What I'm Reading 2018

Hello again (or hello for the first time!), and Happy New Year!!

I always look forward to this time of year for a few different reasons.  First and foremost, January 1st means I can stop stressing about the holidays and focus on moving forward and starting the new year off right.  Secondly, I get to start my 2018 reading challenge!

If you've even glanced at the posts on this blog, you probably already know that I'm a huge bookworm and reading is such an important aspect of my life.  Because I teach English and Language Arts at a Title 1 school, it's crucial for me to not only genuinely have a passion for reading, but to show my kiddos that reading can change your life (super cliche, I know...).

All that to say, I take my reading challenges seriously, and I always document my progress throughout the year.  Whenever I finish and review a book, I post that review on here and my Goodreads; I also update this page as a sort of checklist to keep myself on track.

I'm trying to keep this short, but there's always so much to say!  Ok, here's a few things you need to know if you haven't kept up with my challenges in the past:

• I link each review in this post, so just click on the title if you'd like to know my thoughts about the book.
• I don't usually re-read anything, but if I do, I'll mark it with an asterisks (*).
• Audiobooks are noted. 
• Sometimes I cheat a little bit, sorry not sorry.

All jokes aside, I really do enjoy setting these reading goals for myself each year.  I want to broaden my horizons this year and read more books outside of my typical go-to genres.  Recently, I've been reaching for a lot of young adult fantasies (Sarah J. Maas was huge for me in 2017) and historical fiction (the Outlander series, in particular), so I'm looking to read more widely this time around.  

One last thing: I've never actually completed a themed challenge, but I have completed my reading goal each year for the past 5 years!  We can't break the streak now!!  I just wanted to push myself a little bit further so I can become a more well-read person.

I've done enough talking (typing??), so let's just move straight on into the reading challenge!  Oh, and if you want to check out my reading challenges from previous years, I have everything linked for you below :)

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2018 Reading Challenge Goal: 30 books (edit- 40 as of 10/5/18) I found this challenge on Modern Mrs. Darcy's site, and it looked like something I could accomplish without overwhelming myself.  She also has some wonderful tips on how to get more out of your reading life, if you're interested! * = re-read 1. A classic you've been meaning to read
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (audiobook)
2. A book recommended by someone with great taste
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas* (One of my best friends, Rose, recommended this book to me years ago!)
3. A book in translation
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 1 by Naoko Takeuchi 
4. A book nominated for an award in 2018
Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas (Goodreads Choice 2018 nominee)
5. A book of poetry, a play, or an essay collection
6. A book you can read in a day
The Selection by Kiera Cass (audiobook)- it took me several days to actually listen to this book because I have a career, but it was only 7 1/2 hours in total
7. A book with more than 500 pages
The Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
8. A book by a favorite author A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas*
9. A book recommended by a librarian or indie bookseller  Circe by Madeline Miller (recommended by Jean, aka Bookishthoughts on YouTube and Goodreads)
10. A banned book
The One and Only Ivan by Kathrine Applegate (I’m sure this book is banned in several school districts for a variety of reasons, but it’s an incredible children’s book!) 
11. A memoir, biography, or book of creative nonfiction


12. A book by an author of a different race, ethnicity, or religion than your own When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

Other Books

• Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
• Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
• The Elite by Kiera Cass (audiobook)
• The One by Kiera Cass (audiobook)
• Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
• Closer Reading by Nancy Boyles
• Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
• Warcross by Marie Lu
• Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
• Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
• Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas
• Thor, God of Thunder Vol. 1: The God Butcher by Jason Aaron
• Thor, God of Thunder Vol. 2: Godbomb by Jason Aaron
• Twilight by Stephenie Meyer*
• A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas*
• The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo
• Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 2 by Naoko Takeuchi
• Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 3 by Naoko Takeuchi
• Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 4 by Naoko Takeuchi
• Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 5 by Naoko Takeuchi
• Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 6 by Naoko Takeuchi
• Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 7 by Naoko Takeuchi
• Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 8 by Naoko Takeuchi 
• Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas*
• Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas*
• Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas*
• Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas*

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If you're interested, here are my other "What I'm Reading" posts:

• What I'm Reading 2017
• What I'm Reading 2016
• What I'm Reading 2015
• What I'm Reading 2014
• What I'm Reading 2013

As always, thank you for taking some time out of your day to check out my blog!  Happy reading!!
Keri <3

Gratitude Tag

Hi again!

It's Friday night and I'm bored... So, here's another tag/ journal prompt thing I found on Pinterest.  This is technically a 30 day challenge, but I'm condensing it down into just one post instead.

Here we go!

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1. What smell are you grateful for today?

Fresh brewed espresso

2. What technology are you grateful for?

My iPhone and work computer

3. What color are you grateful for?

Orange.  I used to visit my local music shop and mess around on the different instruments, and I fell in love with a Yamaha Precision Jazz Bass (which is metallic orange).  I started taking lessons and ended up playing bass in my high school's jazz band for 3 years.

4. What food are you most grateful for?

Pizza with extra cheese

5. What sound are you grateful for today?

My dog's barks of excitement when I get home from work

6. What in nature are you grateful for?

The sunshine

7. What memory are you grateful for?

I'm most grateful for running into Corey at the Fayetteville Public Library on April 18, 2016.  We reconnected (as cheesy as that sounds), and everything fell back into place.  We picked up right where we left off, and it was absolutely wonderful.

8. What book are you most grateful for?

You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero- it has truly changed my outlook and overall attitude towards life in general.

9. What place are you most grateful for?

Orange Park, FL

10. What taste are you grateful for today?

Mocha

11. What holiday are you grateful for?

New Year's Day

12. What texture are you grateful for?

Soft, fuzzy blankets

13. What abilities are you grateful for?

My intelligence, my ability to read anything and everything, and my musical talent (if you can really call it that)

14. What sights are you grateful for today?

Snapchats from Corey

15. What season are you grateful for?

Fall

16. What about your body are you grateful for?

My eyes, because they're my favorite feature, and they're pretty crucial to my quality of life.

17. What knowledge are you grateful for?

I'm grateful for my knowledge regarding teaching, child development, and pedagogy.

18. What piece of are you grateful for?

The coverart of "Take This to Your Grave" by Fall Out Boy

19. What touch are you grateful for today?

Rhaegar's soft bunny fur

20. Who in your life are you grateful for?

Corey, Raechel, Sammi, Mom, Dad, and Drew (and the fur babies!)

21. What song are you most grateful for?

"The Patron Saint of Liars and Fakes" by Fall Out Boy

22. What story are you grateful for?

The story of Harry Potter- I can't say it was a part of my childhood, but it was my life in high school and college.

23. What tradition are you grateful for?

I love the fact that my family has always celebrated Thanksgiving dinner together.  For the past 23 years, we've all hung out on Thanksgiving Day, and I hope to keep the tradition going for as long as possible.

24. What challenge are you grateful for?

My job is not the easiest, and I'm definitely not in this position for the fame and fortune.  I hear a lot of negative feedback on a daily basis, I usually don't hear "thank you," and teaching can be extremely frustrating and trying at times.  But I love my kiddos, and I'm so thankful for my colleagues (especially my math coach!).  This year has thrown me many curveballs, but I'm grateful for all the challenges and obstacles I face because I know I'm becoming a better and more effective teacher each and every day.

25. What moment this week are you most grateful for?

Working with my colleagues and math coach to successfully implement a weekly math camp for my fifth graders.

26. What form of expression are you most grateful for?

Music or writing; I can't live without playing/ listening to music, or books, so they're tied for first place!

27. What small thing that you use daily are you grateful for?

Pencils

28. What small thing that happened today are you grateful for?

One of my students had an "ah-ha" moment today during core instruction.  

29. What friend/ family member are you grateful for today?

Corey and Sara

30. What talent or skill do you have that you are grateful for?

I'm extremely grateful for my musical talent.  I absolutely love playing the piano and the bass, listening to music on Spotify, collecting CDs, and creating playlists to fit my various moods and musical tastes.

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Thanks for checking out my blog, and I hope to see you again soon :)

Keri <3