Just a few days late. Sorry about that.
The end of the year kind of sneaked up on me. I got sick for several days at the beginning of December and then Gabriel (and Kevin and I) got parainfluenza which caused croup. We ended up taking Gabriel to urgent care one evening and they admitted him to the PICU. They released us the next night, but about two nights later (around midnight) we ended up taking him to the ER and being admitted to the general pediatric unit for about a day. A couple of days later was Gabriel's first birthday and the day we were leaving for Connecticut. But we ended up canceling our flights out to take Gabriel to the ER again for more breathing treatments. We did get to go to Connecticut but we left on Christmas. And then I got sick again for a couple days on the way back. Anyway, it has been super hectic and I think I just need a break.
Being a parent is still hard and time-consuming. Gabriel is moving and playing and eating real food, which is great. But it is still difficult to keep up with everything else in life. He is such a cutie though and it is fun to watch him learn and grow.
Work is kind of terrible right now. I was passed up for a promotion again in favor of someone much less experienced who takes on much less work and extra tasks, but who is liked by the supervisor. But a couple of people have left which has very much improved things in my department overall.
We will be moving soon to a larger apartment, which is very exciting! We will have two bedrooms (instead of no bedrooms) and two bathrooms, full size washer and dryer, much more space and more storage/closet space. I hate packing and moving, but I cannot wait!
I want to do quick book reviews and then I will talk about my sort of New Years goals from last year. I will do my best to get up a New Year post to talk about goals for this coming year.
Dreadful Company and Grave Importance
by Vivian Shaw
Narrator: Suzannah Hampton
Re-reads
4 stars out of 5 stars
A Curse for True Love by
Stephanie Garber
Narrators: Dan Bittner and Rebecca Soler
Synopsis/Thoughts: This is the last book in the Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy. I didn't remember the previous book as well as I maybe should have, but it was fine. Evangeline enters the story with her memory gone, married to a prince, and trying to figure out what has happened to her. Her husband, Apollo, is doing his best to keep her from remembering anything. And Jacks, the Prince of Hearts and Fate is hiding from Apollo and his men but staying close enough to Evangeline to help and protect her, even if she doesn't know him anymore. I enjoyed these books. After the Caraval series, I really wanted books about Jacks and it wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but I am still happy with it.
3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars
When I Was Your Age by
Kenan Thompson
Narrator: Kenan Thompson
Synopsis/Thoughts: Kenan Thompson talks about his rise to fame and the various jobs he has worked and making it in the world of comedy, but also having a normal life. Parts of this book were a little disorganized, from my perspective, but I did like it overall. And I am a sucker for memoirs read by the author.
3 stars out of 5 stars
Whoopi Goldberg
Narrator: Whoopi Goldberg
Synopsis/Thoughts: Whoopi Goldberg focuses on her growing up and rise to fame but through the lens of her relationships with her mother and brother, to whom she was very close. I really enjoyed this book. It was a great read and occasionally very funny. I don't know a whole lot about her, but it was interesting learning some and hearing about her mother and brother. And again, read by the author which I love.
4 stars out of 5 stars
Divine Might by
Natalie Haynes
Narrator: Natalie Haynes
Synopsis/Thoughts: This book was all about different goddesses in Greek mythology. And read by the author to boot. It probably will come as no surprise that I really enjoyed this book. I know I have read at least one other book by her and liked it. I would like to read more. Definitely recommend if you like Greek mythology.
4 stars out of 5 stars
Wolfsong by
TJ Klune
Narrator: Kirt Graves
Synopsis/Thoughts: Ox's father abandoned him and his mother when he was 12, but taught Ox to believe that he wasn't worth much and that no one would like him before he took off. Despite that, Ox manages to gather people around him who become family. Including the family that moves in next door who have a bunch of their own secrets that change Ox's whole life. This book was, first off, longer than I was expecting. I think I liked it overall. I liked how Ox developed and really liked his relationship with Gordo. I was interested in a lot of the characters individually as well, like Kelly, Elizabeth, and Robbie I haven't decided if I will continue the series or not. I think I would like to, but I have been bad at investing in series these days.
3 stars out of 5 stars
Dick Van Dyke
Narrator: Dick Van Dyke
Synopsis/Thoughts: I went on a memoir kick. Another one, read by the author. Dick Van Dyke talks about himself later in life and what it is like growing old. He is still so remarkably with-it and active at the age when he wrote this book, it is actually really interesting to hear about. Maybe it could inspire me to do better for myself as I get older.
3 stars out of 5 stars
Beyond the Wand by
Tom Felton
Narrator: Tom Felton
Synopsis/Thoughts:Yet another memoir read by the author. This focuses on Tom Felton's life leading up to, during, and shortly after the filming of the Harry Potter movies. There was a lot about him that I didn't know, but he tells it in a way that is very honest and human. I admire him and am glad that I read this one.
4 stars out of 5 stars
You're a Mean One Matthew Prince
by Timothy Janovsky
Narrator: Mark Sanderlin
Synopsis/Thoughts: Matthew Prince is a spoiled rich kid who, in a bid for his parents' attention, buys an island and ends up banned to the small town his mother grew up in to spend the holidays with his grandparents. And with the annoying guy who is staying with his grandparents. As predicted, he starts to have a change of heart. This was very predictable, but also a sweet, easy read.
2 1/2 stars out of 5 stars
Landline by
Rainbow Rowell
Narrator: Rebecca Lowman
Re-read
5 stars out of 5 stars
by Charles Dickens
Narrator: Tim Curry
Re-read
4 stars out of 5 stars
A Universe of Wishes
Editor: Dhonielle Clayton
Various Authors
Synopsis/Thoughts: This is an anthology of diverse stories. I really liked some of the stories and definitely liked some more than others. But I think there is something for everyone. And diversity in authors and characters is always welcome!
4 stars out of 5 stars
Winterwood by
Shea Ernshaw
Synopsis/Thoughts: Nora comes from a long line of witches but seems to have no special power herself, though she longs for it. On the heels of her grandmother's death, a snow storm takes out the power, phone lines, and roads to her family cabin as well as the surrounding area which includes a camp for troubled boys. While walking through the dark (maybe evil?) woods, she encounters a boy from the camp who should be dead. Oliver's memories aren't clear anymore and he is keeping secrets from Nora, but the dark woods and perpetual storm will drag everything out eventually. There were a few different layers to this book. I loved Nora and her family and their spell book. The way people interacted with Oliver was so strange that it kept me engaged as well. Overall it was a good read.
3 stars out of 5 stars
Spectacular by
Stephanie Garber
Synopsis/Thoughts: Short story that is Caraval 3.5. The Great Holiday is coming and Donatella is distraught. She has been feeling unsure of Legend's feelings for her and is determined to come up with the best Great Holiday gift for him. Her search leads her on a rather strange adventure. This was a fun story story. It has been a while since I read the Caraval series so all the details weren't as clear, but it was cute and enjoyable.
3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars
10 Things That Never Happened
by Alexis Hall
Narrator: Will M. Watt
Re-read
4 1/2 stars out of 5 stars
Favorite book read in November/December: Am I allowed to say Landline?
Least favorite book read in November/December: You're a Mean One Matthew Prince
I managed to pass my reading goal of 75 books for the year. I read 83 books.
One of my goals at the start of the year was to get back into journaling, which I have actually been keeping up with pretty well. I found a way to get my journal set up that helps keep me more engaged. I hope to do a blog post one day, but we see how that goes anymore.
I wanted to read more of my backlogged Owlcrate books this year, and I did OK with that. For the normal subscription books I read 17 in 2024. I read more if you count the sequels and special editions that Owlcrate did separate from the normal subscription. I didn't really track those but I am going to try to do so moving forward.
