I haven‘t posted in a while. Being in school full time, working, and moving seriously dampened any reading for pleasure. The pandemic completely squashed it. I have three weeks of summer classes left then a two week break before fall semester and, now that I‘m laid off, I have extra time to read. I bought these two a few days ago to try to get me back into reading for fun and pleasure and pure escapism.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This Book was recommended by Annie Jones on the From the Front Porch podcast. I read the whole thing in one sitting. Although it‘s over 300 pages, it was a quick read because the book is written in lists. The amount of emotion and plot that the author is able to convey just through lists is so cool. It reminded me a little of Eleanor Oliphant. One of the best books I‘ve read this year and a great way to finish 2019.

There are some books that hook you with the first line and you KNOW it‘s going to be a great book. This is one of those books. The only book I‘ve read with a better first line is The Prince of Tides.

I also got this Moleskine book journal to track my books for the coming year. It‘s a gorgeous, quality journal and I‘m looking forward to filling it and keeping better track of my reading in 2020.

I got a new bookshelf for Christmas to replace the two that were destroyed by movers back in June. I filled it with The Wheel of Time series, my illustrated Harry Potter books, and all the Stephen King books I own. In other news, I am only missing nine of SK‘s books to have a complete collection.

The perfect Christmas song for all Littens.

Question for my fellow Littens: what do you use to track your reading? I used to use Goodreads but haven‘t updated my account on there in about two years.

If you use a journal, is there a specific one that you recommend like Book Riot‘s Read Harder journal or do you use any notebook?

If you use a spreadsheet, do you make your own or do have a template that you download off the internet?

1. David Sedaris, Stephen King, and Sarah Vowell.
2. David Sedaris: I would ask him to tell me a story about his family that‘s not in any of his books. Stephen King: I would want to know which of the many books that he has written is his favorite and what book that he has read is his favorite. Sarah Vowell: what‘s the coolest place she‘s visited.
3. Last count about a year ago: over 500
4. @Trashcanman

#wondrouswednesday @Eggs

#chillingphotochallenge #scarecrow @Clwojick

Listened to a little more of this audiobook last night for the #24b4monday readathon. This is excellent as an audiobook. The narrator is fantastic and the eerie background music and noises totally immerse you in the story. Usually when I listen to an audiobook, I‘m able to do other activities like clean or crochet, but with this one I just want to sit and listen.

7 hours 20 minutes so far for #24b4monday
#scarathlon #teamslaughter @Clwojick

Finished this last night as part of the #24b4monday readathon. This book was creepy and atmospheric. I didn‘t particularly like the ending but the rest of the book was very good. ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

#scarathlon #teamslaughter @Clwojick

One of the many, many books on my TBR shelf. There‘s lots of #magic in this one.

#chillingphotochallenge #scarathlon @Clwojick

Lots of #death in this one.

#chillingphotochallenge #scarathlon @Clwojick

No reading tonight. We went to a nearby town where they perform the dance to Michael Jackson‘s “Thriller” a week before Halloween every year. This year they had almost 300 people dress up and dance through the middle of town. It was so cool!

#chillingphotochallenge #scarathlon #thriller @Clwojick

Finished this today while I was cleaning the house and working on a craft project. It was a decent story. I found my attention drifting some times but it was a good enough story for me to finish. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

#scarathlon #teamslaughter @Clwojick

Finished this last night. I always enjoy Linwood Barclay‘s books. They‘re a gripping, fast read. This one was no exception. I read the whole thing, even though it was over 500 pages, in two days. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#scarathlon #teamslaughter @Clwojick

#chillingphotochallenge #bones #scarathlon @Clwojick

In Scott Smith‘s book, The Ruins, #green vines attack some campers in a Mexican jungle.

#chillingphotochallenge #scarathlon @Clwojick

1. I‘ll be very happy if I can get 12 hours done
2. Definitely a mood reader
3. Chai tea or hot chocolate to drink and lots of chocolate and popcorn to eat
4. Depends on the day and if I have to work the following day or not.
5. Don‘t be afraid to switch up your reading style. I find I do best when I switch between regular books and audiobooks.
6. Thriller and horror
7. All three

#24b4monday #teamslaughter #scarathlon @Clwojick

1. Wooden stakes through the heart and sunlight
2. Werewolf
3. B
4. William Shatner
5. The Grim Reaper and an empty grave
6. ???
7. Vlad Dracul or Vlad the Impaler
8. B
9. 😳 no clue
10. The Great Pumpkin
11. 35%
12. 458
13. 28
14. A
15. Slimer
16. A
17. B

#teamslaughter #scarathlon @Clwojick

The first book that comes to mind for today‘s prompt #voodoo for the #chillingphotochallenge

#scarathlon @Clwojick

❤️ Northeast Ohio
🧡 Just turned 41 a few weeks ago
💛 I‘m a Branch Assistant at a nearby library
💚 Married for 22 years
💙 She/her
💜 My last name and tribe because we have six kids and I always feel like I‘m wrangling a tribe or a clown car whenever we all go somewhere. Depends on the day. 🤪

I got this for my son so he can get some ideas for how to carve his pumpkin this year.

#chillingphotochallenge #jack-o-lantern #scarathlon @Clwojick

This book comes out in May and is right up my alley. I can‘t wait!

#chillingphotochallenge #gory #scarathlon @Clwojick

1. Reese‘s cups
2. Licorice 🤢
3. Carving pumpkins. I‘ve been doing it for as long as I can remember.
4. Raggedy Ann. I loved the smell of the old plastic costumes we had when I was a kid. 😁

#scarathlon #teamslaughter @Clwojick

I love my kindle and ebooks but sometimes you have to have a physical copy of a book to truly appreciate it. This book is absolutely gorgeous. The illustrations, quote pages, and section break full-page illustrations are breathtaking.

#chillingphotochallenge #monster #scarathlon @Clwojick

I‘ve had this book on my kindle for three years but haven‘t read it yet.

#chillingphotochallenge #bloody #scarathlon @Clwojick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finished this one today too. It was a quick read but a cute story. I love everything Rainbow Rowell does. This also takes place on Halloween so extra points for #scarathlon #teamslaughter @Clwojick

The sequel to Truly Devious. I liked this one better than the first and can‘t wait for part three to come out in the spring! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#scarathlon #teamslaughter @Clwojick

The first book that came to mind for today‘s #chillingphotochallenge prompt #candy. I haven‘t read this one yet.

@Clwojick

One of my favorite books on true crime. I love the cover of this too with the typewriter keys spelling out the title.

#chillingphotochallenge #black #scarathlon @Clwojick

I posted about this book earlier under the American title, The Corset. I prefer the British title.

#chillingphotochallenge #poison #scarathlon @Clwojick

Finished this GN adaptation of one of my favorite board games. I especially liked Upton and the ending was great! ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

#scarathlon @Clwojick

Finished this on audiobook today. I‘m so glad that I came back to it after bailing on it a few months ago. It was so good! Using this as part of the #scarathlon #scaryscavengerhunt for a book where a character dies. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

@Clwojick This book was so good, I immediately checked out part two, The Vanishing Stair, and started listening to it. Move this up on your TBR!

Haven‘t started this one yet but how appropriate for the #thirteen #chillingphotochallenge
#scarathlon @Clwojick

Finished this one last night, read the whole thing in two days. I liked this better than The Last Time I Lied but not as much as Final Girls. I love Sager‘s books because they are so compulsively readable and I can just fly through them. ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Using this as part of the #scaryscavengerhunt for the book where a character dies

#teamslaughter #scarathlon @Clwojick

My favorite Neil Gaiman, The #Graveyard Book.

#chillingphotochallenge #scarathlon @Clwojick

The #October Country, one of my favorites of Bradbury‘s. I lent my physical copy to my daughter and haven‘t gotten it back yet ☹️

#chillingphotochallenge #scarathlon @Clwojick

The Brothers Grimm definitely have some #grim and spooky tales.

#chillingphotochallenge #scarathlon @Clwojick

Rearranged my living room tonight. There‘s not many places I enjoy being as much as I do here, among all my books. 😍

There‘s only one #raven when it comes to spooky and scary.

#chillingphotochallenge #scarathlon @Clwojick

One of my favorite read this time of year is Edith Wharton‘s #Ghost Stories.

#chillingphotochallenge #scarathlon @Clwojick

This is the first book I‘ve read by Clare Mackintosh and I immediately added her others to my holds list as soon as I finished it. The twist in the middle made me stop reading and gasp out loud. So good! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#scarathlon #teamslaughter @Clwojick

1. 🍫🍫🍫🍫
2. Witches, especially those of the Salem variety
3. Treats!
4. Scary movie
5. Skeletons
6. Hand out candy
7. Hay ride
8. Funny costume
9. Neither 🤢
10. Walk alone in a forest
11. Black cats
12. Hot chocolate
13. In my neighborhood

#teamslaughter #scarathlon @Clwojick

Karen Russell‘s new book, #Orange World, is supposed to be very creepy.

#chillingphotochallenge #scarathlon @Clwojick

One of my very favorite #vampire novels.

#chillingphotochallenge @Clwojick

Finished this on the way to Kings Island today. I keep hearing that Auerbach‘s books are some of the scariest out there but I didn‘t find this or his other book, Pen Pal, scary at all. Still a mystery book for the #scarathlon challenge though.

I got this book for my birthday last year and still haven‘t read it. I 🖤 all things #horror.

#chillingphotochallenge @Clwojick

Getting ready to start this today. I‘m using this for the book that scares me for the #scaryscavengerhunt. With three kids in college and three in public schools, there‘s not much that scares me more than school shootings.

#scarathlon #teamslaughter @Clwojick