Tag: Liz Carver

BONUS REVIEW: Enneatype Five by Liz Carver and Josh Green

BONUS REVIEW: Enneatype Five by Liz Carver and Josh Green

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Fair Winds Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary and Review

This workbook is based on the work in the authors’ original book, What’s Your Enneatype?, as well as their hugely popular social media posts. The stated goal of this type-based workbook is to give readers an opportunity to live with this material – sit with it, consider the questions, take the recommended actions and reflect on them. The goal isn’t to finish the workbook and set it on a shelf. The questions are self-directed. Readers will get something out of the book based on the effort they put into it.

The content is brief, with several questions after each piece that allow the reader to dig into into each topic. The color scheme and art from the full book carry over into the workbook. Enneagram topics covered include: moves to stress in security, stances, wings, subtypes, relationships with other types, and practices to develop health.

I like the layout of this. I think this is a fantastic resource for folks who want to dig deeper in their number. (With the release of this book, along with the 8 and 3 books, the series is complete.) This could be used in a “devotional” sort of way, although there’s no spiritual content. It could also be used in a journaling practice.

I personally would pick the full book over the workbook for those interested in general Enneagram information. But for those who are certain of their number and want to know “what now?” this could be a great next step.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great!

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: My 2020 Favorites

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: My 2020 Favorites

Posted on by Jaymie

There were moments in 2020 when I despaired of ever finding my reading groove. There were others where reading was the perfect escape. What a unique year in so many ways! Here are some of my reading statistics for 2020. (If you’d like to see my past Year in Review/favorites posts, you can go here.)

2020 Stats

Through the course of 2020 I read 342 books.  There were 35 more that I started but did not finish. I started the year intending to take my time, maybe read FEWER books but really savor them – and maybe even remember them once the year was done. In reality, though, that  didn’t happen. I committed to reading a large number of books for publishers which kept me turning pages all year long.

Of those 342, the break down for target audience is

  • 47% adult
  • 19% teen/young adult (including both prose books and graphic novels)
  •   5% older middle grade for readers 10-14
  • 18% middle grade (standard middle grade prose books as well as kids graphic novels)
  •   8% picture books
  •   2% transitional chapter books and early readers

The main genre breakdown is

  • 24% Fantasy
  • 18% Realistic/Contemporary
  • 18% Romance
  • 21% Mystery
  •   6% Science Fiction
  • 11% Nonfiction in various categories (36 books – My goal was at least one per month, so I exceeded that.)

This year most of the books I read were review copies from publishers – 216 books. (63% of the total – more than double what I read from publishers each of the last two years, and 4x 2017.) I also read 44 books from my To Be Read shelves, including 15 brand new books (read within 2 weeks of acquiring them), as well as  60 books from the library. I also re-read 16 favorites this year – not nearly as many as I wanted to re-read.

In 2020, I had a goal of reading 1 nonfiction book each month, specifically from a stack of spiritual growth resources I set aside for the year. As I mentioned,  I met the numerical goal, but I didn’t get to every book in the stack. (And I added several books, too!) I used the Book Riot spreadsheet (which is customizable!) again, which was super helpful in tracking my books for the year as well as helping me with monthly stats. You can check out the 2021 version here. I already have mine customized and ready to go for my first read of the new year.

In 2021, I need to scale back my ARC reading. While I love discovering new books, new authors, and new series – as well as continuations of my favorite series – I found myself wrestling with what I needed to read vs. what I wanted to read all throughout 2020. I have committed to 80 ARCs already for 2021. That means weeks where I have two or three reviews to post per day in order to stay on track with release dates as much as I can. That becomes a reading obligation, which does not leave room to read whatever I feel like – or to take any time off for a break.

Speaking of breaks, I took 21 days off from reading in 2020. That’s more than double what I did in 2019 when I started keeping track. 2020 was intense at times, and it was hard to get lost in a book some weeks. I liked the freedom to do other things – and discovered I need some new hobbies since reading has become a job in a lot of ways – but it added to the pressure and feelings of obligation when I had fewer days to read the next week’s ARCs. So, in 2021 I am seeking better balance.

2020 Favorites!!

At the end of the year, I go back through my reading log and pull out the titles of the best of the best from the year.  (Not every 5 star review makes it onto the blog, depending on my publishing schedule, but you can find many of the reviews here.) Then I compare them to one another until a list of 10 or so rise to the top. This year there were 53 that made it onto the list. And the results are fascinating. There are two re-reads on the list – my top two books from 2019. And there are two books on the list that haven’t even released yet. So, here are my most favorite favorites from 2020:

12. What’s Your Enneatype? – This is my favorite Enneagram resource from this year. The book is small, and packed with great information and color-coded graphics. I am looking forward to digging into this one again in 2021. You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

11. Microphones and Murder – I loved this first-in-a-new-series mystery. Book 2 in the Podcasting Sisters series, Up Next, Murder, is out now. You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

10. Undercover Bromance – Book 2 in the Bromance Bookclub series was even better than the fantastic series starter. There are three books in the series so far, and book 4, Isn’t It Bromantic?, will release this summer. You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

9. Talk Nerdy to Me – Book 4 in the fantastic Bookish Boyfriends series I have adored since the beginning. Book 4, Get a Clue, releases later this month. You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

8. Cast in Firelight – This amazing YA fantasy story will release later this month. It was originally supposed to release in November, so I read it and prepared my review only to discover the release date had been pushed back. This is well worth the wait. Do NOT miss this one! My full review will post in a couple weeks.

 

 

7. Chasing Vines – The second nonfiction book of this year’s list is a fascinating exploration of vines and vineyards and vine growers, both from scripture and from the author’s experience in Italy. Don’t miss this one! You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

6. Gina, the Girl Who Broke the World – This is the second 2021 release on my 2020 favorites list. This one doesn’t release until February. But I adored the first six-book story arc so much, I read this one the second I was approved for the review copy. All of my favorite characters are back, adjusting to the fallout from the earlier books. But this launches everyone right into a new, harrowing adventure with a MAJOR cliffhanger. The only downside to reading this so soon is that I have to wait that much longer for the next book. Put this one on your February list and watch for my review.

 

5. Polaris Rising – It’s probably unfair to include old favorites in the list, but I re-read this one, and the sequel, Aurora Blazing, to get ready to read book three, Chaos Reigning. And it really stands up well to re-reading. I just love it. The perfect mix of science fiction and romance with tons of sass. When I have time, I want to re-read the whole series. This was my most favorite book of 2019. You can read my full review here.

 

 

4. Crush the King – This is the final book in the outstanding Crown of Shards series after Kill the Queen (my most favorite book of 2018) and Protect the Prince. This series was excellent. The spin off series, Gargoyle Queen, launches with Capture the Crown this summer. You can read my full review here.

 

 

3. The Princess Knight – This is book 2 in the Scarred Earth Saga after The Blacksmith Queen, the book that tied with Polaris Rising for my most favorite of 2019.  Both are fantastic (but violent). You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

2. The Blacksmith Queen – My second most-favorite book of 2019 (after a tie with Polaris Rising), and my most favorite re-read on the list. This series is often shelved with romance, but for me it is a straight-up fantasy series, far more violent than what I usually read, but truly fantastic in humor and in storytelling. I have never posted a full review of this one to the blog, but you can see my Goodreads review here.

 

 

1. Crownchasers – Even while I was in the process of reading this book, I knew it had the potential to be my most favorite book of 2020. This was the perfect fit for me as a reader, and I am eager to re-read it as I wait for the sequel. Out of the 340+ books I read this year, this one has consistently stuck in my memory, and in my heart, as exceptional. You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

Honorable Mention

For honorable mention here are some other favorites by category:

Most Favorite Picture Books

Burt the Beetle Doesn’t Bite – This delight will not release until June 1, but you will want to put it on your list.
Madeline Finn and the Therapy Dog

 

Most Favorite Middle Grade (that have been released so you can enjoy them now!)

Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor
Hilo: All the Pieces Fit – The final book in the original story arc.
Tune It Out – This is targeted to older middle grade readers between 10 and 14.
Primer

BONUS REVIEW: What's Your Enneatype? by Liz Carver and Josh Green

BONUS REVIEW: What’s Your Enneatype? by Liz Carver and Josh Green

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Fair Winds Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. ]

Summary and Review

From the book: “The Enneagram is a tool that helps us name what motivates people to do the things they do in the world.” (page 8 of e-book review copy) That’s a great description! This book comes from the folks behind the Instagram account @justmyenneatype. Some of the book’s graphics will look familiar to fans of the IG account (like me).

The book opens with a thorough introduction explaining what the Enneagram is and what it is not. There’s no test (this is a plus!). The book reinforces the idea that you do the reading (whether that’s this book or another resource), you eliminate the types that are certainly not you, and then you discern for yourself from the remaining types what seems the best fit.

There’s a great use of color and graphics throughout the book; each number has a carefully chosen color scheme. I loved the look of the book on my device, and I can’t wait to see a print version in person. The layout of the book for each type is uniform, so you can flip to the same feature for each number. The writing is engaging and conversational throughout.

Each section includes the following information for the type: wings, triads, stances, subtypes/instincts, self-care suggestions, and discussions of movement in health and stress as well a graphic of a health continuum in 6 areas. My favorite feature of them all was the description of what the world would be like if everyone was that number. It was a clever way to highlight the strengths and liabilities for each type.

I LOVED this! I have been learning about the Enneagram for about 3.5 years now, and I learned new things and got to think about things in new ways from reading this. This is now in my top tier of Enneagram resources alongside The Road Back to You, Millenneagram and Spiritual Rhythms for the Enneagram. This book releases August 4, 2020. 

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

You can go here to read all about the other Enneagram resources I have reviewed.