End of Year and all that

I didn't meet my Goodreads goal of 200 books and I don't care because I have cookies!

I got behind on my "Deal Me In" short story challenge so have been trying to catch up. (I also had to fill in some dates.)  I finished this morning with the Queen of Clubs: Bernard Hœpffner, Portrait of the Translator as Chameleon
I didn't enjoy this challenge as much in 2018 as I did in 2017. The randomness began to get to me toward the middle of summer. I don't know if I'll do it again this year. I still read plenty of short stories, but on a different schedule.

Some things that cut into my reading time were the day trips and generally being more physically active this year (a big plus especially if you have cookies).

Goals for next year?  A smaller Goodreads challenge, continue exploring the Northeastern neighborhood, try to reduce the "owned-but-unread"* list, and eat a few cookies.

*had 331 books on it at the beginning of the year, it now has 341.

"There's a book in the mail!'

Yesterday's snail mail (slight misnomer, see *note below) had a book for me. Naturally I stopped what I was doing (reading my email) and rushed downstairs to grab it.

 Opening book mail is always a bit of an enjoyable mystery. Is it a subscription book from Open Letter, Deep Vellum, or Three Lines? Or my win from LibraryThing, Goodreads, or some blog? A late Christmas gift? It all flashes through my mind as I hobble (I stubbed my big toe something awful on Christmas Eve--it's not broken but it is bruised and cut) to the stairs.

 My housemate is holding a rather thin book mailer and hands it to me when I'm halfway down the stairs. It's too thin for what's I'm expecting from subscriptions and I'm puzzled.

 Oh boy it's from Archipelago Books! I did win something from them on LitHub but I can't remember what it was. Hum...what is it?  I slide the item out of the mailer and--It's Wrapped! The mystery continues...what fun!

 And the "wrapping paper" is an unmutilated four page section of TLS from July 27, 2018. I carefully remove it because I want to read the exposed review of two climbing books. (Later I place a hold on The Push by Tommy Caldwell.) I smooth the paper and set the bonus reading matter aside and get to the meat of package.

 Of course! It's The Barefoot Woman

Fine book with its nifty 'wrapping paper'
Is this accidental or is it a feminist message?

  
Thank you Archipelago, LitHub, & USPS!

*note:  The email informing me of the win and requesting my address came on the afternoon of Dec 19. I replied two hours later.  Note saying "book is in the mail" came around noon on the 20th. Book arrived on the 26th. Not so "snail" considering weekend, holiday, and Christmas mail crunch.

A Brief Return

OK, so I'm going to try to get back to the blog...but it may or may not be about books and reading...

This morning whilst sipping coffee and munching shortbread, I checked my email. Stuff leads to stuff so...

From my Sotheby's feed I read this gem, which features some museums I'd like to visit as we continue our exploration of our neighboring states:

Great American Art from Maine to Virginia by Alice Cavallo

Then my Bloglovin' Daily Digest (BDD) caused me to add a few things to my seemingly endless list of things to read. I took action on one. I placed a hold on Disoriental by Négar Djavadi, Tina Kover (Translator). I've been considering this for a while and the deciding factor was this review on Tony's Reading List.

While at the library I also checked on the availability of Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller and placed a hold on it.

Back at BDD I did a little house keeping and deleted a couple of blogs that no longer interest me.

My wanderings were interrupted by a cheery voice from downstairs "The mail's here and" (in a mock surprised tone) "there's a book for you!"

A book? for me? gosh?...but that's a story for later...