Jan 1, 2017
... with @gordon.pepper , @dinoralexander and the award-winning Brainvision News Team. #everysimpsonsever #2016byefelicia
seen from United States
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... with @gordon.pepper , @dinoralexander and the award-winning Brainvision News Team. #everysimpsonsever #2016byefelicia
And for dessert, a Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookie Cup with Salted Caramel Gelato. #happynewyear2017 #2016byefelicia
New Years Eve dinner: Beef Wellington with Porcini Mash & Broccoli. #happynewyear2017 #2016byefelicia
Year in Books 2016
Out of the books that I read in 2016, here are my favorites:
Tokyo Vice by Jake Adelstein is an eye-opener to journalism, Yakuza, and the sex industry/slavery in Japan. Adelstein’s short article on Japan Vice and the Yakuza giving out candy on Halloween was what hooked me on to his writing. I found this nonfiction to be very accessible, funny, and informative.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde--I finally read this one. It took me a really long time to get past the intro about art and how it reflects life and all that jazz. It turns out to be a good old horror fantasy after all.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is a contemporary classic that I finally got around to reading. It is no wonder that it is a bestseller. I have cried through many parts of that book and I still don’t find the main character to be redeemed, but I feel sorry for many of the other characters in the book.
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith is surprisingly relatable to me, a woman of color, despite written by a white male author. I liked this female character who really just didn’t care about what anyone else thinks of her. The mysteries themselves were fun as well.
I listened to Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn on Audible. Great readers and a fantastic book. Knew the story from the movie but I liked a lot of the narration in the book version--especially the parts from Amy about being a strong woman and some of the extra characters.
My favorite book this entire year is probably A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. I’ve never been a huge slice of life reader, but this one was just so heartwarming and funny. I listened to this on Audible as well and loved the reader. I also enjoyed the cute chapter titles.
Here are some of the ones that I could have bothered with not reading:
Life As We Knew It by Susan Pfeffer - Whiny first person YA!
Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez - Annoying white woman saves a third world country single-handedly! Also...some weird stuff with this lady?
Honorable Mentions:
David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell - really made me think for a long time afterwards
Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater - good series, good characters!
Emma by Jane Austen - very Austen but also quite a cute ending! Emma herself is quite prideful.
Trying to pull it together after 2 really intense months of #life. Really grateful for my #tribe and my #family. And a special thank you to #Allen and @omarthomasmusic who had to see me through many a melt down for petty things because sometimes your coping skills just abandon you when you are tired and under the weather. #gratitude #2016byeFelicia #adulting (at Starbucks)
Happy New Year! #Hello2016 #2016ByeFelicia @iseddiedead