The Grinch Book Tag

I saw this tag on Adventures of a Bibliophile, and it's originally from Thoughts on Tomes.

Half of the lights on the Christmas tree are burnt out: Name a book/series/character that started out good but then went downhill
The Diviners series by Libba Bray. Really liked book 1, hated book 2. Also, The Others series by Anne Bishop gets less fabulous and more campy with every book; I'm still going to keep working toward getting caught up, though.

Annoying Great Aunt Sally who will not leave you alone: Name a book that you didn’t enjoy, but everyone else seems to love so it never goes away
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. I didn't hate it, but I certainly didn't love it as much as everyone else. In fact, I've read two John Green books now (I had to read one for work) and I wasn't all that impressed with Looking for Alaska either!

Your pets keep knocking over the Christmas decoration: Name a character that kept messing things up for everyone else (can’t pick a villain!)
He's a villain in that I and surely every reader hate him, but he's more of an unwitting villain than an evil, ill-intentioned one. I'm going with Father Konstantin from The Bear and the Nightingale and The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden.

You hear your parents putting out the presents and learn Santa isn’t real: Name a book you were spoiled for
I can't think of a single one! I'm usually pretty good about avoiding spoiler-y book reviews. Shows, on the other hand -- I've been spoiled for Game of Thrones, Homeland, The Walking Dead, Grey's Anatomy, and many others.

It’s freezing outside: Name a main character you just couldn’t connect with
I was hoping to love both of these books, but I didn't really feel a spark with Jazz from Artemis by Andy Weir (sad face!!!) or Aviva from Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin.

Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ and it’s giving you anti-romantic feelings: Name a couple you couldn’t stand
Ron Weasley and Lavender Brown is all that's coming to mind!

That scratchy homemade wool sweater you got for Christmas years ago but won’t get rid of: show some books that have been sitting on your shelves for a while, and you aren’t motivated to read, but you don’t have the heart to get rid of
The remainder of Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series, all the Jodi Picoult books I bought secondhand years ago and have yet to get to.

Grandma Got Runover by a Reindeer: Name a character death you still are mad about (warn people for spoilers! You can also use TV or movie deaths)
Spoiler alert for anyone who hasn't read Harry Potter!
I'm reversing this a little: I'm mad that Peter Pettigrew didn't get killed in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. That whole scene in the Shrieking Shack irritates me every time, whether reading the book or watching the movie; if Sirius and Lupin would just TELL HARRY WHAT IS GOING ON, so many things could've been different! I feel like that's one of the few scenes that really shows J.K. Rowling was writing the books for children.

The malls are overly crowded with holiday shoppers: Name a series that has too many books in it/went on too long
The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich (though I'm still reading it!)

The Grinch: Name a main character you HATE (No villians again!)
I couldn't stand Manon from The Little Paris Bookshop!

Holiday Q & A

Well, who am I to resist a Christmas Q&A?! I spotted this one at Rebel Mommy Book Blog (see her post here).

1. Real or fake tree: I really don't care, but my husband insists on a real tree. And since we're getting a real tree, I insist on selecting and cutting down the perfect tree rather than getting a pre-cut one from the store. In Hawaii we go to a Norfolk pine tree farm; they look kind of Dr. Seuss-ish, but that's your only choice of fresh-cut Christmas tree in Hawaii.

This year's tree, complete with puppy.

2. Favorite Christmas cookie: I pretty much like any and all cookies, except sugar cookies. They're fun to decorate but not my favorite to eat (though, really, I'm not going to turn down a cookie if one's offered to me)!

3. Home or travel on Christmas: Depends on where in the world we're living! Here in Hawaii we stay home (and this year my husband will actually be working on Christmas), but when we're stationed on the Mainland we try to spend holidays with family.

4. Clear or colored lights: Colored on the tree, both outside.

5. Christmas cards?: Yes, yes, yes! I'm a snail mail fanatic. I've been sending Christmas cards since I was in elementary school!

6. Favorite present given: ...crickets. I have the worst memory and I have no recollection of what I gave for which occasion -- or even really what I've given. Let's just say I buy a lot of cool presents from Etsy!

7. Favorite present received: Probably the pogo stick Santa brought when I was in elementary school, or the reindeer bell he left me in my stocking one year (I still have it in my stocking today!).

8. Stockings?: Yes! I have a stocking that my mom embroidered for me when I was a baby, and I made a similar one for Jarrod after we got married. The pets even have stockings!

9. Christmas PJs?: Nope, that's never been a thing in my family. Maybe we'll make it one if we ever have kids.

10. Favorite Christmas carol: Carol of the Bells.

11. Favorite holiday tradition: Driving around looking at Christmas lights (nowadays, with a peppermint mocha in hand) and Christmas music playing on the radio.

12. Early or last-minute shopper: Early, typically. A bit last-minute this year.

13. Favorite Christmas movie or show: The Holiday and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. And of course I soak up a bunch of Hallmark Christmas movies each year.

14. Favorite holiday beverage: Anything peppermint -- peppermint mocha, peppermint chip shake, peppermint cocoa.

15. Cookies and milk for Santa?: Of course! Growing up we always left carrots for the reindeer too.

Monday Musings

Alohi's birthday hike!

My week: Alohi turned 1 on Saturday! To celebrate we took her on a hike. She got a little bored and bratty in the middle (in her defense, it was nearly 5 miles), but I think she had a great time! And my mantra is a tired puppy is a happy puppy, and she was definitely contentedly tuckered out.

My husband's and my Christmas roles seem to be reversed this year. Normally I'm the super-festive one and he's the Grinch, but I just haven't been feeling it this year. He actually had to convince me to go cut down our tree (I was all, "Ugh, it's soooooo much effort just to take it down in a couple weeks"), when usually I'm the one saying, "Let's go, let's go!" We had some lighted garland around our front door and I finally gave into the trend and bought a blow-up Rudolph this year, and honestly I felt like that was enough; it's ok to take a break once in a while! But no, Jarrod has been bitten by the Christmas bug and after this week our house looks like the Griswold's and our electical sockets look like the ones in "Christmas Story" that keep blowing the fuse. And, happily, I'm finally feeling a bit more festive -- I'm actually listening to Christmas music as I type this.

Reading: I stayed home from work last Monday with a cold and I spent hours and hours reading -- and blazed through "Magpie Murders." It was really two mystery novels in one -- one set in the '50s, one in present day, both in England -- and I loved it!

Then I read "Big Mushy Happy Lump," the second Sarah Scribbles book. I didn't find the comics in this edition to be quite so "OH MY GOD, that is SO me!" as the first one, but it was cute and fun nonetheless.

Next up was "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng, one of the most hyped books of the year. It was deserving of all the hullaballoo, though not perfect -- I gave it 4 stars. I will say, though, that it was one of those books that sucks you into a situation that's obviously spiraling out of control, and you just can't look away -- or put the book down! It was the first book in a while that got me to stay up way past my bedtime reading.

And now I'm reading "Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery" by Jenny Colgan. It's cute, and I love that it features a PET PUFFIN(!!!!!), but I'm 2/3 of the way done and it doesn't feel quite as Christmas-y as I'd hoped. It's actually the third book in a series (though the other two aren't necessary to enjoy this one -- there's enough background) and I do think I might go back and read the first two. I want more of this charming island off Cornwall!

I've now read 95 books this year -- fingers crossed that I make it to my new goal of 100!

Watching: We watched the movie "Get Out" this week. It didn't seem like something I'd like and I had no intention of watching it until I saw Allison Williams talking about it on The Tonight Show and then a co-worker recommended it. It was... definitely a unique plot. I didn't hate it, but it certainly wasn't my favorite. Have you seen it? What did you think?

Also: a couple Hallmark Christmas movies. One, "A Gift to Remember," was pretty much made for me in all its cheesy glory -- it involved a bookstore-working bibliophile who likes to make crafty displays in the shop, and a cute dog.

Knitting: A Christmas-y bird ornament for my work Secret Santa. I finished it yesterday but it was too dark to get a good picture, so here he is partially completed.

Eating: I discovered this reeeally yummy peppermint-white chocolate caramel corn at Target. Peppermint is pretty much my favorite flavor, and I am now addicted.

Dreading: Going to the post office after work today! Ughhhhh! I'm usually the early bird as far as Christmas shopping and mailing, but this year I was waiting and waiting and waiting for the books I ordered from Book Depository for my Broke and Bookish Secret Santa to arrive. A month later, they are still not here, and I'm now going to be the crazy lady braving the post office a week before Christmas. And I have a ton of stuff to mail, too (the joys of living far, far away from family and friends!).

Blogging:
Monday Musings
The Book Series I Started in 2017 -- And Which Ones I'll Continue
I Judge Books By Their Covers: Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery
Christmas Song Book Tag

Looking forward to: Taking Alohi down to the Honolulu City Lights to see Shaka Santa and Mrs. Claus. And finally doing some Christmas baking this week!

*I'm linking up with Kathryn of Book Date for It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Kimberly of Caffeinated Reviewer for Sunday Post.

Christmas Song Book Tag

I saw this on Adventures of a Bibliophile, though I couldn't track it back to its original source. Feel free to play along!

1. “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch” Name a villainous character you couldn’t help but love.

The Dragon from Uprooted seemed like a villain until we got to know him better.

2. “All I Want for Christmas is You” Which book do you most hope to see under your Christmas tree?

Maybe if it's actually right in front of me, I'll finally read it!

3. “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” Name a character who overcomes major obstacles and learns to believe in themselves. 

Neville Longbottom from Harry Potter.

4. “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” a) Which character do you think would be on the top of the naughty list? b) Which character do you think would be at the top of the nice list? 

a) Isabelle from Little Fires Everywhere. She did burn the house down, after all.

b) Eleanor Oliphant. She's not quite there yet, but she's trying -- and she's had a crazy enough time of it that she deserves something good from Santa! Maybe a large supply of hard cider?

5. “Frosty the Snowman” Which book just melts your heart.

Ummmm... anything -- literally anything -- with dogs!

6. “Feliz Navidad” Choose a book that takes place in a country other than your own. 

The Heart's Invisible Furies is set in Ireland, and the country is very much a part of the story.

7. “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” Which holiday themed book do you use to spread the Christmas joy?

The Dogs of Christmas is festive, adorable and has puppies. It's the best Christmas novel I've read.

8. “Sleigh Ride” Which fictional character would you choose to spend the holidays with (doesn’t have to be a love interest!)?

The Weasleys at the Burrow, of course. I want one of Mrs. Weasley's handknit initial sweaters!

9. “Baby it’s Cold Outside” Which book that you didn’t like would you sacrifice to a fire to warm yourself up in the cold?

While I didn't hate it, Artemis was such a disappointment that I wouldn't mind using it as kindling.

10. “Do You Hear What I Hear” Which book do you think everyone should read?

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi! It was my favorite book in 2016 and I've recommended it all year long. It's a fabulous work of fiction, but it's also timely and important.

Monday Musings

Our Norfolk pine Christmas tree!

My week: It was a pretty good week here, other than the cold I've come down with. I had been busy at work the past couple weeks getting stuff together for a bookish ornament-making program at the library and we had it on Wednesday. It went well and I think the kids really enjoyed the ornaments I came up with! Plus we gave second life to some books that were victims of the big book-weeding we're doing in advance of getting new carpet.

Saturday we cut down our Christmas tree. We got a Norfolk pine again this year -- the only kind you can get in Hawaii if you want to chop down a fresh one -- and we took Alohi with us to pick out her first Christmas tree.

Reading: I finished "Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI" by David Grann, and it's a book I would highly recommend. It was definitely not a happy book, but it taught me about some disturbing and sad events in our country's history that I'd never even heard of before, and in Grann's typical style it was fast-paced and readable.

I also read "Escape From Mr. Lemoncellos' Library" by Chris Grabenstein for the kids' book club at work. It's about a super-cool library and a game to find a secret route out by using literary and library clues. My co-worker and I actually came up with a similar (much abbreviated) game for our book club kids to play at our meeting this week.

Then I blew through "Young Jane Young" by Gabrielle Zevin. I read it in just over a day -- it was a very fast and easy read -- but it was pretty disappointing. It was absolutely nothing like Zevin's previous book (which I LOVED), "The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry." Pretty much every single thing I enjoyed about that book was missing here.

I finally finished "Astrophysics for People in a Hurry" by Neil DeGrasse Tyson. I had intended to read a chapter a day during Non-Fiction November, but it got pushed to the wayside. Overall it was a good book and I learned a lot, though I'll readily admit some of it was over my head!

Now I'm reading "Magpie Murders" by Anthony Horowitz, which is a mystery story within a mystery story. The second story reminds me a bit of one of my favorite PBS shows, "Grantchester," which is involves solving crimes in an English town in the '50s. So far I'm really enjoying it!

I'm up to 92 books read, and I think I'll be able to meet my new goal of 100 books in 2017!

Watching: We watched "Spider-Man: Homecoming" and I really liked it! A lot of people like the Toby McGuire Spiderman best, but I've actually enjoyed each iteration more than the last, and this is my favorite so far. I liked that Spiderman acts like an actual teenager, and he's just learning -- not always flawlessly -- how to use his special abilities.

Knitting: I finished the hat for my Broke and Bookish Secret Santa!

From the Field of Wildflowers pattern by Joji Locatelli.

Receiving: The package from my TBTB Secret Santa! Once again, I was totally spoiled. My wonderful Santa sent two books ("The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" ultimate edition, and "Vicious" by Victoria Schwab), socks to go with my "Hitchhiker" book, personalized notepaper with a knitting theme, the adorable "This is How We Roll" library-print pouch from Out of Print, some bookish postcards, and a canister of Starbucks peppermint cocoa. I love everything!

Blogging:
Monday Musings
10 Book Settings I'd Love to Visit
Turning the Page on November 2017

Looking forward to: Kicking this cold! And then baking Christmas cookies!

I'm linking up with Kathryn of Book Date for It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Monday Musings

My week: I had fun dressing up with my co-workers at the library for Halloween! It was a nice change to wear a tutu to work instead of my uniform shirt. The rest of the week was pretty quiet... I've been busy at work getting the November bulletin board up (it's 13x9 feet, so it's always an endeavor!). In October I asked patrons to trace their hand and color it in however they liked, and now those hand prints are feathers on a giant turkey.

 

Reading: I tried for a second time to read "The Keeper of Lost Things" and I got stuck at the same spot, about three chapters in. I really wanted to love this book, but I decided to give up on it, at least for now. I think part of the problem is the authors way-overuse of alliteration, but really, I'm surprised I couldn't get into it.

Instead I started working on my list of 2017 releases I want to read  by the end of the year, and I stated with "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas. I'm sure you all know the novel has to do with Black Lives Matter and a black teen boy shot by a white policeman. Regardless of your politics or viewpoint, it's a book I recommend because the author did such a good job making me feel connected to the main character, 16-year-old Starr. And it also gave me a glimpse into a life very different from mine -- which is one of the things I most enjoy about reading.

Then I read "Tuck Everlasting," the November book for the 4th and 5th grade book club I do at the library where I work. It started off really cute, but it suffered from exactly what I mentioned above -- I closed the back cover and didn't feel like I knew any of the characters at all. Winnie almost decides to become immortal for Jessie Tuck, a boy she knew for ONE DAY, and I didn't know anything about him other than that he was cute. I imagine the movie version fixes this problem, and since it stars Alexis Bledel (aka Rory Gilmore), I do want to watch it.

And now I'm reading "Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine" by Gail Honeyman, another book from my list of 2017 releases. I'm a little over halfway done and really enjoying it so far. I didn't exactly know what to expect with it, but it's different that the vague idea I had in my head -- in a good way, though! As prickly and awkward as Eleanor is, I'm starting to fall in love with her!

Knitting: I'm finally knitting again! I hardly knit at all in 2017, but I'm back to work on the Newt Scamander scarf for a friend. Perfect timing, since I like to knit while watching TV (see below).

Watching: I had a wake-up call this week when I saw our rather massive DVR only had 10% space remaining! I feel like since I only work part-time I should watch "my" shows when Jarrod isn't around, but all too often I choose reading over watching and now I have entire seasons of shows to catch up on, not to mention a bunch of movies.

So, what am I watching? I'm keeping up with "This Is Us," "Poldark" (which Jarrod watches with me -- yay!) and "Grey's Anatomy." I finished the first season of the new Masterpiece show "My Mother and Other Strangers," which is set in a small Irish town during WWII, where American troops have set up a base, and I picked back up with the final season of "Switched at Birth." It's been my guilty pleasure for years, but this season is way too political for my taste and I had to take a break from it.

I had been recording the "Will and Grace" revival and I finally gave that a try, but after five minutes of audience sounds and canned laughter I just couldn't handle it. It occurred to me how much TV has changed -- growing up, most of the shows I watched were sitcoms "filmed in front of a live studio audience," but now there aren't even many shows like that left, much less ones that I'm interested in (period dramas don't have laugh tracks!). It never bothered me when I was younger, but hearing a bunch of audience laughter every 20 seconds was like nails on a chalkboard, so "Will and Grace" got the delete button.

We're also watching "Stranger Things" season 2 and it's really good!

Signing up for: The Broke and Bookish Secret Santa! It'll be my third year participating and I'm so looking forward to it. Though the real fun for me is buying for my secret buddy, I've had absolutely fabulous Santas the past two years and it's just been a great experience!

Blogging:
Monday Musings
Turning the Page on October 2017
Mini Reviews: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, The Alice Network, Origin, Setting Free the Kites & Red Sister
Non-Fiction November Week 2: Five Non-Fiction/Fiction Pairings

Looking forward to: Changing out my display of spooky books and movies to Thanksgiving and Christmas ones at work today!

*I'm linking up with Kathryn of Book Date for It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Monday Musings

My week: Just another blur of a week here! Saturday we took Alohi to her weekly puppy playtime and signed her up for some training classes that begin next week. And she had her first trip inside Lowe's!

Did you do anything for Easter? Usually we at least make a ham and some yummy sides (and up until last year I made Jarrod color eggs with me) but Easter totally snuck up on me this year and we didn't do anything Easter-y at all. We did take a couple fun pictures of Alohi in an Easter hat during her first trip to Petco when she was just eight weeks old and teeny-tiny (she had her four-month birthday yesterday; where does the time go?!), which I had planned all along to save and share for Easter. Meet Alohi-Bunny!

Reading: I finished and enjoyed the Australian mystery novel "The Dry" (review) and I was excited to see that it's going to be a series! The main character was a dynamic detective I could get behind and I'm looking forward to having a new series to keep up with! (I'm good at reading newer series as the books come out, but I have a terrible time reading all the books in older series.)

After that I read "Swimming Lessons" by Claire Fuller. I really liked Fuller's first book, "Our Endless Numbered Days," and while the plot of her new novel is very different it's just about as dark. Don't be fooled by the cheerful cover -- it's mostly about the inner workings of a failing marriage, which doesn't sound like something I'd normally pick up but Fuller is a talented writer and it definitely held my interest.

Then I plowed through the psychological thriller "Gone Without A Trace," which releases tomorrow. I saw going in that it had mixed reviews and, since thrillers have not been my thing lately, I would've skipped it if I hadn't committed months ago to reading an ARC. Sadly, this book continued my downhill streak with thrillers and -- unless you really, really enjoy the genre -- I wouldn't recommend it. (Uninspired writing, formulaic plot, predictable, weird...)

Yesterday I started the first book in the graphic novel series "March," about the civil rights movement, by Congressman John Lewis. It's a super-short book and I should be done quickly; then it's on to "Exit West" by Mohsin Hamid, a new book I've been looking forward to for a while!

Crafting: I didn't do any knitting this week, but I did start on a project for work, a wreath made out of paper leaves.

Watching: We finally watched "Moana" and it was so cute! Definitely fun to see while living in Hawaii. We also watched this week's "Designated Survivor" and an "Elementary" from a couple weeks ago. And while Jarrod was at his Saturday-night poker game, Alohi got her first introduction to Harry Potter! I've been craving a Potter movie and I chose "Half-Blood Prince" because I've seen most of the others more recently. If Alohi were under the Sorting Hat, I'm 100% positive she'd be put in Gryffindor!

I'm excited to start watching "The White Princess" on Starz, based on Philippa Gregory's book. I haven't read the novel (I haven't picked up anything by her in a few years) but I loooooved "The White Queen" miniseries and I'm excited to watch the sequel.

Listening to: "In Cold Blood" by alt-J.

Blogging:
Monday Musings
10 Of The Most Unique Books I've Read
New Release: Sputnik's Children by Terri Favro
Book Review: The Dry by Jane Harper

Looking forward to: Beginning an embroidery project! The three kits I mentioned on my MM post last week arrived and I'm excited to choose one and get started.

*I'm linking up with Kathryn of Book Date for It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Turning the Page on December 2016

*I started a new job at the beginning of the month, at the Air Force base library here in Hawaii. It's been an adjustment after a few months off from work, but I'm glad to be back in a library. I worked there last time we were stationed here, so it's been a little less of a learning curve and that's been positive bonus!

*We had a really nice, quiet Christmas. On Christmas Eve evening, we picked up holiday drinks from Starbucks and drove around to look at lights and stop by the Honolulu City Lights display (and Shaka Santa) while listening to Christmas music. On Christmas, we had a wonderful day of relaxing, eating, talking to friends and family on the phone and watching Christmas movies.

*We made a chalkboard for our front porch from scratch! I'm really excited to change up the message each month.

*I had a great time participating in The Broke and the Bookish's Secret Santa again. I absolutely loved everything my partner sent me, and I had a blast shopping for my recipient. (You can read more about it -- and see photos -- here.) I'm already excited for next year!

*We finished up season 1 of "Westworld" (weird but intriguing) as well as this season's "Poldark" (sooooo good!). I watched a few Hallmark Christmas movies and finished up my re-watch of the last few seasons of "Gilmore Girls." I'm excited to finally start "GG: A Year in the Life" soon.

Books read: 5 (not great, but it's been a crazy month with starting work and adjusting to 8-hour shifts three days a week)

Favorite book: "Maybe in Another Life" by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I will most definitely be reading all her other books!

Biggest let-down: "The Couple Next Door" by Shari Lapena. It's pretty popular, but I didn't find much to like in this kidnapped-child "thriller."

Weird as fuck: "Vassa in the Night." I had to read it for the library's book club, which I'll be co-facilitating. I still cannot get over the minor plot point of a guy abandoning his wife and kids to become a German shepherd -- as in literally be turned from a human into a dog (by means never explained). And it had zero bearing on the rest of the story, which made it even more bizarre. Also, there is a talking pangolin (of all animals?!) who also happens to be a lawyer. WTF is going on in your head, Sarah Porter?

January release I'm most excited about: "Carve the Mark" by Veronica Roth, the first in her new sci-fi series.

Book I'm most looking forward to reading in January: Since I'm still trying to get adjusted to my new work schedule (and its negative effect on my reading time) I'm probably going to be sticking pretty closely to my reading list, which includes several advance-read books that come out in January and February, like "The Fire by Night" by Teresa Messineo, "The Second Mrs. Hockaday" by Susan Rivers, "The Young Widower's Handbook" by Tom McAllister, "The Gilded Cage" by Vic James and a few more. I'm not particularly excited to read any of them (I hate e-books!) but I'm hoping there are a few gems on the list.

Reading challenges signed up for: The Backlist Reader Challenge, hosted by Lark at the Bookwyrm's Hoard. It focuses on reading pre-2016 releases already on your to-read list. I picked 25 books that I'm going to (finally!) endeavor to read this year. You can see them in my sign-up post here!

Books added to my to-read list: 12

Books added to my maybe-to-read list: 15

Most intriguing TBR addition: "Himself" by Jess Kidd, which comes out in March (and sadly, I didn't get approved for the advance-read copy -- sniff, sniff). Here's the first line from the Goodreads blurb: "Blending strange kindnesses, casual violence and buried secrets: an unforgettable debut from a dark new voice in Irish fiction."

Favorite bookstagram: This is a little more knitstagram than bookstagram -- and it features the book I liked least this month -- but I just love this photo! Find me on Instagram @knittinglindsay.

I had a yarn-filled December! I spent the first part of the month working on my Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life mystery knit-along cowl (which I actually ripped out and re-started when I was nearly done because I didn't like the shape). Then I whipped up a cozy little owl ornament for a last-minute Secret Santa gift for work, and since then I've been enjoying knitting Christmas ornaments from the "55 Christmas Balls to Knit" book.

Year-end posts:
The Best Books I Read in 2016
2016: My Bookish Year in Review

Favorite post: A Very Merry Christmas Survey. I decided to come up with a holiday questionnaire and I had a wonderful time brainstorming questions and reminiscing about Christmases past!

Favorite link-up posts: 10 New-to-Me Authors I Read (and Loved) in 2016

Book reviews:

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin (4 stars)

Mini Reviews: Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Yay!) and The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena (Ugh!) (4.5 stars, 2 stars)

Monday Musings: Mele Kalikimaka

My week: We had a lovely, quiet Christmas. On Christmas Eve we got holiday drinks from Starbucks, then went to see Hanapa'a Christmas, a cul-de-sac that goes all out for Christmas in Clark Griswold-esque style, and the crown jewel is a huge Christmas tree made out of Heineken bottles synced to flash in time with Christmas music. Then we went headed back in the opposite direction to see the Honolulu City Lights display and, of course, Shaka Santa.

I got some wonderful Christmas gifts, including a massage appointment from Jarrod, a niffler Funko and some Harry Potter playing cards from my parents, a gorgeous handmade personalized clutch from my best friend, and a variety of Lindsay-brand olives from my brother-in-law! And my parents got us a fancy stainless steel trash can, which I was really excited about. We'd been using the same kitchen trash can I got my sophomore year of college (many, many years ago now), and it was about time we upgraded to a grown-up version!

Reading: Last night I finished "The Bear and the Nightingale" by Katherine Arden, a novel set in medieval Russia and inspired by Russian folktales, which comes out January 10. I really enjoyed it, and even though the first half was a little slow I really loved the atmospheric quality and the good writing. (Review to come soon; I gave it 4 stars.)

Next up is "Vassa in the Night" by Sarah Porter. I have to read "Vassa" (another novel, this one YA, inspired by a Russian fairytale) for the adult book club at the library, which I'll be co-facilitating the first week in January. Have you read it? I'm not too keen on YA (I only read one YA book this year, and probably not coincidentally it was my best reading year yet), but a co-worker loved it so I'm trying to keep an open mind.

After that will be "The River at Night" by Erica Ferencik, a thriller set in Maine involving a white water rafting trip gone wrong, which also comes out January 10.

I'm still trying to get into a good routine (that doesn't involve falling asleep on the couch at 10 p.m. every night) with my new work schedule, and my reading has most definitely suffered. Normally I'd have read three or four books in the 11 days it took me to read "The Bear and the Nightingale"!

Knitting: I finished the knitted Christmas ornament (from the "55 Christmas Balls to Knit" book) I started last Sunday and I really like the way it came out!

Watching: "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," "Home Alone," you get the idea.

Listening to: Christmas music, obviously! ;)

Eating: Our Christmas feast included ham, which Jarrod did on our smoker, sweet potatoes, corn pudding, green bean casserole, sweet Hawaiian rolls and apple crumble. Yum!

Looking forward to: Five days off from work to start the new year!

I'm linking up with Kathryn at Book Date for It's Monday! What Are You Reading?