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emzebel

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Blog Entries posted by emzebel

  1. emzebel
    First off, hot damn, did I ever meet my goal of 100 books for 2008.
     
    I did a couple of things differently this year - first, because my son is now super into having me read him chapter books - which have ranged from classics like The Wizard of Oz to insipid Transformers tie-ins, I started tracking those separately, instead of counting substantive classics that I might actually choose to read on my own as part of my own count (as I did with things like Roald Dahl last year. The second is that I gave myself permission to not read things that I wasn't enjoying. Which means that rather than having my "couldn't finish" list consist of one book that actively revolted me, if a book didn't engage me and I didn't care about picking it up again, I just didn't. It was kind of a lovely feeling, and I actually wonder if it contributed to my longer reading list, since I wasn't forcing myself back to things that didn't capture my attention. The third change was how I listed - going in order of reading, as opposed to alphabetically by author. I like all of these changes and plan to keep them for 2009.
     
    Anyway, my totals:
    117 books read entirely in 2008
    2 started in 2007, finished on 2008
    62 books read with the boy
    6 books in progress (one of which I finished just this morning)
    2 books in progress with R
    9 books kicked to the curb
     
    An interesting thing about those last 9, too - 5 of them were by authors that I've read before and liked and of those, I read and enjoyed books by 4 of them just this year. Three were books in series were I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, but just couldn't get into the second. Three of the 9 were books in well regarded YA series. Another was a television tie in for a show I enjoy.
     
    Of the books in progress, one I've already finished, two are books of short stories or essays that I fully expect to finish in 2009. I suppose I should make finishing the other three part of my reading resolutions for this year, in addition to reading another 100 books in their entirety.
     
    The reading with my son doesn't really take too long to look at - most were series books, most were at least mildly educational, either by design or by virtue of being classics.
     
    Now, the meat.
    Breaking down the 117 that I read entirely in 2008:
    * 108 were new to me, 9 were re-reads (if you count the fact that I had already read the text of Stardust)
    * 20 were children's/ya books (I didn't count some things are are sometimes shelved as YA in the library, such as some of the manga/graphic novels which were not specifically aimed at these age groups, S. Myers "The Host" or the Juliet Marillier books, which while certainly appropriate to a YA audience don't struck me as being marketed as YA - so, this could potentially be about 10 higher)
    * 22 were graphic novels, 1 of which was a GN version of a book I've read several times, another of which was related to a book series)
    * 2 were non-fiction (1 book of essays, 1 true crime)
    * 10 were books of short fiction
    * 83 were installments of various series, of which 13 were YA, 17 were graphic novels,
    * I read 13 new authors, accounting for 37 of books read
    * there are 47 unique authors represented
     
    I am rediculously pleased that I read way more than my 100 book goal - I want to read more of substance next year, though.
  2. emzebel

    2018 Samhain Seven Qs

    By emzebel,

    Updated 9/19/18

    Shortbread? Heck yes. I am up for just about any baked good.

    Is there something you’d like from the UK? Pimms is probably out, but I love UK chocos and other edibles.

    Do you like Lord of the Rings? Yes, but I"m not a huge fangirl. It is one of those things where I like the movies and such and have read the books, but have no desire to do so again.

    Any ceramics you could use? I can always use trays and cups for jewelry.

    If you like tea and I have opened tea as well as sealed tea to send would you mind some cleanly decanted and clearly labeled tea I think you would really enjoy based on your preferences? Absolutely!

    Would you like anything from my etsy shop? (http://twinklentwilight.etsy.com)
    I love a lot of the fabric choices - the dragon/bat (all of the bat options, really), ravens, galaxy, Wonder Woman, Harry Potter and Dr. Who. I want something the blinded me with science for my science loving daughter and the plush monsters are adorable. I don't really knit, so I wouldn't have use for bags as project bags, but I still wants them my precious.

    Are you interested in a crocheted monster or unicorn or whatever? Colors?
    I am all about the fun plushies.
    Lavender Vanilla Bean or Rose Petal liqueur?
    Both of these sound AMAZING.

    Nail stamping plates
    I have no idea what these are and google isn't giving me a good sense of whether I would actually use them. I'm guessing not, since I am fumble fingers with polish and usually go to a nail salon.

    knitted things:
    Yes please! I would be most interested in arm warmers or socks, or maybe a shawl or cowl.

    cylindrical tins:
    No thank you. I have a ton of these lying about myself.

    What about white witchy items (oils, sage, stones, etc).
    No thank you.

    What about reusable shopping bags?
    If they are fun, from local places and such, sure! I don't need plain store ones and such as I have a ton, but I love getting ones from different locales.

    Korean beauty items like sheet masks?
    Sure!

    Do you like Bath and Body Works and if so, what are your fave products/scents?
    BBW is one of my guilty pleasures. I love getting shower gel/lotion combos and I love their foaming hand soap (although I have rather a lot of that at the moment, but I don't have any of their fall scents). I also like the C Bigelow nail and hand care products.

    Would you like something from Walt Disney World?
    I would love NMBC stuff, but other than that, I'm fine. I was just at Disneyland last December and am pretty stocked up.

    So Shihaya & Co has a bunch of fantastic candles, bath & body stuff (from Paintbox Soapworks!), Arcana perfume, etc. Is there anything there you are interested in? Please list products as well as scents. (as an FYI, the Smiles by Wedelstaedt soap is make by Brooke who used to own Villainess.)
    In terms of candles, Amber and Velvet, Autumnvale Cafe, Ember and Mallow, Full Moon, Gemini all sound delightful. In terms of other stuff, the Hocus Pocus soap and scrub, Bermuda Triangle soap.

    What are your favorite products and scents from Paintbox Soapworks (that are in stock?)
    Generally, I love her scrubs and soaps (not as fond of the lotions) I would love to try Abnoba, Indian Summer, Putney Road, Princess Pony Sparklebutt in sample sizes of either scrub or soap. I also adore the Rice Pudding hot process soap.

    Fatherhood update desires? I've ordered a bunch, but have added a few that I'd still love to try to my wishlist.

    Do you have any interest in fun tees or other goodies either related to your fandoms or otherwise from TeeTurtle or similar sites (https://www.teeturtle.com/)? If the answer is yes, what's your t-shirt size?
    Absolutely! I prefer women's cut, 2XL for tees. Generally, darker is better in terms of color.

    Do you have a favorite musical, opera, playwright or other theatrical or performing arts interest for which you might like interesting goodies? I am pretty set on this score in that I have easy access to merch along these lines.

    Do you have any desire/need for a new umbrella? I always need more small collapsible ones as my children seem to have discovered some sort of portal that devours all umbrellas in the immediate vicinity.

    Any desire for mugs - travel or otherwise? How about water bottles?
    I am pretty set for ceramic mugs. I can always use more travel mugs if they are both cool and diswasher safe. Same for water bottles.

    How do you feel about things like Halloween-themed blankets and throw pillows?
    I feel great about them! We have a pumpkin pillow and spider blankie that are used year round. I'd be particularly interested in flying things - bats, owls, ravens, gargoyles in blacks and purples.

    Are there any companies you've been wanting to try or would like to try more of?
    I would definitely be interested in trying more soap and lotion products from Haus of Gloi and Arcana and Brooke's new stuff. I only wear BPAL perfumes, but am much more flexible with other products.

    How do you feel about this: thevampstamp.com
    This is pretty much the only way I could possibly attempt that sort of eyeliner, but honestly, I'd probably never use it.

    Would you, or your swapee be interested in fall themed Yankee candle small candles?
    Sure.

    How do you feel about loose eyeshadow? (new of course)
    Not really my thing. I have a bunch and while I love the colors, it's just to fussy for me to use much.

    How does a scent of rose, mahagony, coffee and tobacco sound to you?
    Probably not my thing (sorry!). I only wear BPAL perfumes and that's not a combo that really grabs me for bath stuff.

    Is this something you, or your swapee might need or be interested in?
    https://www.rekonect...ducts/rekonlife
    (its a notebook with a magnetic spine and pages that can be removed and reattached) I have two that are totally unused.
    No thanks.

    Also, I am brewing my own kombucha now. Would you like a bottle or two?
    Sure!


    How do you feel about literal pumpkin *spice* - i.e. cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, ginger - as a flavoring (the inclusion of pumpkin is not essential in my plotting)? How about those flavors combined with chocolate in some mystery form?
    I am all over this concept (literally).

    If you like/want books, do you have a goodreads or other place where you discuss your favorite books? Would you be interested in a spooky Halloween compilation or a classic halloweenie/autumnal book like Ray Bradbury's The Halloween Tree or Something Wicked This Way Comes?
    I would love a new weenie compilation (now that I think about it, that's not the word I want, but wev).
  3. emzebel

    2009 Reading Analysis

    By emzebel,

    Wow, so, definitely met the standing 100+ books goal with 120 unique books last year.
    In addition, there were 2 books that I started prior to this year and finished, one that’s part of a mystery series, another non-fiction history of Haitian voodoo.
    I gave up on 5 books entirely. Of these, 3 were by authors I’ve read before and enjoyed, including one adaptation from a book I enjoyed originally and one sequel.
    As of Jan. 1, I had 5 books still in progress (note that of the 2 started in 2009, 1 I’ve given up on and 1 is completed, but that’s for a year from now). The 3 remaining are from previous years. Maybe this will be the year I actually plow through Ulysses.
     
    I got pretty haphazard about tracking reading with the boy this year. Ultimately, I just started noting books that I would/have read on my own as well. I’m just not up for keeping track of 40 Scooby Doo chapter books.
     
    As for the rest of the analysis:
    • 15 of these were rereads, and that doesn’t count that I read 1 book twice.
    • 83 were books in series of various kinds.
    • In terms of genre, 39 were fantasy (as defined personally), 37 were YA, 19 sci-fi, 22 involved vampires, werewolves or other staples of urban fantasy (I categorized these differently, because Anita Blake just feels different to me than, say, Mists of Avalon), 11 were mysteries
    • In terms of form, 5 were short works (usually short stories), 17 were graphic novels and 4 were non-fiction (and 1 of those was a graphic novel)
    • Looking at authors, only 8 books were written by authors identified as non-white, 26 total were new to me (accounting for roughly 38 books read) and approximately 58 distinct authors represented overall.
     
    Every year I tend to beat myself up for the fact that I read a lot of genre fiction and not a lot of “classics” or books that are generally heralded as books of substance. But screw that. I read for entertainment and what entertains me are stories about vampires and fictional societies where magic exists in some form and dystopic alien worlds and mysteries where I can lose myself for a while. I could whip out my hairshirt about the fact that I don’t really enjoy biographies and non-fiction much outside of humorous pop-cult essays, but really, why bother. I still read more than probably 90% of the population and I’m teaching my kid to value reading for its own sake and am continuing to discover new sub-genres and authors that I thoroughly enjoy. So, go me. Or something like that.
  4. emzebel
    There is no reason why anyone would even read this thing (since it essentially consists of a bunch of lists for my own record keeping), but I've started a real, honest to goodness, ranting about politics/social issues/isisms blog: I'm Just Not Impressed.
     
    Visit?
  5. emzebel
    So, to start, I'm a little disappointed that I didn't reach 100 books. At some point, I thought I'd counted and was way ahead of 89 - 93 if you count the books I finished in 2007 that I'd started previously, 99, if you count books which I didn't finish in 2007 as well - I can get to 100 if you count the one book I read about 75 pages of then decided to abandon. Although I think I'd still have to go with 99, since I don't think I actually read anything of Ulysses last year.
     
    Braking down the 89 that I read entirely in 2007:
    * 78 were new to me, 11 were re-reads
    * 22 were children's/ya books
    * 6 were graphic novels + a 7th novelization based on a comic series
    * 3 were non-fiction (2 books of essays, 1 of literary criticism)
    * 41 were installments of fantasy/sci-fi/historical fantasy series
    * 35 were by authors which were new to me in 2007
    * there are 42 unique authors represented
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