Kitty Horror

 

 

 

 

hosted by Murder by Death, Themis-Athena, and Moonlight Snow

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Task 1:  Book hunt for human rights:  Search your shelves for books with titles containing human rights words such as (but not limited to): hope, friendship, equality, justice, love, liberty, etc.  Put them in a stack and take a picture for posting.  (5 book minimum).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Task 2:  This year is the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Find 3 books on your shelves with protagonists or other key characters who are -- or can reasonably be assumed to be -- 70 years or older.

 

 

 

        

 

Dracula - Hundreds of years old.

 

Harry Potter - Dumbledore thought to be around 150 years old.

 

The Notebook - Noah was 31 when he returned from WW2, book setting is modern day (written in 1995/6) so presume him to be in his eighties

 

Charlie & the Chocolate Factory - Grandpa Joe is 96 and a half.

 

 

Task 3: The symbol of Human Rights Day is the dove, which in its incarnation as a homing pigeon is also renowned for its navigational skills. – Tell us: Did you ever get so thoroughly lost (either in the days before GPS or because GPS, for whatever reason, was of no use to you) that you wished you had a homing pigeon to guide you?

 

 

I had met a friend for lunch in Yarraville, Melbourne. I was pretty confident about getting back but somehow missed the turn off to the west gate bridge and found myself taking another road further on which took me up to Northern Melbourne and added another hour onto my trip. I had to stop several times to consult my maps to see where I was, I would have loved for someone to guide me home that day.

 

 

Task 4: Human Rights Day was declared by the U.N. General Assembly, whose seat is in New York City. Treat yourself to a Manhattan (classic recipe: https://www.liquor.com/recipes/manhattan-2/ ; virgin [non-alcoholic] recipes: https://www.anallievent.com/virgin-manhattan/ , http://www.1001cocktails.com/recipes/mixed-drinks/800238/cocktail-virgin-manhattan.html and https://www.liquor.com/recipes/not-manhattan/ ) or to a bagel or pastrami sandwich and share a photo with us.

 

I'm skipping this just now might come back to it later.

 

 

Book: Read any book with strong female characters, or written by an author from any minority group; any story about a minority overcoming their oppressors either individually or as a group. OR: A book set in New York City.

 

 

 

4.5* read 20/12

 

4 points earned for Door 16

 

Total = 71

 

 

 

hosted by Murder by Death, Themis-Athena, and Moonlight Snow

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Task 1:  Nominate someone for sainthood.  Who?  Why?

 

 

Taking note of the recent debacle with Nora Roberts and Tomi Adeyemi I would have to nominate Nora Roberts. I thought she was extremely tolerant and classy in how she dealt with the unfounded claims of plagiarism. 

 

 

Task 2: St Andrew is revered in many countries, particularly in Eastern Europe, where he worked as a Christian missionary, long before his relics were brought to Scotland centuries later. – Tell us: Is there a book (regardless whether fiction or nonfiction) for which you would basically walk up to strangers and tell them: “Read this!”? What would you say and do to get people to read that particular book?

 

 

I don't really do this as most of the books I like others I know IRL would not appreciate. I dd introduce my sister to the Others series and bought her Written in Red, Murder of Crows and Vision in Silver. Other than that I don't push books onto others as I would find it off-putting myself.

 

 

Task 3: Legend has it that the saltire or St. Andrew’s cross (white on an azure background) – which constitutes the national flag of Scotland – originated as a cloud formation, symbolizing St. Andrew’s being crucified on an X-shaped cross rather than an upright one.  Do you have any pictures of unusual cloud formations?  If so, share them with us!

 

 

I love this pic of Tabs, she looks so peaceful and content. The clouds look ominous, like waves rolling in, dark times followed as she passed away a few weeks after this photo was taken.

 

 

Task 4: The town of St. Andrews, where the saint’s bones ended up in the course of the spread of Christianity to Scotland, is also famous for its golf course and tournament.  List your 3 favorite books where golf is key to the plot.

 

 

No books about golfing for me I'm afraid for I'll have to pass on this one.

 

 

Book: Andrew was the first apostle; read the first book in a series. OR:  Andrew and Peter were brothers; read a book about brothers. OR: Read books about or set in Scotland or by a Scottish author, or set in Charleston, South Carolina (which is where the celebrations as we know them today began – by a group of Scottish expats – according to scotland.org).

 

 

 

5* read 16/12

 

4 points earned for Door 12

 

Total = 67

 

 

 

hosted by Murder by Death, Themis-Athena, and Moonlight Snow

 

 

 

 

 

 

Task 1:  Post a picture of your Christmas decorations.

 

 

 

 

Task 2: Tell us: If you could share Christmas dinner with any author (dead or alive), who would it be?

 

I don't think I'd want to hang out with any author, I'd be worried they didn't live up to my expectations.

If I had to choose I think it would be Charles Dickens for this time of year. Whenever I think of reading at xmas I think of A Christmas Carol.

 

Task 3: Watch a favorite Christmas movie.

 

 

I just watched Love Actually, not my favourite festive movie but I enjoyed it for the cheesefest it is. I plan on watching It's a Wonderful Life and Scrooge (not sure which version) over the festive period as well.

 

 

Task 4: Create or recreate a short text relating to Christmas (poem, carol, wish list, season’s greetings, etc.) from the titles of books on your bookshelves.

 

I'm going to pass on this just now, might come back to it later.

 

 

Book: Read any Christmas book.

 

 

 

 

3.5* read 9/12

 

4 points earned for Door 20

 

Total = 63

 

 

 

hosted by Murder by Death, Themis-Athena, and Moonlight Snow

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Task 1: Tell us: What’s your favorite trilogy?

 

 

 

I loved all these books, the biggest reason being Lisbeth Salander. As questionable as her behaviour is at times you can't help but cheer for her.

 

 

 

I don't think I'll be reading any of the other books. I don't really like the idea of another author taking over the series and reviews have been very mixed.

 

 

Task 2:  Chalking the door is an Epiphany tradition in some places, to bless a home for the coming year.  Different patterns exist, with different meanings.  If you could create your own pattern to bless your house next year, what would it look like?

 

 

 

I substituted the + for lucky clover. I want to have a better year than the one that's ending and need all the luck I can get.

 

Task 3: Compile a post containing one image for every gift mentioned / added in each new verse of The Twelve Days of Christmas (lyrics here: https://www.41051.com/xmaslyrics/twelvedays.html).

 

 

Task 4: Prepare your favorite spicy dish or holiday drink containing spices and share a photo. Also sharing the recipe is optional but welcome!

 

Might come back to this later but passing on it just now. 

 

Book: Read a book with three main characters; books about traveling on a journey to a faraway place, a book that’s part of a trilogy, with a star on the cover, with the word “twelve” or “night” in the title, or concerning kings or spices.

 

 

 

4* read 10/12

 

4 points earned for Door 24

 

Total = 59

 

 

 

 

hosted by Murder by Death, Themis-Athena, and Moonlight Snow

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Task 1:  Tell us: What is the mother of all writerly sins in your book (tropes, grammar mistakes, telling instead of showing, etc.)?

 

I hate it when the language or details don't keep in tone with the book setting. I've come across this a few times where the clothing, food or speech/word usage seems out of place. It pulls me out of the story and I find it difficult to concentrate on what is actually happening. 

An example I could give is The Paper Magician. The setting appeared to be turn of the century UK but the author included details like cooking pasta, using plastic and other modern details that didn't feel authentic. Very annoying.

 

Task 2: Do you have a favorite Mothers’ Day memory that you are happy to share? Photos welcome but optional.

 

I can't think of any Mother's Day that really stands out. Living in Oz usually meant I was out of sync with UK Mother's Day date as it's different in Oz. This year it was nice to be home and spend it with my mum. 

 

Task 3: Perhaps the best-known scene in the James Bond novel and film From Russia With Love is 007 being poisoned by Russian agent Rosa Klebb with a venom-laced blade hidden in her shoe. Tell us: Have you ever owned any particular / outrageous / funny / best-beloved or otherwise special pair of shoes? Post a photo if you should still own them.

 

 

These are the only pair of 'designer' shoes I will ever be able to afford. I got these online at Jimmy Choo UK for just over £100 which is pretty inexpensive compared to the rest of their line. I've never seen their shoes discounted as much since so I'm pretty happy I got these when I did. 

(Can't get the pic the right way round)

 

 

Task 4: Make a traditional Russian dish like borscht, blintzes, pirogi or solyanka soup, and share a picture with us. Find recipe suggestions here: https://www.expatica.com/ru/about/Top-10-Russian-foods-and-recipes_108678.html

 

Pass on this.

 

Book: Read a book set in Russia, or involving a story within a story / play within a play (like the Russian matryoshka dolls stuck inside each other), or where a key character (not necessarily the protagonist) is a mother.

 

 

 

Alana is mother to baby Hazel. 

(Love this series)

 

5* read 11/12/18

 

4 points earned for Door  11

 

Total - 55

 

Boo has been very naughty and bitten out her stitches so I've had to put her in a pet shirt. It must be restricting her quite a bit, if she were human I would think she was plastered as she keeps stumbling and falling about.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

hosted by Murder by Death, Themis-Athena, and Moonlight Snow

 

 

 

 

 

 

Task 1:  Have you had any miracles in your life?  (Kids are a given.)  Just enough change for tolls?  Just enough gas to get you to the station?  Been tragically late for a flight only to find the flight was even more tragically delayed?  Nothing is too small - share your miracles with us!

 

I've been fairly lucky that my family are a pretty hardy bunch and that major illnesses or accidents are a rarity. A couple of years ago I was visiting Scotland for a few weeks, the day after I landed I found out my younger cousin had throat cancer and her prognosis was poor.

She started treatment, a combination of radiotherapy/chemo and eventually surgery. I honestly thought I would be back home for her funeral before the end of that year but she got through her treatment and is still doing well. She still has check ups and I suspect there's a greater chance of recurrence but I think it's miraculous she survived.

 

 

Task 2: Light 9 candles each representing something you’re thankful for (share a picture with us; sharing anything else is optional).

 

 

Task 3: Have a donut – and let us share it via a photo. Homemade donuts and shared recipes encouraged … but any donut will do just fine.

 

 

I bought 18 of these mini doughnuts and pretty much ate them all myself.

 

 

Task 4: A miracle crucial to Hanukkah is the Miracle of the cruse of oil, which concerns a jug of oil that (ostensibly) only contained enough oil for a single day, but miraculously turned out to last all of eight days. – Miracles aside, tell us: Have you ever experienced that something you had bought or you owned lasted a lot longer than anticipated … or where you expected a shortage which then fortuitously didn’t occur after all?

 

I wear contact lenses and for some reason I have at times gotten very low on saline solution. There are many times that I have picked up a bottle thinking it will not be enough to clean and store my lenses but, like magic, I just have enough. 

I also commented on MbDs post that I tend to run out of beauty products that I love but the things I want to use up seem to go on for ever. Very annoying.

 

Book: Read a book about light, miracles, characters who are Jewish or books set in Israel.  OR: Hanukkah commemorates the re-dedication of the second temple in the second century; read the second book in a series or a book with the word “second” or “two” in the title.

 

 

3.5* read 8/13

 

5 points earned for Door 14

 

Total = 51

 

 

 

hosted by Murder by Death, Themis-Athena, and Moonlight Snow

 

 

 

 

 

 

Task 1:  Post a picture of your advent calendar - store bought or homemade.

 

 

 

 

 

Task 2: The holidays season is in full swing – tell us:  What’s your favorite tradition?

 

Christmas wouldn't be complete without watching It's a Wonderful Life.

 

 

Other than that it's just a time to eat, drink and laze around. :D

 

Task 3: The tradition of carol singing in the Advent / holiday season is linked to the old Anglo-Saxon (and medieval) custom of wassailing (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wassailing). Prepare an apple cider wassail bowl or a wassail bowl containing your favorite drink or fruit. Post a picture and enjoy!

 

I don't have and appropriate bowl and tbh can't be bothered finding something so I'm passing on this (at least for just now, may come back to it).

 

Task 4: Make your own Advent wreath and share a picture of it. Instructions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWw83CCa2cg

 

Pass on this.

 

Book: Advent also means “second coming”: Read a pastiche, or a book written by an “authorised author” by the deceased author’s estate. OR: There are four Sundays in Advent. Read the fourth book of a series or a book with the word “four” in the title.

 

 

5* read 9/12

 

3 points earned for Door 13

 

Total = 46

 

 

 

hosted by Murder by Death, Themis-Athena, and Moonlight Snow

 

 

 

 

 

 

Task 1:  Make a paper boat and post a picture of it.   Instructions, if needed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiAWx8odStA

 

 

Task 2: If you’ve ever attended a procession or an event involving festively decked out boats, post a picture and tell us about it.

 

Haven't attended anything like this - Pass.

 

 

Task 3: Bon Om Touk celebrates the end of the rainy season. Tell us: What’s your favorite type of rainy day book – and do you have a favorite drink or snack to go with your rainy day reading? Photos welcome!

 

A cup of sweet tea and chocolate biscuits are ideal for rainy day reading.

My rainy day book is pretty much whatever I'm reading but definitely something dark and gothic would be ideal.

 

 

Task 4: Which are your 3 favorite books where a key character is “moonlighting”?

 

I can't think of any books that I have where characters 'moonlight' so I'll have to pass on this.

 

 

Book: Read a book that takes place at sea or on a river OR with water on the cover OR where the plot involves a festival or the moon plays a pivotal role in the plot.

 

 

 

4* read 6/12

 

3 points earned for Door 10

 

Total = 43

 

 

Post op pic of Boo

 

 

 

 

hosted by Murder by Death, Themis-Athena, and Moonlight Snow

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Task 1:  List the 3 books you’ve read this year you’re most “thankful” for (your favs) or the one book you’ve ever read that changed your life for the better.

 

 

Powerful story about grief and letting go. Loved it.

 

 

That ending was BRUTAL!!

 

 

Not chosen for it's rating but because it introduced me to a new author, Christopher Buehlman.

 

Task 2:  Describe your perfect meal.  What would you cook for the perfect celebration, or, what would you have your imaginary personal chef cook for you?

 

I love pork dumplings but wouldn't have the time or patience to make them myself so that  would be something I would have made as well as haggis bon bons. Yum

 

  

 

Task 3:  Name a book you’ve read this year that you thought was full of “stuffing”.

 

 

Have no idea what the point of this story was, no substance whatsoever, thank god it was only 37 pages long. Too long even at that.

 

Task 4:  Show us your 2018 book “harvest” – the books you newly acquired this year, regardless whether bought, received as gift or in whichever other way.

 

 

                                                 

                                 

                                                

 

64 new books this year - I've read 14 of them since being bought,

 

 

Book:  Autumnal covers, set in New England, or a turkey shows up in the story.

 

 

 

3* read 5/12

Set in the fictional SK Castle Rock in New England

 

5 points earned for Door 9

 

Total = 40

 

 

 

 

 

hosted by Murder by Death, Themis-Athena, and Moonlight Snow

 

 

 

 

 

Task 1:  “Confess” your book habits.  Dog-earring?  Laying books face down?  Bending back the spines? Skimming?  OR: Confess your guilty reading pleasure, or comfort reads.

 

I'll confess my guilty reading pleasure. I love Sophie Kinsella and have read a lot of her books. The Shopaholic series was a particular guilty pleasure of mine and even though it's pretty much run it's course I will devour the next one like it's chocolate cake.

 

 

Task 2:  It’s “Pennants” day according to MbD’s husband:  post a picture of your favorite team’s logo / mascot and the last time they’ve won a championship (or not).

 

 

Team GBR

 

I'm a fan of showjumping and always look forward to GB competing in the olympics. The team didn't fare that well in 2016 but won the gold in 2012. 

 

 

Nick Skelton won the individual gold in Brazil in 2016 which was an amazing.accomplishment for him.

 

 

 

 

Task 3: In centuries gone by, penance would often end up in what might be described as a very extended bad hair day (complete with sackcloth and ashes). Tell us: What’s a bad hair day to you – and what (if anything) do you do about it?

 

Some of the worst days I've had have just been a combination of small irritations that just pick away at you. It's usually always started off with me sleeping in,  making me late for work and feeling like I'm several steps behind for the entire day. It's impossible to catch up and usually I just feel resigned to riding it out and getting through the day and putting it behind me. 

 

Task 4: Early Christian spiritualists would sometimes do penance by spending time in the desert. If you’ve ever visited a desert region (or even live there), post a picture and tell us about it. Alternatively, post a picture of sand dunes (NOT with water in the background!).

 

I can't recall ever visiting a desert but if I had a choice of visiting one it would be the Gobi desert.

 

 

Book:  Read any book concerning a man / woman of the cloth, a book about a character hiding a guilty secret or searching for absolution.

 

 

 

3.5* read 5/12

 

5 points earned for Door 8

 

Total = 35

 

 

hosted by Murder by Death, Themis-Athena, and Moonlight Snow

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Task 1:  Make two “prophesies” you think will come to fruition in 2019 in your personal or reading life.

 

1. I will take on reading challenges at the start of the year, downsize them by the middle of the year and still panic about finishing them by the end it.

2. I will manage to get through about 100 books off of my TBR yet mysteriously not make any dent in my TBR numbers as they will be magically replaced by new books.

 

 

Task 2: The Five Pillars of Islam include almsgiving and the pilgrimage to Mekka. Tell us: Have you ever donated books or rescued them from (horror of horrors) being trashed? Alternatively: Is there a book-related place that is a place of pilgrimage to you?

 

I like to have a clear out now and then and remember donating books to friends, family and charity before I left for overseas. I also had a few massive clear outs before coming back, the charity shop near me got a few books out of that. Out of everything I would get rid of books are something I'm reluctant to let go of as you form attachments to them.

 

Task 3: Prophets are messengers. Tell us: Which book characters are your favorite messengers (no matter whether humans, angels, (demi)gods, etc.)?

 

Hedwig from the Harry Potter series would be the one that springs to mind. A source of comfort for Harry I cried when she was killed.

 

Task 4: Muhammad was a merchant before becoming a religious leader. List 5 books on your shelves in which a key character makes / undergoes a radical career change.

 

Kricket (Under Different Stars) - Janiter/bar person to Priestess and Royal advisor

Meg (The Others Series) Blood Prophet to Human Liaison officer

Angel (White Trash Zombie series) Low level store worker to morgue attendant

Fitz (Mythbreaker: Gods and Monsters - Crooked accountant to Chronicler and Prophet

Gala (Mount) Carer to Jockey

 

 

Book:  If you can find a copy, read Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet.  Or read any book about a leader of a movement, nation, religion or large group, OR read a book with a green cover OR with a half moon on the cover.

 

 

3.5* read 20/11.

I'm hoping this is green enough for the challenge.

 

5 points earned for Door 7

 

Total = 30 points

 

 

 

 

 

hosted by Murder by Death, Themis-Athena, and Moonlight Snow

 

 

 

 

 

 

Task 1:  Using book covers (real or virtual), create a close approximation of your country’s flag (either of residence or birth), OR a close approximation of a poppy.  Take a pic of your efforts and post.

 

The St Andrews Cross (Scotland)

 

 

Task 2: Make an offer of peace (letter, gift, whatever) to a book character who has particularly annoyed you this year.

 

Dear Katniss,

 

I understand you've had a tough time of it what with poverty, starvation, having to partake in barbaric games for the enjoyment of the elite. This year I read about your adventures to capture the capital and whilst I greatly admired your bravery I do think you need to remember that it's not all about you.

You're not responsible for every little thing that goes wrong in peoples lives, they have choices the same as you so please stop beating yourself up when someones choices prove fatal. People have a right to fight for what they believe in, you can't take that away from them.

I hope you have a peaceful life with Peeta and your children, you both deserve it.

 

 

Task 3: Tell us: What author’s books would you consider yourself a veteran of (i.e., by which author have you read particularly many books – or maybe even all of them)?

 

I've read 45 James Patterson books, I don't think this makes me a veteran of him however as I stopped appreciating his work a number of years ago. I still have a few of his books on my shelf but I won't be following any more of his series or reading anything of his I don't own. 

Richard Laymon and Garth Ennis are tied at 37 books, this I am much happier about. I love Richard Laymon and was a huge fan of his work, there's not much of his I haven't read.

 

 

Task 4: Treat yourself to a slice of poppy seedcake and post a photo. If you want to make it yourself, try out this recipe: https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/poppy-seed-cake/ … or this one: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1629633/lemon-and-poppy-seed-cake

 

Pass on this, not a fan of poppy cake.

 

Book:  Read any book involving wars, battles, where characters are active military or veterans, or with poppies on the cover.

 

 

4* read 4/12

 

4 points earned for Door 5

 

Total = 25

 

 

 

 

hosted by Murder by Death, Themis-Athena, and Moonlight Snow

 

 

 

 

Task 1:  Find some redeeming quality in the book you liked least this year and post about it.

 

   

 

At only 24 pages you were thankfully a very short read.

 

Task 2: Tell us: What are the tropes (up to 5) that you are not willing to live with in any book (i.e., which are absolutely beyond your capacity for tolerance) and which make that book an automatic DNF for you? (Insta-love? Love triangles? First person present narrative voice? Talking animals? The dog dies? What else?)

 

I have only DNF'd one book and that was 1001 Arabian nights. It was so boring and just felt that it was repeating itself for a lot of the stories. 

The tropes that make me cringe would be people who are TSTL, Mary Sues and inadequate world building. 

Characters who make stupid decisions and put their lives at risk for no reason, characters that are too perfect but somehow don't know how perfect they are and authors who can't be bothered to flesh out their books with details that give readers a proper vision where the book is based. In the case of a book I recently read, the author made up a fake alien language, it was laughable and distracting and just came off as lazy.

 

Task 3: The International Day for Tolerance is a holiday declared by an international organization (UNESCO). Create a charter (humorous, serious, whatever strikes your fancy) for an international organization of readers.

 

 

Task 4: UNESCO is based in Paris. Paris is known for its pastries and its breads: Either find a baker that specializes in pastries and bring home an assortment for your family, or make your own pastries using real butter and share a photo with us.

 

Skipping this, I've put on a few pounds and shouldn't even be looking at pastries much less buying and eating them.

 

Book:  Read any fiction/non-fiction about tolerance or a book that’s outside your normal comfort zone.  (Tolerance can encompass anything you generally struggle with, be it sentient or not.) OR Read a book set in Paris.

 

 

 

3* read 1/12

 

A lot of romance in this book which is not really my thing.

 

4 points earned for Door 6

 

Total = 21

 

 

 

I've missed a lot of round ups this year so thought I should post at least a couple before the end of the year.

 

Just the 10 reads for me this month, but only 1 comic was included so that's a plus.

 

Yearly Reading Challenge update - 122/140

 

Read in November - 10

 

Audio - 0

Novels/novella/short stories - 9

Comics/Graphic novels - 1

 

5*

 

    

 

4.5*

 

    

 

4*

 

      

 

 

3.5*

 

  

 

3*

 

    

 

 

Just gearing up for the end of the year now, I'm pretty much done with my Christmas shopping and only have to post a couple of presents off to Oz for friends. 

 

I'm working this Christmas which is shit and I've noted in my recent pay that it has STILL not been sorted which now makes it 6 months of management pissing around. 

In all honesty I don't think I can stay there full time anymore, I've really hit my limit and the frustration of several elements is driving me insane. 

Next year will bring a few changes work wise but I'm not quite sure what that will be at the moment. 

 

I'm off on leave at the moment and tomorrow I'm taking Boo to the vet to have her neutered so I'm feeling a little anxious about her having an anaesthetic. I'm sure Suzy will love this as it will give her several hours of peace and quiet.