Books Read - May 2016

Dalai Lama

• How to Practice: The Way to a Meaningful Life ****

Non-fiction.  Teachings on how to live a meaningful life.

Endo, Shusaku

• Silence ****

Fiction.  Fictionalized story of a Portuguese priest who travels to Japan to serve the Christians there in the seventeenth century, during a time when the Japanese are trying to get rid of Christians.

Galenorn, Yasmine

• Once Upon a Curse *****

Fiction.  Seventeen dark fairytales by seventeen talented authors.

Gauding, Madonna

• The Meditation Bible *****

Non-fiction.  Introduction to meditation followed by 140 meditations for numerous occasions.

Hunter, Ellen Elizabeth

• Murder on the Candlelight Tour ***

Fiction.  Ashley Wilkes makes her living as a vintage house renovator.  Her own victorian is being featured on the annual Candlelight Tour in Wilmington, N.C..  After the tour, Ashley hears sounds coming from her library, and finds her good friend and history professor, Binkie, holding the fireplace poker.  At his feet lies a dead body.  She knows he is innocent, but can she prove that to the police when Binkie’s are the only fingerprints on the murder weapon?

Semple, Maria

• Where’d You Go, Bernadette **

Fiction.  Bee’s mother is having a breakdown, and Bee and her father are trying to save her from herself.  Things don’t go well, and suddenly Bernadette disappears.

Books Read - April 2016

Ash, Maureen

• Shroud of Dishonour *****

Fiction.  Fifth book in the Templar mysteries set in England.  Sir Bascot de Marins is waiting to deploy to Portugal to fight the Moors, but the Preceptor belays any departures when a harlot is found dead inside the Templar enclave.  With arrows pointing toward a brother Templar as the murderer, the Preceptor asks de Marins for his help in solving the murder.

Berry, Steve

• The Third Secret *****

Fiction.  Colin Michener is the papal secretary to Clement XV, whom he also counts as a mentor and great friend.  Clement is dealing with some great secrets that can topple or save the Catholic Church, but he needs Colin’s help with seeing that the Church comes through troubling times as a true reflection of God’s plan.

Bevill, C.L.

• Bubba and the Wacky Wedding Wickedness ****

Fiction.  Bubba and Willodean are getting ready for their wedding.  It seems Miz Demetrice has invited the whole town, as well as agents from the FBI and Homeland Security.  The wedding plans come to a standstill when Bubba finds a dead body in his living room.  And then loses it.

Galenorn, Yasmine

• Earthbound *****

Fiction.  Novella in the Otherworld series.  The D’Artigo sisters aren’t faring so well at the YIA, and they’ve been transferred to Earthside to liaise with Chase Johnson who heads up the OIA.  The girls are nervous at traveling to their mother’s home for the first time, and it’s a steep learning curve they face as they learn all about technology and life in Seattle.  Assisting them is Iris Kuusi, a house sprite, who helps them find a new home and gets them settled in their new jobs.  Delilah and Menolly think this might be a vacation for them, but Camille is worried that dark forces might be gathering in their near future.

Glaze, JH

• The Spirit Box ***

Fiction.  A woman buys an unusual box in Paris and returns to the U.S.  Years later, she has died and left her own antique shop to her son, Walt.  Walt has been having dreams about a particular box, and when he finds it in his mother’s shop, he can’t believe his luck.  When the box begins talking to him, his life changes forever.

Marquis, Melanie

• Beltane *****

Non-fiction.  Lore, rituals, recipes, and crafts of Beltane.

Miall, Antony, David Milstead

• The Xenophobe’s Guide to the English **

Non-fiction.  Semi-humourous take on the English and their quirks.

Michie, David

• The Dalai Lama’s Cat *****

Fiction.  The life of the Dalai Lama’s cat as told by herself.

Randisi, Robert J.

• Curtains of Blood ****

Fiction.  Bram Stoker is the manager of the famed Lyceum Theatre in London, working closely with his idol, theatre owner Henry Irving, who is starring in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.  Jack the Ripper has begun his murderous spree in Whitechapel, and the police are working hard to catch him.  Bram is surprised at work when a police detective approaches him to tell him to shut down the play.  It’s possible that the character of Mr. Hyde might be encouraging Jack to continue killing.  Bram is shocked when Henry immediately agrees to close the play, and even more shocked when he realizes that the police suspect Henry of being the murderer.  Jack fascinates Bram who begins hunting for Jack.  Not to capture him, but to find out what makes him want to kill.  Jack is warned that Bram is seeking him and turns the tables on him by hunting Bram.

Reiki Attunements and Lani's Passing

On March 31, 2016 I received my Reiki attunements from Lisa Powers.  I'd been wanting to study Reiki for years but only now acted on it.  Ever since Lani died, which I'll explain in a moment, things have been changing in my life.  I'm now studying things I've wanted to learn for years, and it feels great.

Every year on my birthday (and on hers and on Mother's Day) I called my birthmom, Lani.  I've only met her once, but we kept in touch through the mail and via phone calls.  This year, however, six days before my birthday Lani died.  She had gone into the hospital on Friday, February 19, with internal bleeding, and she had a small heart attack.  They were going to take her into exploratory surgery on Saturday to find out where she was bleeding from, but she wasn't stable enough for the procedure.  I found out when my sister, Christine, contacted me on Sunday.  I was waiting to hear back from her on Monday, but when she called it was with the worst news.  Lani had passed away on February 22.  

This woman who had been such a huge part of my life, even before I knew who she was, was gone.  But I don't feel sad.  I feel closer to her than ever.  Before, we were separated by geography.  Now, she is right here with me.  I can still see her smile and hear her laughter.  I love her, and I know she's watching over me.  And smiling.

  

Books Read - March 2016

Brown, Carolyn

• The Ladies’ Room *****

Fiction.  Trudy is attending her great-aunt Gert’s funeral, when a trip to the ladies’ room changes her life forever.  Off with the old and on to the new.

Connor, Kerri

• Ostara *****

Non-fiction.  Exploring the history, rituals, and new celebrations of Ostara.

Field, Greg

• Red Dirt White Bones *****

Fiction.  First in the Replacement Girl mystery series set in Hawai’i.  Detective Kai Akuna-Aki is having a rough time at work after the death of his partner.  He meets young and precocious Ka’ena Reynolds, who is looking for some stability in her life.  She wants to find out who killed her older sister, and Kai’s the person she turns to for help.  As his last case on the police force, Kai agrees to help her, putting his job and reputation on the line.

Kingsbury, Kate

• Death is in the Air ****

Fiction.  Lady Elizabeth Hartleigh is having her hair cut, ,when a German plane crash lands on the beach.  The young German pilot has managed to parachute to safety, but he is quickly surrounded by the townsfolk.  He manages to elude them and is thought to be hiding in the woods.  The next morning Elizabeth learns that a local land girl has been murdered, and the townsfolk believe the German pilot is the culprit.

Lawhead, Stephen

• Hood *****

Fiction.  A tale of Robin Hood as told in the guise of Bran ap Brychan, Prince of Elfael of Wales.  Bran’s father, the king, has been killed, and Bran is expected to pick up the reins of the realm and help save his people from the Ffreinc, who are slowly extending their reign over England.  They want Wales now, but with a warrant out for Bran, all he can think about is escape.  And then he meets Angharad, a mysterious woman who teaches him who he really is.

Maguire, Gregory

• After Alice **

Fiction.  Ada Boyce’s best and only friend is Alice Kingsleigh who had fallen down the rabbit hole.  Ada goes in search of her friend, only to find herself sliding down the same rabbit hole.  In the meantime, Alice’s sister Lydia is searching for Alice.  She teams up with Ada’s governess, Miss Armstrong, who is searching for Ada.

McNeal, Laura Lane

• Dollbaby ****

Fiction.  It’s 1964, and the south is in the midst of the Civil Rights movement.  A young girl by the name of Liberty Bell gets dropped off at her grandmother’s house in New Orleans.  A grandmother she’s never met but was raised to fear.  As her mother drives away, Ibby doesn’t realize it’s the last time she’ll ever see her mom.

Reilly, LeAnn Neal

• Grounding Magic ****

Fiction.  Second book in The Mermaid’s Pendant magical realism duo.  Tamarind, her husband John, and their daughter Sarah, have moved to Cheltham, MA for John’s new job with a start-up medical company.  When Tamarind sees John with his ex-girlfriend, Zöe, her fears for their marriage emerge, and their lives spiral out of control.

Spinella Laura

• Ghost Gifts ****

Fiction.  Aubrey has a special gift.  She can communicate with the dead.  Often the encounters go peacefully, but every now and then they turn evil.  When the remains of a long lost woman are revealed, Aubrey is assigned to assist the lead reporter.  A man has spent twenty years in prison for a crime that Aubrey isn’t positive he committed, and she uses her gift to solve the mystery.

Weir, Andy

• The Martian *****

Fiction.  Mark Watney is abandoned on Mars.  The rest of his crew assumed he is dead, but he is very much alive.  Alone.  Surviving off his skills in botany and mechanical engineering, he is determined to stay alive as long as possible.

Books Read - February 2016

Austen, Jane

• Pride and Prejudice ***

Fiction.  Elizabeth Bennet and her four sisters are looking for husbands, but when she meets Mr. Darcy, she can’t think of a worse candidate.  He’s rude and obnoxious and oh so arrogant.  But time goes on, and she sees a  different side of his character, but does he still want to marry her?

Baugniet, Gail M.

• Mystery in Paradise ****

Fiction. 13 tales of mystery set in the Hawaiian Islands.

Blake, Deborah

• Wickedly Powerful *****

Fiction.  Fifth book in the Baba Yaga series.  Bella has parked her caravan in the National Forest.  She’s taking time off after helping firefighting teams up north but is unaware that her skill will still be required in her new location.  Sam is an ex-firefighter who battles with PTSD and survivor guilt after losing his entire team in a fire, including his fiancee.  He now works as a fire spotter, and his and Bella’s paths are about to become entangled.

Chambers, Meg

• Wilde Women ****

Fiction.  Second in thee Winnie Wilde erotic romance series.  Winnie is still seeing Ben, but she meets a handsome doctor on a visit to Florida to spend time with her mother.  Winnie and Gabe hit it off, and they have quite the torrid encounter.  When Winnie has to return to her home in California, Gabe asks her to be in a unique romantic relationship.

Cornwell, Bernard

• The Winter King ****

Fiction.  A tale of King Arthur as told by one of his soldiers who later became a Christian and a monk.

Feehan, Christine

• Magic in the Wind ****

Fiction.  First in the Drake Sisters paranormal romance series.  Damon Wilder has moved to Sea Haven to get away from his past.  He lives almost as a hermit, not wanting to interact with the townspeople...until Sarah comes home.  As if by magic, he is drawn to the house on the cliffs, whose gate remains padlocked against trespassers, until one day he walks up to find the gate standing wide open, as if inviting him in.

Galenorn, Yasmine

• Darkness Raging *****

Fiction.  Menolly D’Artigo and her wife, Nerissa, are called to Roman’s office to meet with his mother, Blood Wyne, Queen of the Vampire Nation.  They are informed that they will be marrying Roman and will become princesses, even though Nerissa is not a vampire.  Telazhar continues his Earthside attacks in search of spirit seals, and the sisters and their extended family must be prepared for war.

Gober, Rebecca

• Night Marchers **

Fiction.  First in the Night Marchers series.  Emma is upset when her father uproots her to move from Texas to Kaua’i, but she quickly acclimates to her new surroundings when she meets the boy next door, Tristan, son of the caretaker.  She falls for him right off, but he soon has to leave for the Army Reserves, and Emma is left to explore the island on her own.  Disregarding the warnings about going into the forest at night, she ends up in a nightmare when she encounters the feared Night Marchers.

Kondo, Marie

• The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up ***

Non-fiction.  The KonMari Method of tidying and uncluttering a house.

Lu, Marie

• Legend ****

Fiction.  Book one in the Legend series.  Day is a fugitive who steals money to buy a plague cure for his little brother.  June is a daughter of the Republic, charged with upholding the law.  When Day breaks into the hospital to steal some cure, an accident ensures that his and June’s paths with be dangerously entwined.

Mild, Rosemary & Larry

• Cry Ohana ***

Fiction.  Kekoa witnesses the murder of his uncle by his uncle’s business partner, Red Murphy.  Frightened for his life, Kekoa spends the next two years on the street having no contact with his grandmother or his sister.  His life seems to be stabilizing as a Japanese baker and his wife take the boy in, but Red is still on the lookout for Kekoa and is willing to stop at nothing to destroy the boy.

Neal, Carl F.

• Imbolc *****

Non-fiction.  Rituals, recipes, craft, and lore for the Imbolc Sabbat.

Neal, Toby

• Paradise, Passion, Murder *****

Fiction.  Ten tales of mystery set in the Hawaiian Islands written by different authors.

Newmark, Amy

• Chicken Soup for the Soul: Dreams and Premonitions ****

Non-fiction.  101 tales of how dreams and premonitions have touched and turned people’s lives.

Smith, Seth Grahame

• Pride and Prejudice and Zombies ***

Fiction.  A spoof on the original P&P.  England has been overcome with hordes of zombies, and the Bennet girls have all been trained in a Shaolin monastery to fight and kill the undead creatures.

Stabenow, Dana

• Fire and Ice ****

Fiction.  First in the Liam Campbell mystery series.  Liam is an Alaska State Trooper, recently demoted from sergeant to trooper and reassigned to the small town of Newenham, Alaska.  As soon as he steps off the plane at the small airport, his first case is thrust upon him as the prior trooper bids farewell and steps aboard his own plane.  A man has been killed at the airport, but the big surprise for Liam is who the man worked for, Liam’s ex-lover, Wyanet Chouinard.

Strayed, Cheryl

• Wild *****

Non-fiction.  Memoir of a woman’s journey to self-discovery as she walks the arduous Pacific Crest Trail.

Books Read - January 2016

Downie, Ruth

• Terra Incognita ****

Fiction.  Medicus Gaius Petreios Ruso is riding north to a fort on the borderlands with his slave, Tilla, walking alongside.  She is returning home to her people.  Along the way, the cavalcade are harassed by a long rider wearing the antlers of a deer.  Tilla is convinced that it is the Stag God, Cernunnos.  When a heavy wagon carrying lead suddenly careens down the hill taking out men and carts, she believes it is the work of the god in retribution for all the injustices done upon her people by the Roman army.  When they reach Coria, Ruso finds himself investigating another murder, one that might be tied to the Stag Man.

Gandy, Alan

• Nina the Naughty Witch *

Fiction.  Graphic novel about the erotic antics of Nina.

Gregory, Philippa

• Earthly Joys ****

Fiction.  John Tradescant is a traveling gardener who works on the most beautiful gardens in England.  He pledges his life, heart, and obedience to his masters.  God, his master, his gardens, and finally his wife get his devotion.  

Huff, Elizabeth

• 150 Prompts for Fantasy Writers ***

Non-fiction.  List of fantasy prompts and other odds and ends of information about writing fantasy.

Kaling, Mindy

• Why Not Me? **

Non-fiction.  Essays about her life.

Llywelyn, Morgan

• The Greener Shore *****

Fiction.  Ainvar the druid has kept the remaining members of his clan alive in the forests of Gaul, but when Caesar’s men begin cutting down and burning the trees, Ainvar leads the Carnutes on a dangerous quest to Hibernia and an uncertain future.

White, Berry

• If You Ask Me *****

Non-fiction.  Betty White’s sixth book about her life and loves.

Wiesner, Karen S.

• Writing the Fiction Series *****

Non-fiction.  How to plan, write, and market the fiction series, complete with case studies of a number of series and examples throughout the book.

Reading Challenges 2016

Read at least 100 books in 2016

2016 - 136/100
2015 - 276/100 completed
2014 - 206/100 completed
2013 - 134/100 completed
2012 - 104/100 completed
2011 - 156/100 completed

*****

Non-Fiction 11/12

Read at least one non-fiction book per month

Jan - Writing the Fiction Series by Karen S. Wiesner

Feb - Imbolc by Carl F. Neal

Mar - Ostara by Kerri Connor

Apr - The Xenophobe’s Guide to the English by Antony Miall, David Milsted

May - Beltane by Melanie Marquis

Jun - Midsummer by Deborah Blake

Jul - The Witch’s Broom by Deborah Blake

Aug - Lughnasadh by Melanie Marquis

Sep - Mabon by Diana Rajchel

Oct - Samhain by Diana Rajchel

Nov - Writing Mysteries by Sue Grafton

Dec - Yule by Susan Pesznecker

*****

Pagan Words 11/13

Read books with these words in the title

Earth - Earthly Joys by Philippa Gregory

Wind - Magic in the Wind by Christine Feehan

Air - Death is in the Air by Kate Kingsbury

Fire - Fire and Ice by Dana Stabenow

Spirit - The Spirit Box by JH Glaze

Candle - Murder on the Candlelight Tour by Ellen Elizabeth Hunter

Chalice - Chalice by Robin McKinley

Wand - Wand by Joanna MacOwl (Fern Witches Series) Talking to Trees, Wand, Silvery Moon

Sword - The Sword That Binds by David Taran

Moon - Jackal Moon by Jeanette Battista

Witch - Nina the Naughty Witch by Alan Gandy

Magic - Grounding Magic by LeAnn Neal Reilly

Spells - The Language of Spells by Sarah Painter

*****

Voyage Through Time 11/13

Read one book set in each time period

Anything B.C. - The Greener Shore by Morgan Llywelyn

1st-5th century - Terra Incognita by Ruth Downie

6th-10th century - The Winter King by Bernard Cornwell

11th-12th century - Hood: The Raven King Trilogy by Stephen Lawhead

13th century - Shroud of Dishonour by Maureen Ash

14th century - Katherine by Anya Seton

15th century - The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman

16th century - The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory

17th century - Earthly Joys by Philippa Gregory

18th century - Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron

19th century - After Alice by Gregory Maguire

20th century - Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear

21st century - Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

*****

Around the World 10/13

Read at least one book per location

US/Canada - US - Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Central America/Caribbean - Puerto Rico - Grounding Magic by LeAnne Neal Reilly

South America - Colombia - One Hundred Years of Solitude by Garcia Marquez

British Isles/Ireland - England - The Greener Shore by Morgan Llywelyn

Polar Regions/Scandinavia - Norway - Maya by Jostein Gaarder

Western Europe - Vatican City - The Third Secret by Steve Berry

Eastern Europe - ? - The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obreht

Middle East/North Africa - Iran - Moonlight on the Avenue of Faith by Gina Nahai

Sub-Saharan Africa - Botswana - Morality for Beautiful Girls by Alexander McCall Smith

East Asia - Japan - Silence by Shusaku Endo

South Asia - Malaysia - The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo

Australia/Oceania - Australia - Kissing Sin by Keri Arthur

Islands/Bodies of Water - Samui, Thailand - Everyone Burns by John Dolan

*****

Books to Movies 8/12

Read one per month

Jan - Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame Smith

Feb - Legend by Marie Lu

Mar - Dollbaby by Laura Lane McNeal

Apr - Curtains of Blood by Robert J. Randisi

May - The Choice by Nicholas Sparks

Jun - Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll

Jul - A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Aug - Silence by Shusaku Endo

Sep - The November Criminals by Sam Munson

Oct - Nerve by Jeanne Ryan

Nov - The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

Dec - The Circle by Dave Eggers

*****

Genres 12/12 (DONE)

Read one book in each genre

Mystery/Thriller/Crime - Terra Incognita by Ruth Downie

Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy - Darkness Raging by Yasmine Galenorn

Paranormal - Night Marchers by Rebecca Gober

Sci-Fi/High Fantasy - The Martian by Andy Weir

Women’s Fiction - Woman in Black by Eileen Goudge

Historical Fiction - Shroud of Dishonour by Maureen Ash

Erotic - Nina the Naughty Witch by Alan Gandy

Humor - Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

Romance - Blood Magick by Nora Roberts

Non-Fiction - Midsummer by Deborah Blake

Memoir - Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Classics - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

*****

Great Cats That Roar 30/33

Read books of which the first letter of a word in the title begin with each letter

T - Terra Incognita by Ruth Downie

I - Fire and Ice by Dana Stabenow

G - The Greener Shore by Morgan Llywellyn

E - Earthly Joys by Philippa Gregory

R - The Ladies’ Room by Carolyn Brown

L - The Language of Spells by Sarah Painter

I - The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory

O - One Hundred Years of Solitude by Garcia Marquez

N - Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

J - Jackal Moon by Jeanette Battista

A - After Alice by Gregory Maguire

G - Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple

U - Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron

A - If You Ask Me by Betty White

R - Darkness Raging by Yasmine Galenorn

L - Legend by Marie Lu

E - The Embroidered Corpse by Brian Kavanagh

O - The Old Queen’s Murder by Michael A. Herr

P - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

A - Moonlight on the Avenue of Faith by Gina Nahai

R - Reservations for Murder by Tim Myers

D - Death is in the Air by Kate Kingsbury

S - The Spirit Box by JH Glaze

N - Night Marchers by Rebecca Gober

O - The Old Queen’s Treasure by Michael A. Herr

W - Magic in the Wind by Christine Feehan

L - The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende

E - Everyone Burns by John Dolan

O - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

P - Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame Smith

A - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

R - Ripper by Isabel Allende

D - Shroud of Dishonour by Maureen Ash

*****

Ultimate Reading Challenge 2016 - 30/41

[X] A book based on a fairy tale - After Alice by Gregory Maguire

[ ] A National Book Award Winner - The Turner House by Angela Flournoy

[X] A young adult (YA) bestseller - Ripper by Isabel Allende

[X] A book you haven’t read since high school - The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson

[X] A book set in your home state - Wild by Cheryl Strayed

[ ] A book translated into English - One Hundred Years of Solitude by Garcia Marquez

[X] A romance set in the future - Legend by Marie Lu

[X] A book set in Europe - The Third Secret by Steve Berry

[X] A book that is under 150 pages - Not to Disturb by Muriel Spark

[ ] A New York Times bestseller - Cross Justice by James Patterson

[ ] A book that is being made into a movie this year - Egg & Spoon by Gregory Maguire

[X] A book recommended by someone you just met - Murder on the Bucket List by Elizabeth Perona

[X] A self-improvement book - How to Practice: The Way to a Meaningful Life by The Dalai Lama

[X] A book you can finish in a day - Jackal Moon by Jeannette Battista

[X] A book written by a celebrity - If You Ask Me by Betty White

[X] A political memoir - Prison Writings by Leonard Peltier

[ ] A book at least 100 years older than you - The Mysterious Key and What It Opens by Louisa May Alcott

[X] A book that’s more than 600 pages - Inkspell by Cornelia Funke

[X] A book from Oprah’s book club - The Ladies’ Room by Carolyn Brown

[X] A science-fiction novel - The Martian by Andy Weir

[ ] A book recommended by a family member - Listening Woman by Tony Hillerman

[X] A graphic novel - Nina the Naughty Witch by Alan Gandy

[X] A book that is published in 2016 - Darkness Raging by Yasmine Galenorn

[X] A book with a protagonist who has your occupation - The Hammett Hex by Victoria Abbott

[X] A book that takes place during summer - The Island by Elin Hilderbrand

[X] A book and its prequel - Soulless/The Curious Case of the Werewolf That Wasn’t, the Mummy That Was, and the Cat in a Jar by Gail Carriger

[X] A murder mystery - Terra Incognita by Ruth Downie

[ ] A book written by a comedian - Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

[ ] A dystopian novel - Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

[X] A book with a blue cover - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

[ ] A book of poetry - Love Poems by Pablo Neruda

[X] The first book you see in a bookstore - American Gods by Neil Gaiman

[X] A classic from the 20th century - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

[X] A book from the library - The Pocket Watch by Ceci Giltenan

[ ] An autobiography - The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

[ ] A book about a road trip - Out of Oregon by Tim Pederson

[X] A book about a culture with which you are unfamiliar - The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo

[ ] A satirical book - Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman

[X] A book that takes place on an island - Everyone Burns by John Dolan

[X] A book guaranteed to bring you joy - Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

*****

Harry Potter 

Re-read the series 10/10 (DONE)

[X] Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

[X] Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

[X] Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

[X] Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

[X] Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

[X] Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

[X] Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

[X] Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

[X] Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
[X] Tales of Beedle the Bard

*****

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

Writing About Magic by Rayne Hall