Monday, January 29, 2018

It's Monday! How to Brew a Baby

I know I haven't been posting very much recently and I'm ashamed to say it isn't because I'm too busy reading to blog. I'm just busy in general but I could be posting if I really wanted to. I have been reading though! Recently however most of my reading has involved something to do with childbirth as I get ready for our little hobbit to make her appearance. Brian and I have been doing the Bradley method childbirth classes together, which have been great but have also been keeping us pretty busy. I am loving learning more about childbirth and the little miracle growing in my womb.
I've been trying to stay healthy as best as I can but for some reason I'm always craving unhealthy things like tacos and donuts! I blame the baby!
Anyways, here's what's been up in my reading world right now.

Finished Recently

  • The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White
  • Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs (audiobook)

Currently Reading

  • The Mill on the Floss by George Elliot (audiobook)
  • Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way by Susan McCutcheon
  • The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League 
  • War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy 
  • The Mortification of Sin by John Owen
  • The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens
  • Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey 
  • God Is by Mark Jones

Coming Soon

  • Nothing for a while probably... I'm reading too many books already! 


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Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Book Review- Tarzan of the Apes

For the Classics Club I read Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan of the Apes. I listened to this one on audiobook and I really enjoyed the narration by Simon Prebble.
Synopsis- When a ship's mutiny forces a young noble English couple out onto the remote African coast, their child is born into the wild. Their deaths a short time later leave the boy alone in the jungle wilderness- until a she-ape adopts him and raises whims her own. Reluctantly accepted into the tribe by its fierce leader, Kerchak, the baby Tarzan must prove himself by learning the ways of survival in the jungle: how to talk with animals, swing through the trees and fight the great predators. In time, his strength, courage and human intelligence earn him a play as Lord of the Jungle. But the civilized men enter the jungle, Tarzan is forced to choose between two worlds. A classic tale that is both a reflection on civilization from an outside point of view and an exploration of the primal force within us all. 
I'm beginning to realize with my second of Edgar Rice Burroughs novels that he definitely has a formula to them. However.... one can't help but enjoy his books! Adventure! Romance! Just some light fun reading. There are definitely some stereotypes to this book and it's the product of it's times so there's a couple things one needs to take with a grain of salt.
Tarzan is an intriguing and compelling lead character. He's definitely a character trying to find himself and you root for him throughout the book. The internal struggle he faces between his human side and his primal side is interesting. Jane is great too but I liked Dejah Thoris in A Princess of Mars better. Jane is a little bit of a helpless female sometimes but I think you don't notice quite as much because her maid Esmeralda is way more so! I had mixed feelings about Clayton. I liked him and he's definitely a gentleman so I feel bad for him that Jane ends up preferring Tarzan. I also like the French naval officer D'Arnot. He's a great gentleman and I love how he looks after Tarzan after Tarzan looks after him. Overall I enjoyed the plot though it can get pretty sappy at times after Jane enters the story.
Really my main complaint about this book is the ending. No spoilers but if you've read it you know what I mean! Basically I'm going to have to read the next book to get the rest of the story! Why would Edgar Rice Burroughs end the book like that? It's cruel!!!
On a side note.... this is nothing like the Disney film at all... I've only seen it once a long time ago but as far as I recall... pretty much nothing like it!
So anyways, a fun read and I recommend!

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Thursday, January 4, 2018

New Year's Thoughts

I've had a busy beginning to my year so I'm just now putting down a few New Year's thoughts.

First off... I had a marvelous first Christmas being married to Brian. We celebrated on Christmas Eve with his side of the family then Christmas morning we were able to spend together before headed out to my side of the family in the evening to celebrate with them. Being able to spend the morning together was really special. We made breakfast together and then opened presents and stockings. Then we enjoyed a movie together. I'm sure next Christmas will look different with a baby but I'm excited for the change, though of course a little terrified.

Which brings me to the new year. We only have three months before we'll be welcoming our little girl  into our lives. It's feeling more and more real every day as I feel her moving inside me. Our nursery is pretty much set up and ready to go. Most of my thoughts are on what's to come with her as I think of freezer meals, packing bags for the hospital and all of that jazz. It's hard to focus on much else and when I do I get behind on everything I need to do to prepare! It's craziness!

I'm still finding time to read here and there, which is essential as I press towards my goal to complete my Classics Club challenge this year. I have 38 books left on my list... three of which I'm currently reading. I'll probably skip a couple on there though to be honest.... I made a list of 103 with the idea that I would only read 100. I just make my own rules up like that. I know it's going to be hard to find time to read with a baby but I'm going to try to make it happen and if it doesn't I'll have to accept that.    I also want to be able to get other books in my reading schedule besides the classics of course or else I'm sure I'll get burned out quickly. Probably a little non-fiction and some fun lighter fiction will be mixed in there too. My Goodreads goal I put for this year was 50 books. I think that's doable. I hope!

Overall I'm thrilled for the new year and the changes it's going to bring. I'm just praying I can meet them with patience and grace. Do you have any New Year's resolutions?

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Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Bout of Books January 2018

It's time for Bout of Books again!!! Here's the official blurb from the sign up page!
The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 8th and runs through Sunday, January 14th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 21 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team
I'm so excited to kick off my reading year with Bout of Books! I'd love to finish up some of the books I'm reading right now and I've been reading some of them way too long so it's time to finish them up!

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