I recently found out that the house we rent is being sold, so we have to move... He is really disappointed but I'm secretly thrilled! Right now, we are a ten minute drive from town on a road that is more pot holes than anything and I hate it. The only good thing is that it is inexpensive... We are applying to rent a teeny tiny house across the street from where he works and less than a mile from where I work so we will both be saving a lot of money in gas. That should hopefully make up for the increase in rent... The fact that I just got a second job should also help!

Sometimes I think things really do happen for a reason! I've been thinking about finding another part time job for a couple weeks now but hadn't really started looking yet... so imagine how surprised I was to get a call from the school asking if I would be willing to do home tutoring for a high school girl. It's only 10 hours a week but it pays $27 an hour and the girl is actually a pretty good student. She just has some anxiety issues that have prevented her from attending school... I'll be meeting with her and her mom tomorrow evening to get started!

In other news... I finally finished another ROOT! Under the Black Flag by David Cordingly, a gift from my brother a few years ago.

67Tess_W
mrt 11, 2014, 7:50 pm

Great rooting and congrats on the part-time job; sounds like a great one!

68MissWatson
mrt 12, 2014, 5:17 am

Congrats on the ROOTs and the new job. Hope you like each other!

69VivienneR
mrt 12, 2014, 7:03 pm

Sounds like you found a perfect solution to what must originally have sounded like bad news. Congratulations and good luck!

70johanna414
mrt 13, 2014, 8:36 am

I'm looking forward to getting started! We were not able to meet last night because of some really bad weather - March in Western New York often means sunshine and 50 degrees one day, 8 inches of snow the next... but we will be spending a few hours at the library tonight.

71connie53
mrt 15, 2014, 1:48 pm

That sounds really good Johanna. How did your evening in the library go? And did you hear any news about the house renting?

72johanna414
mrt 15, 2014, 7:22 pm

Thanks for the well wishes everyone! We have met twice now and things are going very well... Mostly just focusing on getting some late assignments completed. I haven't been pushing her too hard though because I know she has been struggling with anxiety.

No news yet about the house, but I will make sure to let you know as soon as we hear something. There are a few other people applying for it so I'm sure she is going to be calling references and stuff. I am a little worried that the cats might be an issue- they are very well behaved and we offered to give a vet reference, but I worry that she will prefer to rent to someone without pets over us... If that's the case, we'll just have to keep looking.

73connie53
mrt 16, 2014, 5:28 pm

Glad to hear that the tutoring is going alright. And I will keep my fingers crossed for the house!

74johanna414
mrt 17, 2014, 9:44 am

Finished the library book I've been reading (Dragon Prince) so now I can focus on the book I need to read for tutoring. She needs to write a paper on 1984, which I have not read (how have I lived 25 years without reading this book?! It's so good!!) so I am trying to get through it quickly. The good news is that I found an old, beat up copy of it on my shelves so it counts as a ROOT!

75connie53
mrt 17, 2014, 4:24 pm

Hahahaha. Job well done on the ROOT searching!

76johanna414
mrt 18, 2014, 8:56 am

Thanks! I was really excited to find it on my shelf! I think it was my brother's from high school and somehow I ended up with it when he moved to Oregon.

My sister is a senior at Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY which is absolutely the most awesome town ever. I went to spend the weekend with her and came home with a stack of books from the used book store in the Commons. My favorite thing about visiting her is that she always lets me spend at least an hour in the book store, despite the fact that she is not nearly as obsessed with books as me. There is no book store in my town, or in any of the surrounding towns, so Amazon is usually my only option for buying books. I would much rather browse through an actual store, and support a small business in the meantime! It's always really exciting when you find something really good at a used book store! I'm at work right now, and can't remember all the titles I bought, but I'll come back and list them later today or tomorrow.

77MissWatson
mrt 18, 2014, 10:23 am

Happy reading with your new finds!

78Tess_W
mrt 18, 2014, 11:53 am

Glad you got to visit your sister and the bookstore!

79Tallulah_Rose
mrt 19, 2014, 1:08 pm

#61 that really is an awful story! As far as I know it's not as bad in most parts of Germany, thankfully. But what I really don't get is, why the school funding is being cut because of low test notes. I mean, is that in any way logical and I'm missing this?

80johanna414
mrt 19, 2014, 7:07 pm

It makes absolutely no sense... The American education system is going in a very frightening direction right now, especially in New York where the governor is very resistant to funding schools.

81johanna414
Bewerkt: mrt 20, 2014, 9:13 pm

As promised, my recent haul from the bookstore:
The Thirteenth House - Sharon Shinn
Hades' Daughters, The Wayfarer Redemption, Enchanter, Starman - Sara Douglass
Alanna: The First Adventure, In the Hands of the Goddess - Tamora Pierce
Son of the Shadows - Juliet Marillier (I've already read this, but I have a feeling it will be one I will want to reread)

My goal for the year had been to cut back on buying books… and I seem to be failing miserably at that! I don't feel guilty about these though since it is so rare that I actually get to visit a real bookstore and browse. I decided to indulge myself!

82rabbitprincess
mrt 20, 2014, 9:33 pm

Yay bookstore hauls! I always tell my BF that there is no such thing as too many books -- after all, we can still enter and exit the apartment ;)

83johanna414
mrt 20, 2014, 10:09 pm

I am very fortunate in that my fiancé loves books *almost* as much as I do, so he's very supportive of my book buying habits (I guess it doesn't hurt that I also brought home a couple books for him…).

Although, it occurs to me that someday I might resent that when his books are taking up all the shelf space that could be devoted to more books for me...

84johanna414
mrt 21, 2014, 1:28 pm

When Tony got out of work last night, he had a voicemail from the landlord for that house! She basically said that she had a couple questions for us (presumably about the cats…) and for him or I to call back. Since he gets out of work at about 11pm, he couldn't call her back right then but is going to before he goes in this afternoon. Hopefully we will be getting some good news!!

85connie53
mrt 22, 2014, 8:16 am

Nice book haul, Johanna, and encouraging news about the house. Did Tony call back?

86johanna414
mrt 22, 2014, 4:38 pm

He called back and got her voicemail, so he left a message and told her he would try again when he gets out of work tonight. I guess she works nights as well, so it shouldn't be a problem to call so late.

87connie53
mrt 22, 2014, 5:24 pm

I hope it will turn out alright!!

88johanna414
mrt 24, 2014, 9:08 am

Well, we didn't get the house... Tony finally got ahold of the landlord and she said she had been all set to rent to us, but then she got another applicant whose references were just as good as ours, but this person had no cats. So the search continues...

89connie53
mrt 24, 2014, 4:11 pm

That's really regrettable, Johanna! I hope you find something new soon!

90johanna414
mrt 26, 2014, 2:12 pm

I may have found a solution to our housing problem! I'm waiting for a call back from the landlord this afternoon but i know he family who owns the house, so it should work out (assuming the price is right...). The location is not as ideal as the last place, but it is right downtown which is convenient.

91Merryann
mrt 28, 2014, 1:27 am

How disappointing to come so close to getting the house only to have it snatched away! But you did say it was teeny-tiny, so maybe it's not a bad thing. It would be horrible to have to --gasp-- cull books from your collection because the house is too small!

I hope your new lead works out. :)

92johanna414
mrt 28, 2014, 12:25 pm

The house is actually perfect for us... two bedrooms so we have somewhere to house siblings when they come to visit, it's small but not tiny (plenty of room for books!), has a nice yard with a vegetable garden, and best of all... they had no problem with the cats! The rent is a little more than we wanted to pay, but we will be able to swing it. We just won't be going out to eat or having expensive dates for awhile :)

We asked for a couple of days to talk it over, but were told the house is ours if we wanted it. We will be able to move in May 1st so we'll be out in plenty of time for the new owner of our current house to move in by June.

As for books, I am still reading 1984 along with the girl I tutor and am working on another ROOT called The Wretched of Muirwood. I am thoroughly enjoying both!

93rabbitprincess
mrt 28, 2014, 6:22 pm

Great news! :)

94johanna414
Bewerkt: mrt 29, 2014, 11:32 am

I'm really excited to get moved in! I'm already decorating it in my mind...
In the past week, I have purchased 6 new books and was given 1... My rationale is that I won't be able to afford new books once we move in to the new place so I need to stock up now. Never mind the fact that the house is literally around the corner from the library...

95Tess_W
mrt 29, 2014, 7:37 am

Congrats!

96johanna414
mrt 29, 2014, 8:37 pm

Today I cleared off a good portion of my bookshelves in preparation for the move and ended up donating 1 box and 3 grocery bags full of books to the library book sale. While I was there, I couldn't resist grabbing 2 new books to replace the 40 or so I'd given away...

I know that I'm going to have to weed my shelves again, since tony has almost as many books as me, but it's going to be a lot tougher next time around...

And I almost forgot, I finished a ROOT!
The Female Thing by Laura Kipnis

It definitely gave me some things to think about, and I can add it to the next bag headed to the library.

97connie53
mrt 30, 2014, 3:49 pm

Congrats on the house, johanna. And what is there to talk about? It sounds perfect.

98Merryann
mrt 30, 2014, 11:59 pm

So, you officially took the house, right? It sounds like it, but I want to be sure before singing out, "Yippee!"

99johanna414
mrt 31, 2014, 9:10 am

Yes, we officially took the house! Our move in date is May 1st, but they are going to let us move some of our furniture in a little early.

100MissWatson
mrt 31, 2014, 2:10 pm

Congratulations on the house, and may it be a wonderful cozy nest for you.

101Merryann
apr 2, 2014, 1:36 am

Yippee! Lol.

I'm glad for you. :)

102johanna414
apr 2, 2014, 4:43 pm



Whenever my sister comes home for a few days she brings her cat, Cooper, who is the coolest and gets along with everyone and everything. She was at my parents' house this weekend and took the sweetest picture of Scout and Cooper cuddling. Scout wishes Cooper lived with her all the time, and I just wish both cats lived with Tony and I...

103johanna414
apr 2, 2014, 4:48 pm



But... coming home to these little cuties makes up for it! :) Zoey and Toby are best friends too!

104rabbitprincess
apr 2, 2014, 6:44 pm

Awwwwww kitties! :D lovely pictures.

105MissWatson
apr 3, 2014, 5:33 am

Cuties indeed!

106Tess_W
apr 3, 2014, 10:18 am

Congrats on the house! The cats are "cute", but I'm deathly allergic. Have to carry and epi pen just in case I even get near a cat. Sat by somebody in a theatre once with cat dander on their clothes, I was gaspoing for air, covered with hives and the 911 guys have to perform a trach on me! Those cats are dander deadly for some of us!

107johanna414
apr 3, 2014, 10:32 am

I'm actually allergic to cats as well, although not THAT allergic!! I can't imagine not being able to even be around cats! I carry an epi pen too but that's more for pollen (I'm allergic to all pollen... spring = torture), almonds and penicillium mold. With the cat and dog allergies, I just choose to live my life itchy and sneezing rather than live without them. When I volunteer at the rescue, I have to shower and wash my clothing immediately after getting home. Fortunately, you tend to build up an immunity to your own pets over time!

108Tess_W
apr 3, 2014, 9:23 pm

Thankfully, I'm not allergic to dogs, if they have short hair, so we always have pug dogs or dobermans. If I go around long haired dogs, I too, have to leave quickly and go home and shower.

109connie53
apr 7, 2014, 3:12 pm

The second kitty picture does not work for me! And I love kittens!

110johanna414
apr 8, 2014, 10:11 am

That's strange! Both pictures are from the same source... I'm not sure why one would work and not the other...

111VivienneR
apr 9, 2014, 6:54 pm

So glad I can see both pictures, they are all lovely kitties (Scout is my favourite).

112johanna414
apr 10, 2014, 9:31 pm

I just finished Heir to Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier, and considering I just started it yesterday... I'm going to go ahead and say that I loved it! It pretty much took up my entire day off. Fortunately, my fiancé is a very understanding and accommodating man... And he was happy to change our plans to include sitting on the couch and reading all day (the fact that he's totally obsessed with the book he's currently reading probably helped... Words of Radiance if you were wondering).

So instead of going for a hike, making dinner and watching a movie like we had planned, we read our books and ordered Chinese take-out. It was a really nice day.

113Tess_W
apr 11, 2014, 3:19 am

I'm jealous!

114MissWatson
apr 11, 2014, 3:45 am

It sounds so relaxing!

115johanna414
apr 11, 2014, 7:39 am

It was really relaxing! Tony and I very rarely have a day off together so that made it particularly nice. Usually I go in to work while he's still sleeping, come home around 3pm, then he goes in to work between 3-4pm and gets home right around the time that I am falling asleep. And on the weekends when I usually have off, he has to go in early since that's when the restaurant is busiest. So when we get to spend a whole day together, it's a nice treat!

116johanna414
apr 12, 2014, 8:06 pm

I just finished The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey and while I didn't love it, it was an easy, entertaining read. The first half seemed to drag a bit and I'd just read a chapter here and there over a couple weeks, but Lackey picked up the pace in the second half and I got sucked it. I read the second half in just one day.

Now to decide my next book...

117Merryann
apr 16, 2014, 9:02 am

>102 johanna414:, 103, Wow. My three cats barely manage to tolerate one another, much less welcome visitors! Beautiful pictures.

118johanna414
apr 16, 2014, 1:24 pm

Haha the cats don't really tolerate any visitors except Cooper! My sister adopted him as a kitten while she was home for the summer, so he became part of the household over those few months. We were a little worried the first time she brought him one from school, but it was like he'd never left! He's a very unique cat; we joke that he's part dog because he's just so adaptable to any situation.

119johanna414
apr 16, 2014, 2:06 pm

I'm currently in the fantasy section of a Barnes and Noble... Losing self control. I want all of the books!

120Merryann
apr 17, 2014, 2:19 am

Obviously this is the LAST place you should post a message if you want anyone to help you resist!
How did you do?

121MissWatson
apr 17, 2014, 2:47 am

My favourite daydream: win the lottery, go to a bookstore and buy up everything that catches my eye.

122Merryann
apr 17, 2014, 10:00 am

Yes, and add an addition onto the house - a library like Higgins has in My Fair Lady, complete with ladders that make a smooth ball-bearing sound when you push them along their rails to the next section.

123johanna414
apr 17, 2014, 10:53 am

I managed to hold off and buying anything until we got the the used bookstore that was our actual destination (Barnes & Noble was just to kill time while we waited for my sister to get out of class). Since Monday was my birthday, part of my present from Tony was a trip to Ithaca to visit my sister, dinner and beer tasting at the Ithaca Brewery and a visit to the used bookstore. He bought me the following books:

Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb
Prophecy by Elizabeth Haydon
The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood
Fall of a Kingdom by Hilari Bell
The Magician's Apprentice by Trudi Canavan
In the Forests of Serre by Patricia McKillip
Flame of Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier

Then for himself, he bought a collection with the first three books in The Belgariad series by David Eddings. All in all, it was a very nice day!

Oh yeah, to top it all off, my sister got me an adorable set of cat bookends!

124johanna414
apr 17, 2014, 10:55 am

In case you're wondering, the other part of my present from Tony was a blender. Such a romantic, right? But at least I can make margaritas this summer!

125rabbitprincess
apr 17, 2014, 5:20 pm

Sounds like a great birthday! And this summer you can blend up margaritas and read some of your nice new books! :)

126johanna414
Bewerkt: apr 17, 2014, 9:23 pm

Can't wait! My parents got me new lawn furniture for the back patio at our new house, so I'll be reading and drinking margaritas all summer!

Also, I just finished Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop thinking it was a book I had purchased in January. When I couldn't find it on my list of this years book, I checked my kindle records. Turns out I bought it last August, so it counts as a ROOT!

127Tess_W
apr 17, 2014, 8:07 pm

Very nice!

128connie53
apr 19, 2014, 1:45 pm

What a great list, Johanna!

Congrats on your birthday!!! And you have the best of both worlds as gifts. A lovely afternoon with dinner, beer, books and sister! And a blender.

129johanna414
apr 19, 2014, 6:07 pm

To be fair, the blender is pretty awesome... It's red to match my 1950's red and white kitchen, plus I like to make smoothies for breakfast.

130Tess_W
apr 19, 2014, 6:55 pm

I have been buying red things for the kitchen, also. Toaster, can opener, and a set of Teflon pans. I love them. Goes great with my gold and plum colors.

131connie53
apr 20, 2014, 6:15 am

Ahh, a red blender! Wow I love all things red!

132johanna414
apr 20, 2014, 1:40 pm

Just finished Seer of Sevenwaters, and it wasn't a ROOT but it was SO GOOD!!! I love Juliet Marillier!

133connie53
apr 21, 2014, 5:06 am

>132 johanna414: I love Juliet too!!! I stille have one more of her books to read Ravenvlucht

134VivienneR
apr 21, 2014, 11:20 pm

>129 johanna414: & >131 connie53: I love all things red too. Too bad I have to wait until my old blender, toaster etc. breaks down before replacing with red ones. When I was a little kid and adults asked me what my favourite colour was, I said yellow. I figured everybody's favourite colour was red, so the question was really "What's your favourite colour after red?"

135MissWatson
apr 22, 2014, 6:39 am

Lovely bookends! Enjoy the new books!

136johanna414
Bewerkt: apr 22, 2014, 8:47 am

I was never really into red until I found this amazing 1950s red and white enamel porcelain top kitchen table with matching white vinyl chairs at an auction. Perfect condition and I got it for $100 dollars! It's probably my favorite piece of furniture in the house. It looks a lot like this:



I've embraced the red ever since then!

137Tess_W
apr 22, 2014, 9:44 am

Love it!

138Merryann
apr 23, 2014, 12:38 am

Beautiful table! How cool that you got it with the chairs, too!

139connie53
Bewerkt: apr 23, 2014, 3:20 pm

I always wanted red shoes and a red coat!

140johanna414
apr 30, 2014, 8:29 am

Moving day!!!

141MissWatson
apr 30, 2014, 8:33 am

Good luck in your new home! I wish that nothing important or treasured gets broken or lost. As we say over here, moving three times is like having a house burn down once.

142Merryann
apr 30, 2014, 9:27 am

Have a happy move!

143Tess_W
apr 30, 2014, 11:52 am

Hope moving goes smoothly and you don't "lose" anything!

144connie53
mei 1, 2014, 12:45 pm

Happy Moving, Johanna!

145johanna414
mei 1, 2014, 1:30 pm

Thank everyone! It was I pretty miserable day to move, as it rained on and off all day... But we got it done and it is so nice to be in the new house. The very last thing we did at the end of the day was bring the cats to the new house and I was surprised how quickly they started to adjust. They hid under the bed for about an hour, then crept out to explore the house before curling up on the new couch to cuddle with Tony and I.

Everything is pretty much still I'm boxes, and is likely going to stay that way for a few days since I have to work until 10pm today and then I'm headed to Ithaca for my sisters film premiere. A couple of friends and I will also be checking out a giant used book sale while we are there. I'm so excited for that!

I think I'll ask tony to assemble the kitchen while I'm away... As a chef, he has much stronger feelings about where everything should be kept... Then when I get home at least one room will be put together!

Today I finished reading Robin Hobb's Assassin's Apprentice while monitoring in-school suspension. A very good book to read on a very boring day at work!

146rabbitprincess
mei 1, 2014, 7:25 pm

Ooh, a film premiere AND a giant used book sale! Fun! :) Have a great time.

147connie53
Bewerkt: mei 2, 2014, 2:33 pm

I'm so glad the move went well, Johanna. And that the cats got used to their new environment. But you have to work after moving? In the Netherlands you get 2 days off when you are moving!

Your plans for the filme and the book sale sounds exciting. Have a nice time in Ithaca.

148Tess_W
mei 2, 2014, 2:38 pm

Film and a book sale, doesn't get any better. Enjoy!

149johanna414
Bewerkt: jul 28, 2014, 10:32 pm

Oh my goodness, that book sale was amazing!!!!!

We got there an hour before the doors opened, and managed to be in the first group allowed in the building. It's housed in a giant warehouse and just stuffed with books! I filled one bag with books for Tony, his brother and my mom and then filled an even bigger bag for myself... So much fun!

Here's the haul:
Destiny - Elizabeth Haydon
Sunshine, The Outlaws of Sherwood & Rose Daughter - Robin McKinley
Child of the Prophesy, Daughter of the Forest, Heart's Blood, Wildwood Dancing - Juliet Marillier
The Forgotten Beasts of Eld & The Changeling Sea - Patricia A. McKillip
Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman
King's Dragon - Kate Elliott
The Pillars of the World - Anne Bishop
The Horse Goddess - Morgan Llywellyn
Darkspell - Katharine Kerr
Cast in Shadow - Michelle Sagara
Daughter of the Empire - Raymond E. Feist & Janny Wurts
Mad Ship, Ship of Destiny, Assassin's Quest - Robin Hobb
Poison Study, Magic Study, Fire Study - Maria V. Snyder
The Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfuss

And that's not counting the titles I got for Tony but plan to read myself…

Titles I have read since listing

150Tess_W
mei 3, 2014, 2:56 pm

Woo hoo, what a haul!

151connie53
mei 3, 2014, 3:39 pm

I love this list because I own a few of those. I could not resist to name them

Destiny - Elizabeth Haydon
Child of the Prophesy, Daughter of the Forest, Heart's Blood, Wildwood Dancing - Juliet Marillier
Darkspell - Katharine Kerr
Daughter of the Empire - Raymond E. Feist & Janny Wurts
Mad Ship, Ship of Destiny, Assassin's Quest - Robin Hobb
Poison Study, Magic Study, Fire Study - Maria V. Snyder
The Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfuss

And they are all excellent reads! Enjoy.

152rabbitprincess
Bewerkt: mei 3, 2014, 3:51 pm

Neverwhere is fantastic (or at least I thought so). Hope you like it! And I have another of Morgan Llywelyn's books on the tbr so will be interested to hear what you think. Sounds like a really great sale.

153MissWatson
mei 3, 2014, 5:13 pm

Enjoy your swag!

154Merryann
mei 11, 2014, 6:30 pm

A great book sale is a good gift to give yourself after the stresses of moving. I'm glad you found some great titles. :)

155johanna414
mei 12, 2014, 8:47 am

We are finally getting settled into the house, and absolutely loving it! It's a very cozy little house and we've been spending a lot of time on the covered patio out back. The kitchen is still a disaster since there is very little storage space and we have A LOT of stuff... we are working on some creative solutions to that issue! Tony has to finish setting up his "nerd room" (aka the guest bedroom) and then we will be completely moved in!

My favorite part is that I finally have a garden! I haven't done much with it yet, but I'm enjoying making plans! A friend of mine is doing some rearranging in her garden and is going to be giving me some perennials. I just hope I don't kill everything... I'm not sure yet if I've inherited my dad's green thumb... He can make anything grow!

156MissWatson
mei 12, 2014, 9:41 am

Well, they always say a garden teaches patience. Wishing you good weather to make it grow!

157connie53
mei 12, 2014, 4:11 pm

Glad to hear that you are doing al right in your new house, Johanna. Happy Gardening!!

158johanna414
mei 29, 2014, 9:18 am

I had some dental work done the other day, which coincided with a two day break from work, so I managed to start and finish Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier within 24 hours. It was another of those up-til-4am type books!

159johanna414
Bewerkt: jun 6, 2014, 9:40 am

Poison Study was absolutely riveting!!!

I'm glad I managed to finish it Tuesday afternoon, since Tony and I rescued a couple of kittens Tuesday night and I have had no time for reading since then! We have decided to keep one and have been calling her Rhubarb, or Ruby and my sister is going to keep the other. They are doing really well and are absolutely precious!

Tony and I are keeping the darker colored tortoiseshell, and my sister is taking the tabby.

160MissWatson
jun 6, 2014, 5:00 am

They are adorable!

161VivienneR
jun 9, 2014, 11:31 am

Congratulations! Great reading companions!

162connie53
jun 13, 2014, 2:17 pm

Adorable kittens! Where did you find them and I really don't know how anybody can abandon kittens (or pups, or other living creatures)

163johanna414
jun 17, 2014, 12:39 pm

My cousin has a cat that she refuses to spay - this wouldn't be a huge problem but she also lets the cat wander outside and provides her with no vet care. So the poor cat inevitably has a litter or two of kittens every year. As soon as they are about 8 weeks old, she will drop them off at a barn...

This time, I stepped in and offered to take a couple of them and find homes for the other four if she agreed to get her cat spayed. I held up my end of the bargain... we'll see if she holds up hers. I'm not really that optimistic.

In other news, I just finished Sunshine by Robin McKinley and have started King's Dragon by Kate Elliot.

164Merryann
jul 6, 2014, 7:49 pm

Beautiful kittens!

165MissWatson
jul 21, 2014, 8:28 am

Hi Johanna, I hope Real Life is treating you well?

166johanna414
aug 24, 2014, 11:06 pm

Wow… It has been a really long time since I posted anything! Busy summer! Of course, I have still been reading. Here's what I've read since the last time I checked in:

Fangirl - Rainbow Rowell
Flame of Sevenwaters - Juliet Marillier (I'm sad to have finished this series!)
Cast in Shadows - Michelle Sagara
Eleanor & Park - Rainbow Rowell
The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating - Elisabeth Tova Bailey
Cast in Courtlight - Michelle Sagara
Under the Never Sky - Veronica Rossi
Through the Ever Night - Veronica Rossi
The Sweetheart's Knitting Club - Lori Wilde
Not Your Ordinary Wolf Girl - Emily Pohl-Weary
Attachments - Rainbow Rowell

I've been having some minor ADD when it comes to reading lately so I'm in the middle of several different books at the moment… I tend to do that at the end of the summer when I feel like I have to rush to get as much reading done as possible before the school year begins.

Everything is going really well here - we are loving the new house, although it is a disaster right now because I've been house sitting a lot this summer and usually am just in and out really quick. It's amazing how cluttered such a small space gets when you don't bother to put laundry away…

The cats are all doing really well; Ruby (the kitten) is growing like crazy and is getting into all sorts of trouble! Fortunately, the other two really like her so they put up with being ambushed over and over again every day.

167MissWatson
aug 25, 2014, 4:15 am

That's quite a lot of reading done!

168johanna414
aug 28, 2014, 12:31 pm

Well, I have some super exciting news! I got a new job!!! I am now officially a school library media specialist in a very small school district about 40 minutes away from home. It was sort of a last minute thing and I have tons to do before I start teaching classes on Wednesday, but I am so excited!

169Familyhistorian
aug 28, 2014, 3:16 pm

>168 johanna414: Congratulations on your new job - that title is quite a mouthful. Good luck with your exciting opportunity.

170MissWatson
aug 29, 2014, 3:13 am

That is great news indeed, Johanna. Congratulations and all the best wishes! I hope you'll find nice colleagues and a good working environment!

171Tess_W
aug 30, 2014, 4:28 pm

Congrats on the job!

172connie53
sep 6, 2014, 2:42 pm

Congratulations on the new job. It sounds real nice and not to far from your home!

173johanna414
sep 8, 2014, 12:03 am

Four days back to school, and I already am sickwith a cold... so I brought Edith Pattou's East home from my high school library for the weekend and have been happily curled up on the couch with the cats reading all day.

So far, things have been going really well with my new job. The administration seems very relaxed and helpful and all of the other techers seem very happy working in the district. I think I'm going to like it here!

174connie53
sep 28, 2014, 3:54 pm

Good to hear! How is the cold now? I hope you got it under control and it is gone now.

175johanna414
okt 12, 2014, 3:03 pm

Things are going really well here - I am loving my new job, although it does have it's challenges. The school district is very very behind in technology and part of the job they want me doing is helping the school get updated. Except I haven't really been given any tools to do so… I love my students though, and my co-workers are great! I've been listening to some good books on my drive as well!

Since the beginning of the school year, I have listened to:
World War Z by Max Brooks
Pure by Julianna Baggot
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

I just finished The Language of Flowers, so I'm going to be searching my library's overdrive account for my next title. I've never really been one to enjoy audiobooks, but the do make my drive really enjoyable.

Other reading I have done:
Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

176MissWatson
okt 13, 2014, 4:32 am

Great to know things are going well. Enjoy the reading!

177Tess_W
okt 18, 2014, 11:05 pm

So glad the new job is going well and you are able to get some reading/listening in!

178johanna414
okt 27, 2014, 9:53 am

A couple months ago, I was looking at Amazon Kindle books and the Daily Deal was the first 6 Kate Daniels books by Ilona Andrews. They sounded interesting and I had some friends who really enjoyed them, so I bought the first one for $1.99 or $.99. Then I bought the other 5 and promptly regretted it since I had no idea if I was going to even enjoy the series... I've been too nervous that I would hate them and regret purchasing them all that I kept putting off reading them until this weekend when I was house sitting and bored. I started Magic Bites, stayed up way too late reading it, finished it the next morning. I really like Kate Daniels and I am really, really glad I bought them while they were on sale, since I think this will be a series that I'll reread.

I also read Dragonflight last week, my first experience with Anne McCaffrey. I really liked the way she wrote her dragons, but I hated the romance aspects of the book. And I normally enjoy a little romance... Plus I was reading a really poorly edited ebook edition that I had borrowed from the public library. I think the dragons were enough to make me go back for more though.