Tag: books

End-of-Year Update: 2024 Goals

~ K ~ Leave a comment

2024

I failed at achieving most of these goals. Miserably. I contended with a difficult first half of 2024 with issues with my son and daughter at school, then getting laid off in June, then subsequently being rehired at another place within my company (along with a 30% salary reduction), and now here I am in December, trying to figure out what I did with all that time, what I plan to do in 2025, and paring my goals back significantly from even a Top 10.

2024 Goals

  1. Read 6 full books for the year. Needs improvement.
    a. Theologizin’ Bigger (reread)
    b. So You Want to Talk About Race
    c. Rising Strong
    d. The Councilman
    e. Unclobber
    f. Red, White & Royal Blue
    None of these. The last time I read an entire book was the advance copy of Theologizin’ Bigger at the end of last year. The Councilman has been delayed, which makes me hella sad because I absolutely love the story between Gillian & Gunner. Alas, we shall see what 2025 brings. I should follow up with the author.
  2. Read 2 chapters of the Bible 1 day per week. Accomplished.
    It’s not consistent, but it’s better than any Bible reading I’ve done in a while. I’ll give this one a W for the year.
  3. Pray in the morning for 5-10 minutes 1 day per week. In progress.
    This also has not been consistent. I pray for other people and I praise God a lot, but I need to pray for myself and my needs. It’s not an L but more in progress.
  4. Noom: Update at least 3x per week. Accomplished. Adjusted but accomplished.
    I’ve canceled Noom because it’s much too expensive, and I prefer the use of Cronometer. I’ve lost 50+ this year, thanks to getting COVID-19 in February and not having any sense of smell or taste for the 6 months following, but I’m finally at a manageable weight I’m happy with. I’m down from the “obese” BMI category to the “overweight” category, and honestly, I’m okay with that. 20 lbs away from the minimum ideal BMI, but I’m fine with where I am.
  5. Exercise 1x per week for at least 10 minutes. Needs improvement.
    I did okay for the first 2 months of the year, then I got COVID-19 in February, and it was downhill from there. We’re going to try to pick this back up in 2025 with a modest goal of 1x per week either BODi or walking outside with a 10-minute minimum.
  6. Attend church 2x per month. Needs improvement.
    I started out really well earlier this year, and I’ve just fallen off the wagon. Thankfully, I’ve got Brian to keep me accountable. We’re keeping this goal as-is for 2025.
  7. Visit Mom on Long Island 2x this year. Accomplished.
    I’ve visited my Mom more than twice this year. And she’s finally retired! Free of taking care of everyone but herself! So she’s been down here recently more than we’ve gone up there, but I’d like to keep this goal as-is so I can go back and visit friends and snag some Ciro’s tortellini pizza.
  8. Book a massage once per quarter. Accomplished.
    Success! Managed it all this year. Let’s continue to carry over to prioritize my self-care.
  9. Complete YA steampunk novel by year’s end. Needs improvement.
    I did not get this done. Sad with myself, but I need to refocus on this goal. Completing this by the end of 2025 is extremely doable (Lord willing) but will require some extra dedication and sessions with Ruth.
  10. Meditate 1x per week. Fail.
    I haven’t been interested in meditating. It’s been a goal but an unrealistic one. Prayer is more important to me. This is not getting carried over.
  11. Duolingo: 2x per week for 10-15 minutes. Fail.
    I’m always finding excuses not to do this or not in the mood for it. I’m not going to make it a goal (I’ve got enough already), but I will do it as I can (or feel like).
  12. Hand journal 2x per month. Needs improvement.
    I went several months not hand journaling on and off. I think this is a doable goal, but I’m not carrying it over. I will journal when I damn well please.
  13. Substack post 1x per month. Fail.
    I haven’t written a Substack post since March. I vacillate on whether to keep this or my WordPress blog updated, but either way, I don’t think I’ll carry this over.
  14. Blog on WordPress 1x per month. Fail.
    I haven’t updated this blog since June, which I suppose is better than anticipated. I need to choose between updating this blog or Substack—not both. Whether I’ll make either a goal, I’m not sure. I’d like to keep this on my radar, but along with completing my novel, I’m not sure this will be realistic.
  15. Take 3 LinkedIn Learning Courses by year’s end. Fail.
    I took 1 course and that was on “surviving a layoff.” (facepalm) I may make this a goal for 2025, but either reduce it to 1x per year or 1x per 6 months.
  16. Watch 3 TED/TEDx talks this year. Fail.
    I may have watched 1 TED talk this year? It might have even been at the end of 2023 and I’m imagining it occurred in early 2024. TED Talks are only 10-15 minutes so it’s not an unachievable goal. I may adjust this to 1x per 6 months, and if it gets done more than that, super hooray.

By the way, I really, really, really hate this WordPress block editor, it’s not user friendly or intuitive. I really, really hate it.

End-of-summer update

~ K ~ 4 Comments

It’s nearly the end of summer, and I haven’t blogged at all in the past 3 months.

I suppose the big news is that I am 4 months pregnant with our first child thanks to fertility treatments. (I highly recommend Shady Grove Fertility if you live in the mid-Atlantic states.) The first three months were a bit rough going as I was sick on and off, But I’m feeling much better now that I’m in my second trimester.

I submitted queries to agents for my completed novel, Getting Right with God, and was rejected by all of them. How disappointing. And after sending to an editor and having a few established writers review the opening pages of my work, I realize that I still have more work and more revision to do. I’m afraid that the book itself just isn’t marketable, but I’m not willing to self-publish. What a conundrum.

I am working on a novel idea for NaNoWriMo in which a black teenage girl from New York City relocates to the Philadelphia suburbs and attends a posh, primarily white private school. Conflict ensues!

Other than that, I’ve just been working like crazy at the library as a library assistant. I attended two book club meetings this week, which were actually quite enjoyable. We read Beauty Queens by Libba Bray for one and The Hunger Games trilogy (yes, that’s all three books) for another. On my own, I’m reading several books at once:

Quiet is the most intriguing book of all to me. I’m afraid A History of the World… is going to be rather dry reading.

I wish I had more interesting things to say. There are so many topics going on: President Obama’s second term, Syria, the Affordable Care Act, Egypt, Russia… but alas, I have no brainpower or opinions of my own on any of these things, So enjoy this brief update.

 

Book Review: His Majesty’s Hope

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HMHDisclaimer: I received an advance reader copy from Random House.

Suspenseful and riveting, His Majesty’s Hope by Susan Elia MacNeal is the best installment in the Maggie Hope series yet.

Without giving away spoilers, Maggie’s next mission plunges her into the heart of Germany—Berlin—during the height of World War II. Maggie has a few secrets under her belt that she must keep to herself (other than the fact that she’s a British spy).

The stakes are high and the action takes off from the get-go. The book can be read as a standalone for newcomers to the series, but I see the thrilling novel as a reward for fans and longtime readers of the series to see a side of their heroine that they’ve never seen before. Readers of mystery, thriller, and suspense will enjoy the edge-of-your-seat ride that His Majesty’s Hope provides.

Writing Conference

~ K ~ 1 Comment

So I’m attending the Writer’s Digest Conference in New York City in 2013. I will be there pitch slamming my little heart out. I’m not sure what to expect out of the conference. I’m excited to hear James Scott Bell, who’s a fantastic speaker and writing coach. And I’d like to read an Adriana Trigiani book beforehand since she’s the keynote speaker, but I have a dilemma…

I’ve determined that I will write a book during the month of April. So I lose 3 valuable days to conferencing. I hope I learn something worthwhile. I’m so afraid that what I hear will be a rehash of what I learned in 2011. (On the other hand, I suppose a rehash could be a good thing.) But another part of me is excited because my novel is in much better shape for sending to agents than it was in 2011. I feel more confident about hocking my book now. It’s just a matter of nailing down that “hook” so I can properly pitch to agents and get them interested in what I think is a compelling story. (Of course I think it’s compelling—it’s my book!)

4 Things I Love about My Local Library

~ K ~ 1 Comment

I’ve worked at my local library for the past year and absolutely love it. Here’s a list of four things I love about my local library:

  1. The staff there is great. I can say this with assurance because I work there, but everyone on the staff is fantastic.
  2. The patrons are friendly and overall respectful.
  3. The thoughtful selection of materials such as books, DVDs, and music.
  4. The cozy atmosphere. It’s not a sprawling library, but it’s smaller and inviting, which I like.

The library has a small-town feel where people seem to know one another and run into one another. It’s a community center, and oh, you can read this other post on things I’ve learned while working at the library.

Reading 8 Books at One Time

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For someone who reads as much as I do, I have a blank brain for writing my own story. I am reading 8 books at one time:

  1. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
  2. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew
  3. Wicked Girls
  4. Princess Elizabeth’s Spy
  5. I’d Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had
  6. The Art of War for Writers
  7. The Essential Rumi
  8. Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith

Continue reading “Reading 8 Books at One Time” →

My Favorite Authors

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Here’s a list of my favorite authors:

  1. Gail Carriger: Her books are clever and funny and don’t take themselves too seriously.
  2. John Grisham: If I want a good, fast-paced, suspenseful story, I always know where to turn.
  3. Anne Lamott: I’ve only read her nonfiction work, but I love her style of writing.
  4. Tess Gerritsen: The Rizzoli & Isles books have a voice that are all their own.
  5. Susan Elia MacNeal: Her mystery series on Maggie Hope is adventurous, quick-paced, and interspersed with real figures such as Winston Churchill and Princess Elizabeth.

5 Books I’m Looking Forward to Reading in 2013

~ K ~ 3 Comments

The year 2013 promises some good books. Here’s a list of books I am looking forward to reading this year:

  1. His Majesty’s Hope: A continuation of the Maggie Hope mystery series that is filled with charm and cleverness.
  2. Untitled #3 (Divergent series): Yet another dystopian book that has action and romance.
  3. Shadow of Night (All Souls Trilogy #2): A hefty book with paranormal romance that details the story between a witch and a vampire.
  4. Untitled #3 (All Souls Trilogy): A likely hefty book, but it will be the final installment in the All Souls Trilogy.
  5. Etiquette & Espionage: A young adult book by one of my favorite paranormal/steampunk authors, Gail Carriger.

One-Novel Wonder

~ K ~ 7 Comments

I feel all washed up as a writer. (I’m trying to stick to my 300 words a day minimum imposed by Anne Lamott from Bird by Bird, so I may ramble a bit.)

Why do I think I’m all washed up? Because I wrote one novel, and I can’t seem to write any others except for this effed-up teen series I’ve been working on for the past couple of years. Sure, I can almost always pump out 50,000 words every November, but that’s only when the story has to do with my teen novels or characters in some way. And trust me, they are poop in the same way that Fifty Shades of Grey is.

Hmm… maybe that means it’ll sell at least.

I’d like to write something original like my first finished novel (revised and edited). My finished novel has been in the works for the past five years. And if that won’t sell, but an agent likes my writing style, I have nothing of serious consequence to offer other than total garbage.

I have ideas—tons of them—that I just can’t seem to capitalize upon. A drama about budget cuts in the library (boring), four wealthy women whose lives radically change (book club material), an interracial couple that falls in love during the 1960s (historical romance). I read a ton of books so I should be pregnant with ideas, right? But somehow, I am barren in the brain and the womb.

I don’t mean to sound defeatist… well, in fact, I do. I feel defeated. I feel about as hopeless about giving birth to a new novel as I do about giving birth to a child. I am currently infertile in more ways than one.

Francine Pascal is my inspiration for writing, if that tells you anything. Perhaps it would do me some good to reread some Sweet Valley and remind myself why I liked the series so much. (Or why I find it to be a poor excuse for literature in retrospect.)

 

My Top 10 Books of 2012

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It’s no surprise that as a person who works at a library that I love to read. And I’ve read more than 80 books this year. Here’s a list of the top 10 books (in no particular order) that I absolutely loved and would recommend to others:

  1. Knuffle Bunny (children’s book): A heartwarming book by Mo Willems about a toddler who loves her stuffed bunny.
  2. Help, Thanks, Wow (non-fiction/religious): Anne Lamott (my new favorite writer) discusses three words she believes comprise essential prayers. Although Ms. Lamott is a Christian, the book is not limited to Christian thought.
  3. We Are in a Book! (children’s book): Another book by Mo Willems about an elephant and a pig who discover they are in a book! It’s clever, well-written, and funny.
  4. A Discovery of Witches (paranormal romance): Liked Fifty Shades of Grey and Twilight? Then A Discovery of Witches is for you. I thought it was a Harry Potter-like story for women.
  5. Jack 1939 (mystery): An alternate historical fiction reality set in 1939, this book explores what might have happened if FDR sent out JFK as a spy during the rise of the Third Reich.
  6. Mr. Churchill’s Secretary (mystery): The World War II era is my favorite time period in history to study (hence my recommendation of book #5), and Mr. Churchill’s Secretary does not disappoint with the main character, Maggie Hope, interacting with Winston Churchill.
  7. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (non-fiction): A gripping true story about Henrietta Lacks and her family, and what became of the HeLa cells that were taken without Lacks’s permission.
  8. Man in the Music: The Creative Life and Work of Michael Jackson (non-fiction): This book explored Michael Jackson beyond the media circus and the allegations of child molestation—it explored his life as it should have been about: his music.
  9. The Search for Significance (non-fiction/Christian): This book emphasizes finding worth and significance in God rather than in people.
  10. A Praying Life (non-fiction/Christian): A down-to-earth book about prayer the includes personal anecdotes by the author and helpful tips on establishing an effective prayer life.

Reading Material for 2013

~ K ~ 6 Comments

I’m a member of the social networking site Goodreads (I’d probably watch more movies if there were a site called Goodwatch or something) and each December, I plan the books I’m going to read for the next year. So for 2013, I currently have 58 books on my list. (This list will grow as books are published and I see must-read bestsellers at the library.) Thirty-six of those books are non-fiction books. I do not have them in order of books I plan to read, but here’s my goal for the year:

January
Wicked Girls (begun in December 2012)
The Art of War for Writers (begun in December 2012)
Princess Elizabeth’s Spy (begun in December 2012)
I’d Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had (begun in December 2012)
The Darkest Minds
The Sacred Romance
A Year of Biblical Womanhood (begun in December 2012)

February
Shadow of Night
Generous Justice
Successful Women Think Differently
In the Garden of Beasts
Uglies
The Paris Wife

March
The Beautiful and the Damned
What Good Is God?
Matched (#1)
The Silent Girl
Paranormalcy
I’m Down

April
The Happiness Project
Crazy Love
Olive Kitteridge
Operating Instructions
The Girl Who Became a Beatle
Blame It on the Brain

May
His Majesty’s Hope (Maggie Hope #3)
Forgotten God
You Lost Me
The Tiger’s Wife
Porn Again Christian

June
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Putting Amazing Back into Grace
The Selection (#1)
A Tale of Two Cities

July
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?
The Myth of Multitasking
Nickel and Dimed
Vienna Prelude (#1)
Jane Slayre

August
The Nazi Officer’s Wife
The Alchemist
CrossTalk
Running Scared

September
Untitled (Divergent #3)
Untitled (All Souls Trilogy #3)
The Paradox of Choice
Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

October
The Purpose Driven Life
The Artist’s Way
Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World
Time Management for Unmanageable People

November
Suffering and the Sovereignty of God
The Bluest Eye
Bittersweet
The Total Money Makeover
The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke

December
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Plot & Structure
Three Cups of Tea
When God Weeps
Ape House

I tend to read more at the beginning of the year and at the end of the year as I try to play catch up. It’s a lot to read, but I know I can do it as long as I pace myself! And Tim Keller will probably publish a book in 2013 so just add that to my list too.

Memoirs, Anne Lamott, and Querying an Article about Infertility

~ K ~ 2 Comments

I’d like to write a memoir. But as with many things, it may never get done because I fear that I am not funny or interesting enough. Regardless, I have a memory book and I’m trying to record all of my memories. Especially those of my father, which are fading. I am bummed that many of my happy memories are gone replaced with such stupidness as the Korean lyrics to “Gangnam Style.”

I have many—and I’m talking 10 or more—journals or diaries, whatever you want to call them, that have recorded memories over the course of my lifetime since I was 10. Of course, I didn’t record all the major events. (I don’t know that I recorded when I found out my dad died or when I got married.) I just recorded all the mundane things about life.

—

I’m reading books by Anne Lamott who is obviously a progressive, liberal Democrat. (She is a native Californian after all.) What that has to do with anything, I’m not sure but it comes through in her writing in Grace (Eventually). And I only wish that I had half the wit and talent in my whole body that Ms. Lamott has in her pinkie finger. I know she’ll tell me it’s work. I am reading her work on writing called Bird by Bird. Ms. Lamott has quite the way with words and metaphors that I can sit here forever and hope to come up with. But no, I’m more like James Patterson in my writing: just the bare bones “facts, ma’am.” I have a “voice”; I just don’t know what it is.

—

I’ve been thinking a lot about writing an article on infertility from a Christian perspective for various websites. I’m three years into this infertility journey, certainly not as long as many people that I’ve encountered, but it’s long enough to understand the ins and outs of the process. I can talk about my experience, my husband’s experience, and our unique journey together. At this point, it’s a matter of getting myself together and overcoming that initial rejection that comes with the query process.

What I’ve Learned from Working at the Library

~ K ~ 2 Comments

Image from usa.gov

I’ve been working in the library system for 2 years now, and as I move from one library to another, I want to take the time to reflect on what I’ve learned from working at the library.

1. Most people are nice.I can think of only once incident in which I’ve had a bad experience. That’s not bad for 2 years gone by.

2. Most people want a friendly face. Even if the patron just wants to get in and out very quickly, they usually appreciate a friendly face who is courteous and willing to help them. Often, they will return a smile.

3. Libraries are more than just books. Libraries are community centers where people can get access to the latest movies, music, and audiobooks along with the ability to use computers and take advantage of quality programming.

4. Libraries are the 411 of knowledge. Want to know whether the “a” in “at” in Sergeant-at-Arms is capitalized? (That’s a real question I’ve received.) We can answer that for you. Want to know whether Mrs. Jones still lives on 123 Main Street in King of Prussia, PA? If it’s public knowledge, we can tell you.

5. Libraries aren’t the quiet places they used to be. You can easily find children screaming or running around. In the children’s department at one library I’ve worked at, we were allowed to play music to showcase our musical selection. And with the population getting older and unfortunately getting hard of hearing, you can hear circulation clerks talking a bit loudly. In fact, circulation clerks are probably the loudest people in the library next to small children.

6. Gone are the days of no food or drink. One library I know of has a small cafe area that sells coffee, beverages, cookies, and fruit. Other libraries I know of don’t bat an eye if your drink is too close for comfort near a CPU (central processing unit). Didn’t finish your drink from Starbucks? Feel free to bring it on in!

7. It’s not necessary to know the Dewey decimal system as in the days of yore. The Dewey decimal system is still in use, and some knowledge of it is helpful, but if you want to find comic books, you likely can head straight for the graphic novels section instead of browsing through 741. Some libraries have even ventured to put subject classifications up, e.g., Art, Economics, World War II, Travel so you can browse for things yourself instead of needing to ask whether 917 is still U.S. travel or whether the 200s still house religion.

8. In the case of children’s series, it’s no longer necessary to know the author. Many libraries now have series sections for popular titles such as Magic Tree House, Diary of Wimpy Kid, or 39 Clues. This process simplifies things greatly, especially in the case of the 39 Clues books, which can be written by multiple authors and would be spread throughout.

9. Many libraries now offer a vast selection of e-books, e-audiobooks, and even music. Got an e-reader? It is most likely compatible with the library’s online lending service. Some libraries with large budgets can lend music online, and others with limited budgets simply offer e-books. This online lending service is at little to no cost and often incurs zero fines. Check with your local library if they offer e-books for download and how to take advantage of this valuable service.

10. Check out a magazine! Really want to read last week’s issue of People magazine? Wanted to flip through last month’s In Style but it’s already off the stands? You have the option of either leisurely flipping through a magazine at the library or checking it out for a minimum of one week.

11. Need information on local history? Your local library probably has a local history section with archives and niche publications.

12. Can’t find the latest release of a movie or album? Ask at the desk! Often, when movies or music are just released, you won’t see them on the shelves because they are out circulating with other patrons. The best way to ensure you get your hands on new material is to ask circulation assistants or reference librarians. They can either check the back office to see if it’s sitting on their shelves waiting to be put out or they can add your name to a waiting list. That way, you won’t have to walk into the library every week hoping you’ll finally see the new release you’ve been waiting for. (And you probably won’t see popular titles for months if you’re not on a list.)

Those are just some of the things I’ve learned from working at a library. What have you learned about the library that you didn’t know before?

Watching and Reading

~ K ~ 1 Comment

Recently, I watched a documentary on President Bill Clinton called American Experience: Clinton that I found simply fascinating. It’s amazing how much Clinton’s legacy would have changed had he not gotten involved in the whole Monica Lewinsky affair. I found Clinton to be a fascinating president who, no matter how much experience he had, could have not possibly been prepared for the demands of the office, but still somehow found a way to make tough decisions that weren’t really popular with either party.

I have been reading Eat, Pray, Love and find the book to be dreadful. This isn’t the first memoir that I’ve read (Mennonite in a Little Black Dress was better) so I’m surprised by how much I dislike the author who left her husband, engaged in an extramarital affair during the divorce process, and proceeded to bribe a customs official during her stay in Bali, Indonesia. I’m surprised the book was as popular as it was given that the author seems to be self-absorbed (more so in the first third of the book rather than toward the end). Although reading Ms. Gilbert’s tripe make me want to write tripe of my own.

On the other hand, I just finished Man in the Music about Michael Jackson’s music and artistry and found that to be insightful and intriguing. I’d recommend that book for anyone who is interested in Michael Jackson and his work. It’s a five-star book.