Lauren's Complete List for the Year 2011

 Well, here it is.  All the books that I read in 2011.  I fell short of my goal, but I am still proud of what I did accomplish because this was a busy year with not a whole lot of time for reading!  There are 40 books and a total of 14,147 pages.

1. Playing the Game by Barbara Taylor Bradford (385)
2. Pursuit by Karen Robards (365)
3. Shanghai Girls by Lisa See (309)
4. Fired Up by Jayne Ann Krentz (403)
5. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (288)
6. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (549)
7. Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah (391)
8. Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson (309)
9. True Colors by Kristin Hannah (494)
10. Black Hills by Nora Roberts (472)
11. The Perfect Husband by Lisa Gardner (402)
12. Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult (466)
13. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (331)
14. The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner (466)
15. Vanish by Tess Gerritsen (336)
16. In too Deep by Jayne Ann Krentz (324)
17. The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen (350)
18. The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen (366)
19. Nanny Returns by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus (305)
20. Sweet Valley Confidential by Francine Pascal (205)
21. Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner (359)
22. Naked Heat by Richard Castle (288)
23. The Funny Thing Is... by Ellen Degeneres (177)
24. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling (759)
25. Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner (284)
26. The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen (355)
27. Angel Falls by Kristin Hannah (377)
28. My Best Friend's Girl by Dorothy Koomson (341)
29. Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger (368)
30. Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella (273)
31. She Went All the Way by Meg Cabot (354)
32. Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger (278)
33. Love You More by Lisa Gardner (351)
34. Making Toast by Roger Rosenblatt (166)
35. Who Loves You Best by Tess Stimson (261)
36. The Baby Planner by Josie Brown (278)
37. The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh (305)
38. The Next Always by Nora Roberts (324)
39. Matched by Ally Condie (366)
40. Crossed by Ally Condie (367)

L #40- Crossed

This is the second book in Ally Condie's Matched series.  The story begins where the last left off.  Cassia is trying to track down Ky's location since he has been transferred to the outer provinces.  This story is action packed.  Cassia escapes her work assignment to go find Ky.  When she gets to the outer provinces, she realizes that Ky has escaped as well.  She begins a long, treacherous journey through the Carving, to try to find Ky.  She also learns about the a group of people who are trying to go back to the way things were before the Society existed.  There are also secrets to be learned about Xander, and even though he isn't prominent in this story, Condie has set it up for him to be very important to the third story in the trilogy.

I loved this book.  I read it in an afternoon.  I am disappointed to have to wait till later in 2012 for the 3rd book to come out.

367 pages.

L #39- Matched

I picked up this Ally Condie book at a scholastic book sale.  My sister in law works there and informed me that this is the first in what will be a trilogy.  Normally I scoff at young adult books, but given I learned my lesson when the Harry Potter series proved to be the most amazing books ever (I admit I was wrong!), I thought I'd give YA books another chance.  I'm glad I did.

This is the story of a dystopian society.  Cassia Reyes is ready for her Matching ceremony.  This is where the Society tells each young adult who they are to marry.  The Society decides everything.  Who you marry, where you live, what your job is, what you eat, etc.  Cassia has looked forward to this day for awhile.  But when the time comes, she finds that her match is someone she knows, her childhood friend Xander.  She brings her microcard, with the information she needs to know about her match, home to view it.   She is shocked when she uses the microcard and realizes another boy's picture shows up.  It is another boy she knows, named Ky.  Cassia and Ky begin to fall in love.  And Cassia realizes there are flaws in the Society.  At the end, it is perfectly set up for the next book.

I very much enjoyed this story.  It was an easy read, with a fun topic.  I love stories that get your mind turning and make you wonder how a world like that would be to live in.

This one had 366 pages.

L #38- The Next Always

I used to read Nora Roberts all the time.  I was a sucker for her love stories.  After reading almost all of them, I found the formula predictable and boring.  I had trouble picking them up again.  But I grabbed this one on a whim.  And, while it was still the same old formula, I still really enjoyed it.  This one is going to be a trilogy.  It is about 3 brothers who are building an inn in the town of Boonsboro.  Obviously, they are each going to find love in their individual stories (surprise, surprise!).

324 pages.

L #37- The Language of Flowers

This book, written by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, was very intriguing.  The story is about Victoria, a girl who has been raised entirely in foster care.  At 18, with nowhere to live, she plants a garden in the park.  Eventually she finds a job with a florist.  The story moves between past and present, showing the reader how Victoria came to know the language of flowers and how it has changed, and continues to change, her life.

While this story was very interesting and I really enjoyed reading the meanings of different flowers, I never felt "attached" to Victoria's character.  It made it more difficult to finish this book.  But I still think Diffenbaugh is a fantastic writer.

This one had 305 pages.

L #36- The Baby Planner

This book, by Josie Brown, is about Katie Johnson.  When she loses her job due to budget cuts, she plans to open her own business.  Katie loves babies and decides to run a business helping women plan for the baby's arrival.  She helps them find the safest products, decorate their nursery, etc.  Her husband, Alex, doesn't want to have any children and this is a constant source of tension between them. 

This was another quick read that I enjoyed.  While I didn't agree with a lot of the choices Katie made, it was still fun to read about them.  There is a twist at the end that I definitely saw coming, so it wasn't as climactic as it probably should have been. 

This one had 278 pages.

L #35- Who Loves You Best

Who Loves You Best by Tess Stimson is the story of Clare.  A woman who supposedly has it all; her own business, a gorgeous, younger, husband and is expecting her first babies....twins.  When life doesn't go according to plan and Clare hires Jenna, a nanny, to care for her children, Clare and Jenna both learn valuable lessons about life and love and motherhood. 

I very much enjoyed this story.  Tess Stimson has a way of writing that makes it easy to flip through the pages quickly.  And while some of the story was very predictable, it was still a really fun read.

This one had 261 pages.

M #24-31

24 - The Warlock (Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #5) by Michael Scott
25- A Dance with Dragons (A song of Ice and Fire #5) by George R R Martin
26 - Tiassa (Vlad Taltos Series #13) by Steven Brust
27 - The Lost Hero (Heros of Olympus #1) by Rick Riordan
28 - The Son of Neptune (Heros of Olympus #2) by Rick Riordan
29 - Throne of Fire (Kane Chronicles #2) by Rick Riordan
30 - A Kingdom Besieged (Chaoswar Saga #1) by Raymond Feist
31 - Inheritance (Inheritance Cycle #4) by Christopher Paolini

L #34- Making Toast

I picked up this Roger Rosenblatt story awhile ago.  It's about grandparents who unexpectedly lose their daughter.  They move in with her husband and her 3 young children to help care for the family.  I started reading it and didn't even realize this is a non-fiction story until I was halfway through.  The way it is written is completely unexpected.  It is like snippets of Roger's new life, moments in time where small things or large things make him sad or happy or filled with despair.  It is almost like a journal of jotted down notes from day to day life.  It is written without emotion---that isn't to say the story isn't sad.  It's just that he presents all the snippets as facts, as just the way of his new life.  And there is something incredibly beautiful about that.  It brought tears to my eyes several times.  I enjoyed it very much.  It had 166 pages.

L #33- Love You More

Well, I will admit that Lisa Gardner certainly knows how to write a murder mystery.  Everything that I've picked up of hers has been dark and twisted.  There are parts that are hard to stomach.  But she definitely keeps you turning the pages.  This one is about Tessa Leoni, a state trooper who has murdered her husband.  Their 6 year old daughter is missing.  It is up to detective D.D. Warren to crack the case.  And of course, things are never what they appear to be.  I finished this book very quickly.  It had 351 pages.

L #32- Chasing Harry Winston

I had a REALLY hard time getting into this Lauren Weisberger book.  I've really enjoyed some of her other works, so I'm not sure why this one was tough to adapt to.  But in any case, I had to push myself through.  This one is about 3 friends who make a pact to change their lives.  And honestly, I don't even feel like writing anything else because I thought it was boring.

278 pages.

L #31- She Went All the Way

This book, written by Meg Cabot, was an impulse buy.  It was definitely a fluff piece, without much substance.  But it was somewhat enjoyable.  It's about a screenwriter whose helicopter crash lands with an actor.  Someone is trying to kill the actor and the two of them must trek through the Alaskan wilderness, hoping to survive.  It was a quick read, but I doubt I'll pick up a Meg Cabot book again.

It had 354 pages.

L #30- Can You Keep a Secret?

This book, by Sophie Kinsella, was another "let's read something quickly" book. I started it yesterday afternoon...around 2 pm. And I finished it by midnight. It was such an easy read. And though I'm a little tired today, it was worth it.

Emma Corrigan accidentally shares all her secrets to a stranger on a plane. When it turns out that stranger owns the entire company that Emma works for, Emma's life takes an interesting turn. We all have secrets, small or large. And I found this an interesting take on revealing those secrets. What would happen if everyone knew ALL of your secrets? Would it change all those little white lies you told, would you be more honest in the future? I really enjoyed this book, and laughed out loud on several occasions. 273 pages.

L #29- Last Night at Chateau Marmont

I picked this book up, by Lauren Weisberger, a long time ago. And it's been sitting in a pile. When I realized how behind I was on reading, I thought "well, I guess I'll give this one a try since it should be a quick read". I wasn't holding out any high hopes. Not sure why. I guess I just expected it to be fluff.

And it was fluff. But it was very fun fluff. Very entertaining. And there was also a deeper meaning, about overcoming odds to stay in love and about who you really are when your life completely changes. I absolutely loved the character, Brooke. Brooke is married to Julian Alter, an aspiring musician. When he becomes famous, almost overnight, their marriage struggles to keep up with their new life. Brooke has to deal with horrible tabloid rumors, ideal Hollywood images, and an absent husband while she struggles to work 2 jobs. It really made me stop to think how your life could be different if someone was catapulted into stardom. Would your morals change? Or your behavior? Great, quick read! 368 pages.

L #28- My Best Friend's Girl

My first Dorothy Koomson book didn't go so well because of the subject matter. And I had to abandon ship earlier in the year. I decided to give her another try. This story is about Kamryn, whose best friend Adele had slept with Kamryn's fiance years ago. Their friendship deteriorated after Kamryn found out. But then Adele contacts Kamryn, telling her that she is dying, and wants Kamryn to adopt her daughter Tegan (who is incidentally the child from the affair). Kamryn agrees, reluctantly at first. But once Tegan comes into her life, Kamryn realizes how much she loves her. The book had a very interesting premise and I was very hopeful. But after Adele dies (which is somewhat early in the book) and they've recapped all the past history, the story kind of stagnates for a long while. Like, there's 100 pages in the middle that are just tediously redundant. Kamryn ends up with 2 love interests (one being the guy that cheated on her, Tegan's father) and both love interests are hard to relate to at all. One doesn't like her, but likes the child. The other likes her, but not the child. I just had a hard time wondering why she'd want to be with either of them. It was kind of a lose/lose situation, in my opinion. The love story sort of ruined the whole premise of the book for me. It took away from the lessons Kamryn was learning and the life she was creating with Tegan. Great idea, just not implemented well.

This one had 341 pages.

L #27- Angel Falls

Angel Falls, written by Kristin Hannah, is a story about a married woman who goes into a coma after falling from her horse. Her husband, Liam, is completely and utterly devoted to her. He sits by her bedside day after day, while still finding time to work and care for their 2 children. They are all devastated by her accident. While sifting through his wife's belongings, Liam finds evidence of his wife's prior marriage to a movie star, Julian True. Liam is completely astounded by this revelation. Though it pains him, he asks Julian to visit her, hoping his presence will help pull her out of her coma. This is a story of love and the lengths a person will take to save someone they love. I really liked this one. I've read several Kristin Hannah books, and while they are always well written, they can sometimes be very wordy. This one was the perfect length at 377 pages. Highly recommend!

L #26- The Sinner

Getting so close to the end of the year and I'm getting nervous I won't finish in time! This has been a challenging summer for reading. I've just been so busy!

I finished The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen a week or so ago. This is the third book in the Rizzoli and Isles series. So far, this is my second favorite (behind #5....yeah, I accidentally read that one first). It had a very interesting plot revolving around 2 murdered nuns. When it turns out that one of them recently gave birth, things really get complicated. This story focuses a lot on Maura Isles and her past relationship with her ex-husband. It was fun to get a larger glimpse into her character. I really enjoyed the story line and the hiatus from the Warren Hoyt plot.

There were 355 pages.

L #25- Then Came You

Well, I took the plunge and got a nook. I'm adjusting to it slowly. Or rather, I've only read one book on it and there's a huge pile of paperbacks on my hall table to be read, so I'm adjusting slowly by default. This newer touch screen nook is an improvement over the older style (which Matt has). My chief complaint about the old style was that there was no easy way to quickly scroll back through the book if you were looking for something. I sometimes like to go back and check things/conversations out and without bookmarking a page, this is nearly impossible in the older nook. But, the new one has added a feature that lets you scroll easily, almost the same as if you were flipping through a book. I still have one tiny complaint. Sometimes I like to know when the end of the chapter will be and that's hard to figure out on the nook. But, again, I'm getting used to it :)

Onto this book....

This is another Jennifer Weiner book. It is about several different woman. Jules decides to be an egg donor because she needs the money to help her dad. Annie decides to be a surrogate because her family doesn't have much money and she wants a better life for herself and her 2 young boys. India is an older woman who desperately wants a baby and is wealthy enough to afford the high costs of egg donors and surrogates. Bettina is India's new step-daughter, who is hell bent on proving that India is taking advantage of her father. Other than Bettina and India, none of the characters know each other at the outset of the story. The book chronicles their journey through this whole child-birth process, as well as showing background info that helps you to understand how they got to this point of their lives. Weiner did a great job weaving through their story lines. I enjoyed this book very much. And it was a really quick read. There was something that bothered me in the end with India's character. But I understood how her actions at the end brought all the characters together (even if I didn't like it!).

This one had 284 pages.

L #24- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

What can I say about this book, other than I love it? Nothing really. This is a re-read for me and I enjoyed it just as much the third time as I did the first. I read it in preparation for the movie and was glad that I had reviewed all the sub-plots and conversations. So sad this is over! I really wish Rowling would write more.

759 pages

M #18 - #23 - Rizzoli and Isles bookes 1-6

The Surgeon
The Apprentice
The Sinner
Body Double
Vanish
The Mephisto Club

So, Lauren convinced me to put my nook down and pick up a hardcopy book so that we could both read the Rizzoli and Isles books by Tess Gerritsen. We love the TV show and wanted to give the books a try. They are fantastic! Tess Gerritsen knows how to write this genre. The plots are always creative and make you want to keep turning the pages. I've finished the 1st six books. There are 2 more already out, with #9 releasing this month. I've put them down to go back to a few nook books that I'd been waiting on, but will definitely be finishing this series!

M #16 - Storm Front

Dresden Files - book 1. After reading Jim Butcher's Acadia series (See earlier posts), I was excited to start the series that began his career. The Dresden Files are a sort of modern age fantasy series. Kind of like X-files, but more focused on magic. Harry Dresden, the main character, is a modern age detective / slash wizard in Chicago. The books are funny and full of action. They don't take themselves too seriously and are a blast to read. I'll definitely continue the series.

M #17 - The Emperor of Nihon-Ja

M #14 - The Wise Man's Fears

King Killer Chronicles book 2 by Patrick Rothfuss. When I read The Name of The Wind last year, I loved it. I was so excited about this new author, and this series. The second book picked up right where the first left off and did not disappoint! It was fantastic. I cannot wait till the next installment! Kvothe is one of my new favorite literary characters!

M #15 - Gauntlgrym

M #13 - Shadowheart

This is the final installment of Tad Williams' Shadowmarch series. I've been a Tad Williams fan for a long time. He crafts very detailed worlds with incredibly developed characters. He mixes great storylines with the fantasy action and themes that I enjoy. That said, my one complaint with this series is my same complaint from his last. There is all this build up through multiple books, and then the ending is very anti-climatic. Even still, it was a great read.

M #12 - Altar of Eden

Yet another free nook book. I had downloaded a bunch of free stuff and never gotten around to reading it. NOw that I do more business travel, if I found myself in the position where I had finished my latest purchase not long into a flight and needed something new. I went through and grabbed some freebies that I had been sitting on.

The author of this book is James Rollins. I've read some of his books before. They are easy reads and fairly enjoyable. They are good books for quick reads when you don't have anything else to do. His book are typically a sort of adventure science fiction. Like Indiana Jones meets sci-fi and aliens kind of thing. This book held true to form.

M #11 - Think of a Number

This is another free nook book that I took a chance on. It was really good! I stepped out of the fantasy genre and back into the murder mystery genre. The author was able to weave together a very interesting plot, with great characters. It kept me guessing right up until the end. The author is Timothy Hallinan. I will definitely give another chance!

M #10 - Sandman Slim

This was a free nook book that I thought I would take a chance on. It falls in the Sci-fi, heaven vs. hell vs. man type genre. It was ok. It was a quick read with a fairly engaging plot. Nothing new, and pretty predictable. Probably would not spend money on the next one in the series.

L #23- The Funny Thing Is...

I borrowed this book thinking it would be a quick and funny read. And Ellen Degeneres did not disappoint. The chapters were written completely independently of each other, meaning you could read any chapter at random and still not be confused. I loved having something funny to read! It isn't often that I laugh out loud at books. This was just the "escape" I needed today! And yes, I read it in one day. Well, to be more precise, I think it was a mere 2 hours.

177 pages.

L #22- Naked Heat

Even though I'm certain the fictitious Richard Castle did not write this book, that's whose picture is on the back cover of Naked Heat. Matt and I loooove the show Castle. It is so entertaining. I love Richard Castle, the character. I just find the show so fun and lighthearted (even if it is about homicide detectives).

This book reads just like an episode of Castle. In fact, it was eerily similar to an episode I had seen. The whole thing felt like dejavu. I'm fairly certain the writers for the show wrote this book. It was obvious that it wasn't written by a novelist the way scenes were kind of jumpy at times (certain things don't translate well into written form without seeing them, if that makes sense). I didn't dislike the book, but I doubt I'll pick up another book written by "Richard Castle". Still, it's fun to say I've read the books from the show :) This one had 288 pages.

L #21- Best Friends Forever

I enjoy Jennifer Weiner books typically. This one had all the elements that I usually like (insecure character, easily lovable, undercurrent of romance) but it also had moments that were just beyond belief.

The main character, Addie, hasn't been friends with her supposed best friend, Val, in years. Something terrible happened in high school to destroy their friendship (don't want to give it away). But one day, Val shows up on Addie's doorstep, with blood on her coat, thinking she may have killed someone. This is the part that bothers me. Instead of doing the sensible thing, or asking the friend why on earth she should help her when their friendship has dissolved, Val somehow convinces Addie to run away to Florida with her. I mean, maybe I'm just a lot less forgiving, but that whole part seemed wholly not plausible to me at all. Other than that, the ebb and flow of friendship was fun to read about and Addie was a very likable character. I don't feel that this book was a waste of my time, but it most definitely was not my favorite Weiner book. This one had 359 pages.

L #20- Sweet Valley Confidential

I'll preface this by saying that they *only* reason I read this book was because I loved the books in this series when I was younger. Man, they were so much fun to read! But I didn't go into this book expecting a lot. And I'm glad I didn't because Francine Pascal hasn't changed her writing style at all. This book was still written like it was for 16 year olds and their drama. If I had a dollar for every time Jessica said "so" or "like" I'd be rich.

I did have one huge complaint about this book though. Pascal had Elizabeth date a guy that supposedly looked just like Todd. Only, once she forgave Jessica and Todd for their affair, she broke it off with this lookalike and just immediately got together with Bruce Patman. And at the end, Pascal just gave a paragraph to every person that had ever been mentioned in the history of Sweet Valley books. Why on earth do we need a recap of their lives? If they weren't important enough to make it into this story, then I just don't care.

That said, it was entertaining to read a book that reminded me so much of being young. And with 205 pages, it was also a quick read.

This was also my first venture into nook-dom. Matt convinced me to give one book a try on the nook. I can understand the allure. But a part of me feels incredibly sad to think of what this means for traditional books. I have a lot to say about reading from electronic devices, but I'm pretty sure no one but me cares. So I'll leave it at all. I'm also fairly convinced Matt will be giving me the latest nook for whatever the next gift giving occasion is....

L #19- Nanny Returns

What a fun book! Really, it was! Nanny Returns, written by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, is the sequel to The Nanny Diaries. I read The Nanny Diaries years earlier since my profession is that of a nanny. I also saw the movie. I enjoyed the original because it's hysterical to read about extreme-nannying. I had no idea there was a sequel until I stumbled across this one in the discount section at Barnes and Noble.

And it was just as humorous, and extreme, as the original. I loved that the timeline jumped ahead 12 years. So you get to see how Nan, Grayer, and the famous Mrs. X changed (or didn't!) in the years since the original book. A quick, easy, and fun read....perfect for poolside, while I was, you guessed it, nannying. I've even got the splashed and wet 305 pages to prove it.

L #18- The Apprentice

Thanks to probably my only reader ;) I remembered I was behind on this blog yet again. Oops! Clearly I stink at blogging.

#2 in the Tess Gerritsen "Rizzoli and Isles" series is The Apprentice. This one was once again, wonderfully written. But I must admit, I'm a little done with the Warren Hoyt story. Gah, he's creepy! Just the thought of someone breaking into my house while I'm asleep gives me the chills. I'm scared of the dark on a good day, so thankfully Matt wasn't out of town while I read these stories. I still prefer the 5th book in the series (yeah, yeah, I accidentally read them out of order), but Tess Gerritsen really hasn't disappointed me yet! This one had 366 pages.

I'm going to take a small break from Gerritsen for a few books, so that I don't get burnt out.

L #17- The Surgeon

With my recent Tess Gerritsen novel in mind, I hit the bookstore to get the first book in the Rizzoli and Isles series. This particular book outlines the background for the criminal Warren Hoyt (as seen in the TV show). And wow. He is waaaaay more creepy and crazy in the book than he is in the show! The book was incredibly well written and very fast paced. But I'm not ashamed to admit that I was a little wary to go to sleep for a couple of nights. This one had 350 pages and I finished it in 2 days.

#16- In Too Deep

I'm trying really hard to get back on track. Since I'm a little behind for the year, I decided to give all the "quick" reads higher priority than the books that may challenge/engage me a little more. So I started In Too Deep by Jayne Ann Krentz. This one was only in my queue because I had read the other 2 in this series. And I have to say, I was bored out of my mind! I didn't find the characters engaging and I feel like she focused way too much on the paranormal. Now granted, that's the whole point of the Arcane series, but it was just one series of unbelievable coincidences after another. 324 pages.

It might not be JAK's fault though. I *may* have been soooo distracted by the recent Tess Gerritsen purchases, that I didn't even give this one a chance. I'm about to bore my 2 readers ;) with several Gerritsen novels because I just love her so much now! And coincidentally, I convinced Matt to give her a try. He informed me today that he finished The Surgeon (the first in the Rizzoli & Isles series) on the plane today. So that's up next for me!

#15- Vanish

I've been hearing a lot about Tess Gerritsen lately. I've been meaning to give her books a try. Matt and I got into the TNT show last summer called "Rizzoli and Isles", which is apparently based off of Gerritsen novels. Since I really enjoy that show, I was pretty sure I'd enjoy the books. So I borrowed this one from a friend this week.

It's about a woman who is apparently dead, but wakes up in the morgue. She goes on to hold hostages in the hospital, one of them including a pregnant Rizzoli. The story involves Rizzoli, her husband, an FBI agent, and Isles, trying to figure out what has happened. It was a VERY fast pace, quick read, with tons of interesting twists and turns. Best of all, there wasn't much distraction with character subplots and/or romances. I enjoyed this a whole lot more than I expected. I think there will be a lot more Gerritsen novels in my future. This one had 336 pages.

# 14- The Neighbor

While in Victoria, I realized I had nothing to read on the boat ride back to Seattle. So we ventured into an adorable little bookstore called Munro's. With vaulted ceilings (that were painted with images!) and small selection, this bookstore was a breath of fresh air. It isn't often you find a cute little store, with great customer service, that isn't a huge chain. Well, perhaps it's a Canadian chain....that I don't know. But if felt new and completely interesting to me.

We were on a time crunch to catch the boat back, so I grabbed the first thing that seemed remotely interesting. [Side note, I'm totally not used to paying the more expensive price on the back of books!] The book I got was The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner. I think this is my second Lisa Gardner book. This particular one was kind of disturbing. It had a lot of focus on sexual predators that I found difficult to read. But, it was a quick read. This one had 466 pages.

Finished 13- Water for Elephants

So I'm totally dipping behind, but I have a lot to catch up on. I finished this book on my trip to Seattle/Victoria. It was a very interesting story, but also very surprising. There were a lot of sad and horrific details in the book. Reading the back info section, the author mentions that some of the story came from fact and anecdote surrounding real life circuses. It's hard to believe people were able to live like that. But I also found it fascinating to read about a completely different way of life.

This one had 331 pages.

L #13- Water for Elephants

I've seen this book in stores and on lists so many times. But for some reason I haven't wanted to try it. Circus, elephants, and crazy behind the scenes life? No thanks. But now that it's a movie soon to be released, I figured there must be something to it if that many people are reading it and excited about a movie. So here goes...

Finished 12- Sing You Home

Well. I just checked and I started this book on March 19th. That is nearly a month of reading it! Wow. Good thing I know I'm a quick reader and most books will be easier to get through. I just had the hardest time convincing myself to pick this book up. Admittedly, there were days it stared at me while I decided to browse the internet or watch tv instead. Tonight, I forced myself to finish. I guess I should warn that I'm about to write some spoilers. But I can't really get through this review without it. Jodi Picoult writes the same formula all the time. She puts a "shock and awe" moment towards the end of the book almost always. And always has some sort of legal battle of catastrophic proportions. This one was no exception, other than the shock and awe moment being in the front end of the book. The main character, Zoe, turns out to be gay. This is not, however, the reason I couldn't get through the book. It turned into a huge issue with her ex-husband fighting for rights to their frozen embryos because he didn't want them to be raised gay. The ex-husband uses all his newly acquired "Christian" friends (I use that term veeeery loosely as they were all extremely judgmental and that is not a property I personally associate as very Christianlike) to fight Zoe. The things they say about gay people are just not very palatable at all. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to throw this book across the room. I know Jodi was likely trying to get a rise out of her readers, but I just found most of it distasteful. Aside from that, it was also kind of slow.

Movie version of Never Let Me Go

So Matt rented the movie Never Let Me Go. It was interesting to see how they turned the book into a movie. I'm typically disappointed, but I will say that I think they did a pretty decent job with the movie. There were a few things left out, but they stuck pretty true to the story line. Matt hadn't read the book, though. And he kept looking at me with a crazy facial expression. He had a ton of questions, like:

"What the heck?!?!"

"Why on earth......"

"How did you get through this book? What a crazy concept!"

"That's IT?!? Where's the rest of the story? Why didn't they try to get away?"

I have to agree that his confusion is warranted. It is a bizarre concept. But I think that really took some creativity and insight on the author's part to create such a story that evokes anger/sadness/passion in readers. Maybe we'll try some more movie versions of books we have read.

M #9 - Halt's Peril

This one is started and finished. This is the 10th book in John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series. This is one of my favorite fantasy series. The character's are great, and the stories are always packed with the right amount of action and suspense. I HIGHLY recommend this series for anyone who enjoys reading fantasy!

Finished M#8

I finished the first book in the looking glass wars series. This spin on the classic Alice in Wonderland was only moderately enjoyable. The story had potential, but never really did much for me. This book is in the young adult genre, but unlike most other books I read from that genre, this one felt very juvenile. Character development was minimal, and it really hurt the story. It was a quick read and interesting enough that I may one day read the rest, if I'm bored, and my only choice is that or Twilight...

L #12- Sing You Home

I really like Jodi Picoult books and I'm hoping this one will be no exception. This one is about Zoe, who loves music and associates it with different parts of her life. After some personal tragedies, Zoe devotes her time to being a music therapist. She starts a friendship, that turns to love. And when she decides to change her life, she is surprised at the people who don't want her to be happy.

Finished #11- The Perfect Husband

Today marks 11 weeks into the year. So I have just squeaked by the deadline. I've no doubt I could have caught up, but it still makes me feel like I've accomplished something impressive. That may sound sad, that reading is an accomplishment, but there are days I barely have time to sit down, let alone read. So I am proud that I made a goal and have so far stuck with it! Not only that, but I feel it is great for my mental and emotional health. It's "free time" that I get just for ME. And it feels incredibly satisfying to know that I am nurturing that side of myself.

Ok, so onto the book and less about me ;) I found Lisa Gardner to be a bit more descriptive than I would normally like. However, I like crime/mystery books so it was a fun read. And quick! I knocked it out in a day. I've got another Lisa Gardner book in my queue, so I'm not giving up on her altogether. But if the next one's just as....gruesome....I might take a hiatus from crime books.

L #11- The Perfect Husband

This is my first Lisa Gardner book. I am hoping it is a fun read. This one is about a woman who marries a cop. She thinks he is perfect, until she realizes he is a murderer. She helps to put him behind bars. When he escapes, he wants to make his wife pay.

L #10- Black Hills

I forgot to update when I started this book (by Nora Roberts), but I just finished it tonight. It was a quick read and engaging story.

It was about two childhood friends, then turned lovers, that discovered a body in the woods. Years later, the killer is on the loose again. The romance portion of the book was predictable, but still enjoyable. The time spent on the characters when they were younger was actually very engaging. I found the back-story to be helpful in understanding their dynamic.

This one had 472 pages.

Finished book 9- True Colors

Kristin Hannah likes long books. The story was very engaging, but I must admit, I think this one would have been better if it were 100 pages shorter. There were 491 pages and the first 1/4 of the book was sort of wasted. It took me that long to really get into the story. It was necessary to create the dynamic between the sisters, but I think it could have been done with more brevity.

One sister, Winona, was incredibly unlikable. I couldn't find any redeeming qualities in her. Granted, towards the end of the book, she helps her sister in a very life changing way. But by that point, I felt that the damage was done to her character and I couldn't enjoy her.

I liked Vivi Ann a lot. And, although she ends up having a very difficult time with her life and it jeopardizes her relationship with her son, I found it easy to relate to the feelings she was having. Hannah very easily engaged the reader in all aspect's of Vivi Ann's life. So when Vivi Ann did something less than noble, it was understandable. The trials of her life were so intense, that it was hard to not feel compassion and pain on behalf of Vivi Ann. I felt as though the parts of the story that focused on her (instead of Winona) were much more entertaining and easy to read.

Overall, this book was very good. The story was very good. I really liked most of the characters and reading about their family dynamics. But I do think it could have been a bit shorter.

M #8 - The Looking Glass Wars

I am starting an intriguing new series. It is The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor. The series is a new spin on the classic tale of Alice In Wonderland. The premise of the series is how Wonderland is real and Lewis Carrol's story is based on the childhood of Princess Alyss HeRt, rightful queen of Wonderland. She fled to earth as a young girl after her evil aunt Redd murders her mother. The series is about her fight to save her home and win back her throne.

L #9- True Colors

Well, I just couldn't resist another Kristin Hannah book. This one is about the 3 Grey sisters. They have relied on each other since their mother passed away. Their father doesn't care for them. This book follows their lives and what happens to their relationships when secrets and crime enter the picture. I hope this one is as good as Winter Garden was.

Finished book 8- Sundays at Tiffany's

Well, about all I can say is that it was a quick read. It had the potential to be an endearing story. But for some reason, I could never quite get past the creepiness factor of falling in love with your childhood imaginary friend. It also felt like it was thrown together hastily, without any real substance to the story. It was upbeat, and easy to read. But I wasn't in love with this story.

There were 309 pages, with very large font and tons of breaks in the pages.

L #8- Sundays at Tiffany's

I am right on track with my reading. Being the dork that I am, I marked the calendar with all the weeks in the year. And this Friday marks 7 weeks into the year. Since I just finished my 7th book, I'm a tiny bit ahead of schedule! I'm still amazed I have this much time to read with how busy I've been. But I digress.

This book is written by James Patterson. I'm not normally a fan of his. I find most of his books to be boring and overly predictable. But after 3 heavy, albeit, fantastic reads, I was just looking for something light and breezy. This one's about a girl, Jane, who has a friend only she can see as a child. When she turns 9, her friend tells her he will no longer appear and that she will soon forget him. But as a woman, she finds a man that she remembers. Her friend from childhood.

I'm curious how this book will work. And hopeful that I'll enjoy it.

Finished #7!!

I have finished the Codex Alera series and am sad to step out if the world that Jim Butcher created. This one of the best series that I have read. Every book stands out on it's own yet the story truly unfolds across them all. One of the best parts about Butcher's style is the way he concludes the series. The heroes prevail yet the world has become a broken and devastated place in the aftermath of the war with the Vord. It actually leaves the door open to revisit the world of Alera if the author chooses, yet I did not feel as though the conclusion was lacking.

I will absolutely read more from this author.

M #7 - First Lord's Fury

I am starting my seventh book, and the final book in the Codex Alera series.

Finished #6

Sadly I let myself get lazy and I am a bit past due on one or four posts.....I sincerely apologize to my avid reader (the singular was intentional).

I finished the sixth book in this series and once again it was fantastic. In this book most of the plot lines come to a head to set the stage for the final book in the series. Tavi begins to grow into his own power and heritage. The war with the Vord starts to reach it's apex and tough decisions are made to determine the survival of Alera.

I continue to be thoroughly impressed by Jim Butcher.

On to the next!

Finished book 7- Winter Garden

I am on a roll with very good books.

This one was a very sad and intriguing story. It was a tale woven between two times. Modern day sisters and their mother, coupled with flashbacks on their mother's life during the Siege of Leningrad. I found the flashbacks, told in a story-like narrative, to be the most interesting parts of the book. It was heartbreaking, and in that sense, difficult to read. But it was also interesting to learn of the strength someone can have in times of hardship.

I did think that certain parts of the modern day story were long and drawn out. While reading the modern things, I kept thinking "hurry up and get back to Leningrad!" But it was necessary to see how the sisters interacted with their mother, in order to understand how the story of her life changed them. I'd definitely recommend this one.

It had 391 pages.

L #7- Winter Garden

This book, written by Kristin Hannah, is about 2 sisters and their mother. While their father is on his deathbed, he makes them promise to hear the story of their mother's life. Their mother has always seemed cold and withdrawn. The only time they connected with her, was when she told a Russian fairy tale. Now, she will tell them this tale to the end. The tale of her life in Leningrad.

Finished 6- The Forgotten Garden

This book was amazing. Seriously, wonderful. The story takes place between 1900 & 2005. It skips back and forth between different time periods, and different characters. It dips in and out of story lines, effortlessly. And what you end up with, in the end, is an entire history of how everyone is connected. I fell in love with certain characters and didn't want the book to end. The overall premise is a bit sad, but the basic undertone of the book is one of love and longing to belong.

I don't often keep books. I prefer to pass them along so they can be enjoyed by many others. But I'm not getting rid of this one. I just can't. It feels like a beloved friend, someone I've known my whole life. I am adding other Kate Morton books to my wishlist in the hopes that they are similarly written and will be equally loved.

This one had 549 pages.

L #6- The Forgotten Garden

This book is written by Kate Morton. It's about a young girl who is deserted on a ship that is headed for Australia. All she has, in her possession, is a book of fairy tales. The dockmaster and his wife take her in and raise her. They fill her in on how she became theirs when she turns 21. She sets off to find the truth of her identity.

Finished 5- Never Let Me Go

Wow. I honestly don't know what to say. I just finished this book not 2 minutes ago. And I am just blown away. The book is powerful, incredibly so. The story is, at times, heartwarming, but through it all is the undercurrent of devastation. I don't even know how to describe how it made me feel. So many emotions.

There are many "mysteries" throughout this book. Ishiguro leaves you speculating from the very first page, by using terms that don't get defined until much later in the book. And once you feel as though you've figured one out, there's another piece that doesn't quite fit. Without giving away some of the mysteries, I'll say that this book gives you many things to think about. It leaves you questioning whether advances in society are worth it or not.

One thing I found odd was that the characters were not really developed. And the strange thing about that is it somehow isn't a criticism of this book. It worked with the story. I'm not sure how Ishiguro managed to do that. The story is also completely fragmented. Narrated from the memory of Kathy H., it is almost as if you are having a conversation with Kathy. She will start talking about one portion of her life, which reminds her of another time 5 years earlier. And even with all this jumping around, it is still very easy to follow. In fact, I often forgot she had switched gears so completely. I think that's the mark of a great writer. Again, I'm not sure how he pulled that off. But it really worked with the plot.

I would definitely recommend this book. But it is not a light read at all. The message of this book will haunt me for awhile.

There were 288 pages.

L #5- Never Let Me Go

I am very excited to start this book by Kazuo Ishiguro. I have heard so many great things about it. And, it's being made into a movie. I'm sure the movie will disappoint me (as so many cinematic interpretations do), but I love reading books prior to seeing the movie.

This book is about 3 friends who live at a boarding school in the English countryside. Years later, they reenter each others lives and look back on their past.

Finished #4

Finally done with my 4th book. Even though these books are part of a series, they are written in a way that they can be read individually. This one was an easy read, as usual, but was a bit heavy on the psychic aspects. I do wonder, though, how it's possible that in every one of these stories a VERY-rare-strong-psychic meets, and falls in love with, another very-rare-strong-psychic. Seems like way too many coincidences. Even so, I like the fun aspect of these books. It's a temporary break from reality, in every sense of the word. There were 403 pages in this book.

M #6 - Princep's Fury

I am starting my 6th book. It is book 5 in the Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher, Princep's Fury. Can't wait!!!

M #5 - Captain's Fury

So I started and finished my fifth book in two days. I couldn't put it down. Thus far Captain's Fury has been my favorite book in the series. The main character, Tavi, finally learns who he is and starts to come into his furycrafting. The action and plot twists in this book are amazing and make for a very fast read. This book is also an obvious pivot point for the series and begins to set the stage for the story's conclusion in the next two books.

Normally I would write a bit more substantial review but I am eager to begin book 5 in the series!

I have a small obsession

Obsession, addiction, fixation, whatever you want to call it. That's me. I can't stop buying books. I have spent countless hours wandering bookstores, searching for the all elusive perfect book. I can't stop.

I love books.

I love the joy of finding a book that fits me. I love bringing it home, opening it for the first time, being drawn into the story, and exiting real life for a brief moment in time.

Suspended reality.

That's what reading is. For a moment you can be someone else, in another place and time entirely. Your job, your worries, your stress. They're gone. All that matters is the world you are absorbed in. A world that is drawn in your head simply by reading words on a page. It's marvelous, really, when you think about the imagination that goes into reading. It isn't just seeing the words; it's giving them meaning.

The characters, the worlds, the plots, they stay with you. They become a part of who you are. Years later, you might be reminded of something you once read in a book. And it will bring a smile to your face.

Reading is rewarding. Yes, I'm like a PSA for reading. But the whole point of that was just so that I could adequately describe my love of reading. And my addiction. The books collect in our house. On shelves, tables, dressers. One of my favorite parts of reading is passing a great book along. I don't keep them after I'm done, unless they are exceptional. The ones that will forever stay in my possession are Jane Austen and Harry Potter.

So here is proof of my latest spending spree. My pile of worlds yet to be indulged in.


Comparatively, here is Matt's pile. He has yet to convince me to give up the traditional book in favor of a Nook ;)

Finished M#4!!

Four books down and still on track!

After finishing the third book in this series, I can say with certainty that I am completely hooked. The story keeps getting better and better. It's been a long time since I found my self so attached and invested in characters the way that I am in these books.

In book three, one of the villains, Lord Kalare, seeking to over throw the First Lord and claim Alea's crown makes an overt attempt at civil war. Our young hero Tavi is sent to join a newly formed military legion that should not see any battle. Here the story takes an exciting turn and a plot twist is revealed. Kalare has formed an alliance with the race of Canim (sworn enemies of Alera and brutal foes). Unbeknownst to Kalare, the Canim are plotting to betray their alliance and claim Alera for themselves. They show up with 60k warriors and begin their invasion.....where else than......the port that Tavi's legion has been sent to train. Battle ensues and young Tavi finds himself as Captain of the legion. Still struggling with his lack of furycrafting, Tavi uses wit and courage and manages the impossible....he thrawts the invasion attempt and once again delays the collapse of the kingdom.

In the closing pages of the book the author finally confirms what the reader has been suspecting...Tavi's true identity. He is none other than Gaius Octavian, son of the First Lord's murdered child Septimus, grandson to the First Lord himself, and rightful heir to the crown!

I cannot wait to begin the next entry in the series.....

L #4- Fired Up

Take two on book 4, Fired Up by Jayne Ann Krentz. Apparently sticking to my regular recipe of murder/suspense/romance is the way to go. I'm disappointed that my book choices have been stunted by personal history. But nonetheless, I still enjoy reading anything, even if it's not what I intended to read. So, this is book 7 in the Arcane Society novels. I have only read a few of this series (she does some that take place in the past and future, as well. And I don't personally enjoy the past or future books from her). I enjoy these books as guilty pleasures, or maybe not so guilty since they'll be taking up much of my time now.

Disappointed

Well, we are barely into the year and I have to admit defeat for the first time. Book 4 wasn't for me. The plot sounded great, the writing was very engaging, and I was drawn into the story almost immediately. I made it 200 pages in before I realized that I couldn't finish this book. The suicidal tendencies of one of the main characters didn't become a focus of the book until that point. And since part of it was written from her point of view, including her feelings when she failed to accomplish suicide, it was too much for me to personally bear. I'm saddened to say that I did not finish book 4.

M#4 - Cursors Fury

I am starting the 3rd book in Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series, Cursors Fury. I'm VERY excited about the rest of this series, and am thoroughly enjoying the author's work!

Finished #3!

3 down, 49 to go!

I finished book 2, Academ's Fury, of the Codex Alera series. After 2 books, this series keeps getting better. In this book, new character's and intrigues are introduced that continue the plot lines started in the first book. This book starts 2 years after the events in the first book. The main character, Tavi, is a second year student at the Academy, as the patron of the First Lord. In this book, we learn a lot more about Tavi and how his intellect and bravery more than make up for the fact that he has no ability to furycraft. Once again Tavi is at the core of a plot to overthrow the First Lord, and he has to foil the realm's enemies to keep their kingdom from crumbling into civil war.

Additionally, the author continues a sub plot from the first book, involving the Vord. A mysterious race of parasitic beings that can destroy civilizations. Our heroes foil the plans to overthrow the First Lord.....for now. On to book 3, in the series!

L #4- Goodnight, Beautiful

Goodnight, Beautiful, written by Dorothy Koomson is about a couple who desperately wants a child of their own. They ask the husband's friend to be their surrogate. But the wife, upon fearing her husband is attracted to the surrogate, cancels the arrangement. The surrogate then raises the child.

I found this book while walking through Target the other day. I am sometimes drawn to certain book covers and this one seemed appealing.

Finished #3

Shanghai Girls was wonderfully written. It's the kind of story that doesn't feel fictional at all. Its real-life catastrophes are so evocative because they could easily be true. In fact, they likely were true for someone who lived during the same time period. Lisa See easily takes the reader into the lives of the 2 sisters. Their struggles and their triumphs are displayed very realistically. Their journey from Shanghai to America is troublesome and devastating. But, above all, the story is about staying strong in times of adversity and holding true to who you are.

My only complaint was that the book was intense. I would normally love a story like this one, but I found the subject matter a little difficult to deal with at times. 309 pages were in this book.

M#3 - Academ's Fury

Starting book 2 in the Codex Alera series. Let's see if it is as good as the first!

Finished #2!

2 down, 50 to go!

I finished book one of Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series, Furies of Calderon. It was great and has made me very excited to continue the series. The series is comprised of 6 books. I have no idea what the future story lines will but the author does a great job introducing future potential plot lines in this book.

Book one sets the stage for an epic fantasy story (my favorite kind, by the way). It has all the elements you expect from the genre: sweeping story lines, intrigue, betrayal, romance and epic battles. The author also introduces a new spin with the magic system used in the world he created. Magic is called "fury crafting". Every person is born with the ability to control a fury, some stronger and more adeptly than others. Some can even control more than one. Every "fury" is tied to an element, earth, water, wind, fire, etc. The fury is summoned and does the summoner's bidding. Very similar to the daemons from The Golden Compass books, except not always in a physical form. Anyway, it's a nice spin on a genre that sometimes struggles to be original.

The storyline in the first book is solid, as is the authors portrayal of the characters. The main character, Tavi, is a boy without the ability to control a fury. This weakness is overcome by his intellect and bravery. The author also does a great job getting you emotionally invested in the characters....especially the way he writes some of the villains. My only complaint with the first book is the lack of history the author provides. He does a great job portraying the current state of things but leaves you wondering how they got there. We'll see if more unfolds in the future books in the series.

Off to start #3!

L #3- Shanghai Girls

Since my book order hasn't come in yet, I decided to browse the book section in Costco tonight. I've had Lisa See's Snow Flower and the Secret Fan on my list for a few months now. Didn't come across the Lisa See book I was looking for, but instead found Shanghai Girls. This book sounds very intriguing and I'm excited to get started on it.

2 sisters from Shanghai are sent to marry men from Los Angeles. But the situation is not exactly what they expected. Can't wait to let you know what I think!

Finished book 2

I knew I'd like this book almost immediately. It did not disappoint. It wasn't a very "intelligent" read, but that's exactly what I needed right now. Tons of suspense and a dash of romance. The perfect recipe for imaginative escape. With 369 pages, it was a very quick read.

M#2 - Furies of Calderon

I decided to try a new fantasy author that I've heard things about so I picked up (and by picked up I mean downloaded to the best reading device ever) the first book in Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series. I'm excited to give a new author a try and will let you know how it goes! Off to read....

Finished book 1...

51 to go!

I finished Mockingjay and the Hunger Games trilogy. After finishing the third book I have a better understanding of everyone's complaints about the story's conclusion. With about 50 pages left it's almost as if the author just decided she was bored and ready to move on. She wraps everything up as brusquely as possible. You are left trying to figure out how an entire war can be ended and a plot twist revealed in the course of a character taking a nap. This book had so much potential and is a let down compared to to others.

On to #2!

M #1 - Mockingjay and the Hunger Games

After hearing for months how I needed to read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, I finally decided to give them a try. I downloaded the first book to my Nook by Barnes & Noble (shameless plug over) and was immediately drawn into the world that the author had created. I read the first two books in the series in consecutive days....alas they were before the turn of the year so my beautiful bride won't let me count the whole series toward my goal!

I'm almost done with the third and final book in the trilogy, Mockingjay, so I will reserve judgement on how she wraps up the storyline until I finish. I read a lot of reviews of people saying that the third book was the weakest. Again, I haven't finished, but so far I disagree. It's not weaker than the first two books in the series, but it is heavier in a sense. You can tell that the author is trying to make her most profound moral statements in this book so there is less focus on it being an edge of your seat thriller when compared to the other books in the series.

My biggest complaint about the series isn't that it's not a good read.....it's that it could have been so much more. It could have been truly epic. The world that the author creates, Panem, has so much potential. There is so much opportunity to really bring these characters to life. It's not that the books lack character development, but it's really relegated to the main trio. It is a shame because Collins introduces side characters that have truly interesting stories that could have added to the overall experience. Oh well, I digress. Thank you JRR Tolkien for setting the bar so high that I look for every good book to be great.

I'll let you know how I feel about the conclusion of the series when I finish.....until then!

L #2- Pursuit

I might as well admit this early into the year. I like romance mysteries. That love at first sight stuff? Yes, it really tugs at my heartstrings. I like to believe it exists. But the regular romance novels are overly predictable to me. And so enters the mystery/thriller. I get a kick out of wondering if I solved the crime correctly. I take pride in deducing the answer before it's spelled out for me.

So, Pursuit by Karen Robards seems right up my alley. I have never read a Robards book before. But the synopsis seems to fit my personality. A woman lawyer is in a car crash which kills the First Lady. There are no other witnesses and curiously, the lawyer can't remember what happened. Enter secret service agent, and likely romantic interest.

I think this one will be a quick read!

Finished book 1

Thankfully!

Turns out nothing happens in this book. The "intrigue", as referenced in the synopsis, just never enters the picture. In fact, the plot doesn't even become interesting until there are only 50 pages left in the book. With a total of 385 pages, 50 pages of minimal interest is not worth reading. The ending is a blend of coincidences that are way too astonishing to actually believe, and it feels forced and rushed. I should have realized when I first opened the book that I wouldn't enjoy it. I adhere to the belief that a good book grabs you immediately. It sucks you in with the first few pages. And the exceptional books manage to suck you in with only the first few sentences. By page 30, I realized this one was a bust. But I am not a fan of quitting books unless they are truly terrible. So, book 1 is done. And now onto something else.

Starting off the year this way was not what I anticipated with this challenge. However, hopefully there is nowhere to go but up!

L #1 -Playing the Game

I started Playing the Game by Barbara Taylor Bradford yesterday. This was an impulse buy. We had actually spent an hour in Barnes and Noble looking for books on our wish lists. I realized that many books were actually cheaper online. So while I wait for my online order to come (and thanks to free shipping for being a member!), I figured this would be a great way to pass the time.

I have only read one book by BTB before. And it was moderately good, though a bit wordy. This one is proving to be just as wordy. But I will save my review for another post.

Well, really 104

Matt and I have decided that instead of a traditional New Year's resolution, we will instead challenge our minds. Reading is a passion we both love. And sadly, it's taken a backseat to all the other minutia in daily life. This year, we are aiming to rectify that.

This blog is intended to help us keep track of our books, as well as to remember what we loved and despised.

We will both post when we start and/or finish a book. Between the 2 of us, there will be 104 books read (roughly, perhaps we will read some of the same books!)