2016 Goals

It has been an eventful year, although the blog probably doesn't reflect that.

My reading has been up and down. For the last few months, my cross stitching has taken over my reading time. I also had a little reading slump after Squeaker was born.

Despite the set backs, I actually met my Goodreads goal of reading 150 books!! Woo!

I also met my goal for reading and reviewing 52 graphic novels. I actually finished the year with 56!

As for my goal of reading the big stack of books on my night stand, I still have a stack of books on my night stand. It has gotten a little smaller, but it is still there.

Overall, I think I've had a pretty great year in books!

The Twits

From Goodreads:    How do you outwit a Twit? Mr. and Mrs. Twit are the smelliest, ugliest people in the world. They hate everything -- except playing mean jokes on each other, catching innocent birds to put in their Bird Pies, and making their caged monkeys, the Muggle-Wumps, stand on their heads all day. But the Muggle-Wumps have had enough. They don't just want out, they want revenge.












My Thoughts:

-    I remember liking this book and thinking it was funny. During this re-read with my daughter, I thought it was just alright. It had funny moments, but it was a bit silly and childish for me. I think I'm getting old. 

-    Mr. and Mrs. Twit are terrible people. They deserved a worse fate than what they got. I don't know how they can stand each other. The pranks they pulled on each other were pretty funny, and I wish the whole book had been about that.

-    The birds and the monkeys were fun, but when the story switched over to be about them, that is when the book got too young for me. 

-    Gnome liked the book, she laughed and was excited to read it every night. It was a quick read with lots of pictures, and she liked all the pictures.

-    I can't imagine a Roald Dahl book without Quentin Blake's illustrations. He always brings the characters and whimsy to life.


Gnome's Thoughts:

-    It was silly and funny.

-    Mr. and Mrs. Twit were mean.

-    There were lots of funny parts.

-    I liked the whole book.

Perfect Scoundrels

Goodreads Synopsis:    Katarina Bishop and W.W. Hale the fifth were born to lead completely different lives: Kat comes from a long, proud line of loveable criminal masterminds, while Hale is the son of one of the most seemingly perfect dynasties in the world. If their families have one thing in common, it's that they both know how to stay under the radar while getting-or stealing-whatever they want. No matter the risk, the Bishops can always be counted on, but in Hale's family, all bets are off when money is on the line. When Hale unexpectedly inherits his grandmother's billion dollar corporation, he quickly learns that there's no place for Kat and their old heists in his new role. But Kat won't let him go that easily, especially after she gets tipped off that his grandmother's will might have been altered in an elaborate con to steal the company's fortune. Forced to keep a level head as she and her crew fight for one of their own, Kat comes up with an ambitious and far-reaching plan that only the Bishop family would dare attempt. To pull it off, Kat is prepared to do the impossible, but first, she has to decide if she's willing to save her boyfriend's company if it means losing the boy.

My Thoughts:

-    I love Kat and Hale's relationship. It is complex and full of tension. 

-    I love that these stories are about family, and the family business is theft! So great! It is so great to read about a family that is so loyal. Each member of the family watches out for each other and is always willing to step in and help.

-    I really enjoyed meeting other members of Kat's family.

-    I was binge watching White Collar while reading this, and it is a perfect companion for this novel. 

-    I wish I had some of Kat's skills.

-    This is a really fun series, and I'm excited that Ally is writing another one! 

Previous books in the Heist Society series:

(covers are linked)

 

Danny the Champion of the World

Goodreads Synopsis:    Danny’s life seems perfect: his home is a gypsy caravan, he’s the youngest car mechanic around, and his best friend is his dad, who never runs out of wonderful stories to tell. And when Danny discovers his father’s secret, he’s off on the adventure of a lifetime. Here’s Roald Dahl’s famous story about a 9-year-old boy, his dad, and a daring and hilarious pheasant-snatching expedition. Just as important, it’s the story of the love between a boy and his father who, in Danny’s own words, is “the most marvelous and exciting father a boy ever had.”








My Thoughts:

-    This story had all the charm and characteristics of a Roald Dahl book, but it was long. It felt long. Gnome enjoyed it though.

-    I really liked that Danny's dad told him stories about The BFG. It was fun.

-    The pheasant hunting was fun, but it took a while to get to it. 

-    I enjoyed the book alright, but there were a few slow parts, and I got bored at times.

-    I liked all the characters. 


Gnome's Thoughts:

-    It had a good ending.

-    There were funny parts.