Classics on Audiobook

I like to listen to audiobooks while I'm driving. My commute to work is only about 15-20 minutes, but it still helps me pass the time (I hate driving). Last month, I decided to throw in a classic book in to the listening rotation and listened to The Great Gatsby. Most people see that I work in a library and assume I've read every classic book there is. Spoiler alert: not true. I've only read a handful. I figured this would be a great way to get more classics in.

Let me know which classics (and who narrated them) I should listen to in the comments. The narration is so so so important to me. I don't know how many books I've stopped listening to and decided to just pick up the print version because I can't handle the narrator.

And speaking of great narrators and audiobooks, I just finished Dad Is Fat by Jim Gaffigan, comedian, narrated by Jim Gaffigan, and it's just hilarious. Seriously LOL funny.

My rating: 4 stars.

I have The Lord of the Flies waiting on standby as well as The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

I'm also planning on supplementing my listening by throwing in some past Newbery award winning audiobooks, so feel free to throw those in as suggestions too!

Week 7 of Spring Training

Week 7 started off with a bang. I hit the treadmill to do a HR test (more on that later) and was on a monster running high from there. I spent all day Wednesday looking forward to my run. And then I got home, got on the foam roller before my run and realized I should take a rest day. I had a super ouchy spot up high near my hip flexor and one down low by my knee. Running when these spots are tight, for me, almost ensures an injury.

I didn't end up running again until Sunday. Uff. I could've run on Saturday but I had a serious case of the lazies and madsies at the weather. It was supposed to be high 30s and then magically that changed to 30 and 30-40 mph winds.  Eew.

Sunday I hit the treadmill for an easy 3 mile shakeout run.

Monday I was one of the lucky ducks to have the day off from work, so I gave the sun a chance to do its thing and melt the new snow and ice that was dumped on us last night, and then headed out for a long run in the early afternoon. I had planned for 13-14, but after seeing how messy the bike trail was, and how slowly I was running to compensate for the poor conditions, I told myself I'd be happy with 12.

Once I got about 4 miles from home, the conditions on the trail got better, so I decided to keep running, dreading when I'd have to turn around. I decided a half marathon would be a great way to spend the day. I hit my turn around point and for the first time in the history of my running career, the wind that was at my back for the first half HAD ACTUALLY DIED DOWN for the second half. Usually it doubles while I'm running with it at my back. Also a couple of the super slick and icy spots had melted so that was nice too. I ran out of water with 4 miles to go, drank some snow, but was still super thirsty when I finished up. I need a new Nathan's quickdraw because my straw got super moldy and nasty, blech. I only have my tiny little 12 oz. handheld for the moment. That's not going to cut it in a month or two when it's actually hot out.

22.1 miles for the week (Tuesday-Monday). Who else is ready for spring??

Weekly Reads: Reality Boy

 My co-worker has been begging me to read anything and everything by A.S. King for quite some time, and I know with her high regards, I will love everything she has written and have to read everything. immediately. So I've put off starting for awhile. Until now. Reality Boy is A.S. King's most recent YA novel and if it's any indication as to the craziness of King's books, it's safe to say I'm hooked.

Gerald is a child messed up by reality television. And not just because of watching reality television, but because of appearing on a program when he was only five years old. He has incredible rage issues and retreats into his happy place, Gersday, on a regular basis.

This title was not on our Mock Printz list, but I think it is a stronger contender than some of the titles that were on the list. I'll be interested to see if this picks up an honor award.

My rating: 4 stars

Review from goodreads:

Gerald Faust knows exactly when he started feeling angry: the day his mother invited a reality television crew into his five-year-old life. Twelve years later, he’s still haunted by his rage-filled youth—which the entire world got to watch from every imaginable angle—and his anger issues have resulted in violent outbursts, zero friends, and clueless adults dumping him in the special education room at school.

Nothing is ever going to change. No one cares that he’s tried to learn to control himself, and the girl he likes has no idea who he really is. Everyone’s just waiting for him to snap…and he’s starting to feel dangerously close to doing just that.

In this fearless portrayal of a boy on the edge, highly acclaimed Printz Honor author A.S. King explores the desperate reality of a former child “star” who finally breaks free of his anger by creating possibilities he never knew he deserved.

Getting Back to It

When I started running again in 2009, I vowed to never stop again. It was so hard to get back in to it, and I never wanted to go through that again. Enter grad school. Here I am, still trying to get back to where I was in 2010-2011. I feel live I've spent almost nine months (at times half-heartedly, or brokenly) trying to get back to where I was, and while I've made some progress--marathon in 2012 was 5:38, and in 2013 was 4:55, half in 2012 was 2:22, and in 2013 was 2:14 (on a horrifically hot day) I still have a long way to go.

Yay progress.......but boo, that's still a far cry from the 1:50-1:52 and 4:12 times that I posted in 2010-2011.

At times it seems easier to just throw in the towel and just be a casual runner.

But I'm not a casual runner. I'm a competitor. Against myself.

So I'll continue to slowly creep up my weekly mileage, and slowly push myself to creep up my speedwork paces.

My current goal for the half in five weeks (FIVE WEEKS!!) is a sub 2. And as of right now, I still have at least five weeks of work to put in to make that a reality, which is just crazy because once upon a time there were many, many 13.1 mile long runs that were done casually at a sub 2 pace. *shakes head at self*

I have two more halfs five weeks after NYC and if all goes well, I think 1:55 could be doable. Again, this will take a lot of work to make that happen, but I know I have it in my legs, I just have to work at it.  I just can't wait to get back to the times I was posting before my hiatus and start the work to finally crush those PRs. But it's pretty clear that none of the work will be easy.

And I think I'm ok with that.

Seen on Team Green: Vol. 2

I purchased a pair of heather gray gapfit running tights a couple of months ago after a price drop, and I had a coupon. I landed a cobalt blue pair of GapFit capris on super duper sale after Xmas for $16, and they're probably the most butt flattering pants I've ever seen.

So when I saw a pair of green GapFit running tights and had some Gap Cash burning a hole in my pocket, I had to get them.

You'll likely be seeing me in these for the NYC half! (Unless it's not as cold as I'm planning because then I'll definitely be in shorts, obvs.) Get them here for $39

Speaking of running clothes, I've now (since purchasing my green pants) put myself on a clothes spending freeze (dang you student loans, taking all my moneyz!) I have set up incentives on mileage for myself. So I can snag some new stuff when I hit 250 miles for the year. Only ~ 130 miles to go!

There are some other adorable green things on the Gap site:

This is on sale for $37 here. i already own a similar half zip, so I can't have this one (unless it's still around in 130 miles... then... we'll see)

And I think these would be the most flattering capris, ever. Snag these asap if they have them in your size. Get them here.

This is not a sponsored post in any way FYI.

NYC Book Festival

While I'm in NYC, I learned that a 90 second Newbery festival will be going on. Folks submit 90 second videos that depict various Newbery stories. I was absolutely thrilled! And quickly snagged myself and Susan tickets.

Last week, I got a frantic facebook message from my co-worker Emily with a link to the Teen Author Festival in NYC also while I'm there! I had seen information about past years' events, but there wasn't anything publicized about 2014 back in January, so I assumed it just wasn't happening this year.

WRONG.

YIPPEE!

So my new goal is to try to read a book by most of these authors in the next month before I go to visit. Let me know which ones are must-read to add to my list!

I'm unsure if I'll go to Friday's events. For one, it's the day before the half, and for two there's only a couple of authors I'm familiar with. Feel free to change my mind though if there's someone I def need to read/see!

Friday March 21, Symposium Day One (42nd Street NYPL,Berger Forum, 2-6)

2:00 – Introduction

2:10-3:00: When I Was Young…

Coe Booth
Aaron Hartzler
Barry Lyga
Diana Peterfreund
Mindy Raf
Natalie Standiford
Melissa Walker

moderator: David Levithan


3-3:40: Sorry You’re Lost – Writing About Grief and Loss

Matt Blackstone
Elizabeth Scott
Jeri Smith-Ready
Courtney Stevens

moderator: Jon Skovron


3:50-4:40: The People Who Get You Through -- Navigating Love and Friendship in High School


M. Molly Backes
Crissa-Jean Chappell
Heather Demetrios
Corey Haydu
Amanda Maciel
Julie Murphy
Tiffany Schmidt

moderator: Adrienne Maria Vrettos



4:40-5:30: Literary Matchmaking, Round One

(Half of this group will go today, half on Friday.)

E. J. Abbott
Tara Altebrando
Jen Calonita
Jennifer Castle
Gina Damico
Jocelyn Davies
J. J. Howard
Amellia Kahaney
Stewart Lewis
Alex London (Friday)
Mari Mancusi
Lindsay Ribar
Victoria Schwab
Jessica Spotswood
Stephanie Kate Strohm (Saturday)
Laura Toffler-Corrie
________________

Friday March 21, Barnes & Noble Reader’s Theater/Signing (Union Square B&N, 7-8:30)

Matt de la Peña
Brendan Kiely
Sarah Mlynowski
Julie Murphy
Lauren Myracle
Marie Rutkoski
Jon Skovron

moderator: David Levithan

______________

Saturday:  EEPS!  I'm most excited for the Teenagers in love session, because OMG RAINBOW ROWELL, right?!?!?!?!??  I also adore David Levithan, and just finished Gayle Forman's book Just One Day. It was awesome. Of course the 90 second Newbery festival is from 3-5pm, so clearly I'm going to miss something. Grr.

Saturday March 22, Symposium (42nd Street NYPL, Berger Forum, 1-5)

1:00 – Introduction

1:10-2:10 – What’s the Worst Thing That Could Happen?

Jessica Brody
Frankie Brown
Sarah Beth Durst
T. M. Goeglein
Jeff Hirsch
Emmy Laybourne
Alex London
Cristin Terrill

moderator: Lucas Klauss


2:10-2:40 – Summer Reading

Jen Calonita
Gae Polisner
Morgan Matson
Jessica Verdi

moderator: Melissa Walker


2:40-3:20 – Walking the Tightrope: Finding the Way Through Secrets, Lies, and Other Treachery

Jacqueline Green
Alissa Grosso
Alexandra Monir
Elisa Nader
Rebecca Serle

moderator: Aaron Hartlzer


3:30-4:20 – What We Write About When We Write About Teenagers in Love

Gayle Forman
David Levithan
Lauren Myracle
Rainbow Rowell

4:20-5:00: Literary Matchmaking, Round Two

(Half of this group will go today, half on Friday.)

E. J. Abbott
Tara Altebrando
Jen Calonita
Jennifer Castle
Gina Damico
Jocelyn Davies
J. J. Howard
Amellia Kahaney
Stewart Lewis
Alex London (Friday)
Mari Mancusi
Lindsay Ribar
Victoria Schwab
Jessica Spotswood
Stephanie Kate Strohm (Saturday)
Laura Toffler-Corrie

Saturday night:

Saturday, March 22 (McNally Jackson, 7:00pm):
The Blurry Line Between YA and Adult

Patrick Flanery
Rainbow Rowell
Eliot Schrefer
Jennifer E. Smith

Moderator: David Levithan

And Sunday:

Sunday March 23: Our No-Foolin’ Mega-Signing at Books of Wonder (Books of Wonder, 1-4): 1-1:45 J.J. Howard (That Time I Joined the Circus) Mari Mancusi (Scorched) Elizabeth Scott (Heartbeat) Stephanie Kate Strohm (Confederates Don’t Wear Couture) Alexandra Monir (Timekeeper) Ellen Jensen Abbott (The Keeper) Tara Altebrando (Roomies) Ruth Baron (Defriended) Matt Blackstone (Sorry You’re Lost) Kate Brian (Hereafter) Jessica Brody (Unrforgotten) Jennifer Castle (You Look Different in Real Life) Crissa–Jean Chappell (More Than Good Enough) Susane Colasanti (All I Need) Zoraida Cordova (The Savage Blue) 1:45-2:30 Gina Damico (Rogue) Jocelyn Davies (A Radiant Sky) Heather Demetrios (Something Real) Elizabeth Eulberg (Better Off Friends) Alison Ashley Formento (Twigs) Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam (Elusion) A. C. Gaughen (Lady Thief) T.M. Goeglein (Flicker & Burn) Jacqueline Green (Truth or Dare) Kit Grindstaff (The Flame in the Mist) Alissa Grosso (Shallow Pond) Aaron Hartzler (Rapture Practice) Corey Haydu (OCD: A Love Story) Amelia Kahaney (The Brokenhearted) Emmy Laybourne (Monument 14: Sky on Fire) David Levithan (Two Boys Kissing) 2:30-3:15 Stewart Lewis (The Secret Ingredient) Barry Lyga (Game) Bennett Madison (September Girls) Andy Marino (Uncrashable Dakota) Julie Murphy (Side Effects May Vary) Lauren Myracle (The Infinite Moment of Us) Elisa Nader (Escape from Eden) Gae Polisner (The Summer of Letting Go) Mindy Raf (The Symptoms of My Insanity) Marie Rutkoski (The Winner’s Curse) Leila Sales (This Song Will Save Your Life) Tiffany Schmidt (Bright Before Sunrise) Eliot Schrefer (Threatened) Victoria Schwab (The Unbound) 3:15-4:00 Rebecca Serle (The Edge of Falling) Jon Skovron (Man-Made Boy) Jennifer E. Smith (This is What Happy Looks Like) Jeri Smith-Ready (This Side of Salvation) Jessica Spotswood (Star Cursed) Natalie Standiford (The Boy on the Bridge) Courtney Stevens (Faking Normal) Amy Talkington (Liv. Forever) Cristin Terrill (All Our Yesterdays) Laura Toffler-Currie (My Totally Awkward Supernatural Crush) Jessica Verdi (The Summer I Wasn’t Me) Melissa Walker (Ashes to Ashes)

And then my exhausted legs will crash for the rest of my NYC visit. :)

Weekly Reads: Grasshopper Jungle

I was ecstatic to get my hands on the newest book by Andrew Smith, Grasshopper Jungle, and was super exciting when I got an advanced reader copy of it to review. I'm familiar with his somewhat vulgar writing style, as I recently read Winger and was blown away by it (review here). Both books were told from a teenage boy's perspective and both did an excellent job of reminding me how gross a teenage boy's mind can be.  :)

There were moments while reading that I was outwardly disgusted by the words I had read, and the imagery the words created in my mind. I'm getting grossed out just typing this remembering some passages. So with that being said, I could see this as a book that just isn't appealing to everyone. But the actual story was great, and unpredictable, and had a really interesting interconnectedness of Austin's life and history intersecting others histories.

Overall, I'm really happy that I didn't put the book down for good when I was grossed out. Prepare yourself for some squeamish reading moments, and then get to reading this book!

My rating: 4

Summary from goodreads:

Sixteen-year-old Austin Szerba interweaves the story of his Polish legacy with the storyof how he and his best friend , Robby, brought about the end of humanity and the rise of an army of unstoppable, six-foot tall praying mantises in small-town Iowa.

To make matters worse, Austin's hormones are totally oblivious; they don't care that the world is in utter chaos: Austin is in love with his girlfriend, Shann, but remains confused about his sexual orientation. He's stewing in a self-professed constant state of maximum horniness, directed at both Robby and Shann. Ultimately, it's up to Austin to save the world and propagate the species in this sci-fright journey of survival, sex, and the complex realities of the human condition.