The Relentless Weekly Wrap-Up 01/05/2016

~ Jennifer @ The Relentless Reader ~ 6 Comments

What’s this? A weekly wrap-up on a Tuesday? Yep! I was a busy bee on Sunday and didn’t get around to my weekly post. Also? I CAN DO WHAT I WANT.

Best books are BEST!
Blogging:
I posted my picks for standout books of 2015. Have you read 86 lists of favorites? One more can’t hurt!

Reading:

What with the holidays, being out of town, and the husband being off of work for the last couple of days I haven’t been able to read very much. I did start Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. I found myself near tears in the first few pages. It’s very powerful. 

Anticipating: 
I’ve ordered a copy of Ron Chernow’s Alexander Hamilton so that I can join the #HamAlong hosted by Reading Rambo. I can’t wait to dig in!

Watching: 
Making a Murderer was our binge of choice over the weekend. Whew. What a maddening story. I’m also continuing my rewatch of all things Star Trek. I’m currently on season 2 of Enterprise. It’s…okay. I can see what they were shooting for and I applaud that. I’ve heard that the show finally hit its stride in seasons 3 & 4, just in time to be canceled.

Cooking: 
Nothing much as of late! I’m hoping to get back into the groove here now that the holidays are behind us. I’m going to be putting together this slow cooker lasagna this morning.

What are you up to this week? Tell me about it!

Standout Books of 2015

~ Jennifer @ The Relentless Reader ~ 17 Comments

Some reads stay in your mind for longer than others.
Here are the books from 2015 that I’m still thinking about:

The book I couldn’t put down:
I will not apologize for thoroughly enjoying this page turner.
The book that lived up to the hype: 
Engaging, heartbreaking, and everything else you could want from historical fiction.

The book that made me feel incredibly anxious:
The panic I felt reading this was visceral. Beware.
The book that didn’t get nearly enough attention:
Why hasn’t everyone read this unique and devastating book?

The book that broke me: 
Yanagihara smashed me into a million and one pieces. I’m still not over it. I don’t think I ever will be.

The book that made me proud to be a Midwesterner:
We’re too often portrayed as cow-tipping nincompoops. Not this time.
The book that made me extremely uncomfortable: 
Horrifying. Astonishing. Terribly fantastic!
The book that made me want to go back to summer camp:
A graphic memoir that slapped me upside the head with nostalgia.
The book that makes me glad I don’t work in an office setting: 
I’ll stay at the bookstore, thanks.
The book that helped me understand my privilege: 
Page 134 is the most compelling page I’ve read. 
The book that I should have read last year:
Courageous women during the Civil War? Perfection.
The book that made me want to do more with my life:
Kate Mulgrew has been slaying it every single day. I’m so glad she decided to share her story.
The book that made me want to tear down the patriarchy with my bare hands:
Fantastic feminism. Fuck yes.
The book that made me stop taking things for granted:
Croatia. 1991. Civil War. Stunning.

The last book of the year:

I think I saved the best for last. Tour de force, people. For real.

What were some of your standout books this year?