last post of the year

I did not meet my goal of 50 books this.  I read 48, so close!
I am excited about the new authors I discovered this year (Ann Patchett and David Levithan are my two new favorites).
For 2012 I have set up a schedule for posting, because I really want to keep this blog much more current than I did this year.  I am pretty sure that was one of my goals last year, too.  But Nate has been encouraging me to actually write, and I recently saw that 50 Cent has novel published and I thought: "if he can write a book, so can I". And Nate said this blog is a good practice spot.  He also suggested I write a blog as my book.  I don't know how I feel about that.
Anyway, 2011 was a fabulous year for us - and I am hoping the trend continues!  Happy new year :)

Charity Book Sale

Over the weekend, on Sunday, a charity organization near Nate's parents held a book sale.  $3 for a shopping bag, and then you fill up the bag with as many books as you can fit.  We were able to fit 15 books (of which 11 are hardcover) and a VHS collection of martial arts videos for Nate (I think there were about 9 tapes).

I was able to get the following books:
Staying Street Smart - Mark McCormack (Nate)
Thunderbolt Kid - Bill Bryson
Cutting for Stone - Abraham Verghese
Skinny Legs and All - Tom Robbins
The Hours - Michael Cunningham
The Runner's Handbook - Bob Glover and Jack Shepherd
The Lincoln Lawyer - Michael Connelly
The 19th Wife - David Ebershoff
Got Fight? - Forrest Griffin (Nate)
King of the Cowboys - Ty Murray
Why My Third Husband Will Be a Dog - Lisa Scottoline
A Widow for One Year - John Irving
The Last Promise - Richard Paul Evans
The Girls - Elaine Kagan
What They Still Don't Teach You at Harvard Business School (Nate)

Can't wait to start reading! :)

In the Pages of...

David Levithan - Love is the Higher Law

I cannot say enough how much I love David Levithan.  It started with the collaboration book he wrote with John Green, Will Grayson, Will Grayson.  Then I read The Lover's Dictionary. 

I love his word choice and his phrasing.  I love how I actually feel what his characters feel, how its real and honest.

I'm not finished this book yet, but I will be today.

Save Me - Lisa Scottoline

This is the first book I've read by Lisa Scottoline.  I bought her empty nest book for my mom for Christmas and got Daddy's Girl, Courting Trouble, Dirty Blonde, Think Twice and Look Again from Goodwill.  However, they have remained on my TBR shelf for quite some time now.  I saw this book on the "Grab and Go" shelf at the library and picked it up.  I had 7 days to read it before I started accruing the  25 cent/day fine.

I read this book in 1 day (now I just have to make sure I get it back to the library before Thursday!).  And I was loving it...until I got to the ending.  I was moved by the struggle that Rose faced...save her own child or save the child who is bullying her daughter?  I would never want to make that decision.  I couldn't put the book down as Rose made her choices and faced the repercussions of her actions.

Unfortunately, I came to the end of the book.  And I was left thinking: "WHAT?!?!"  It was unrealistic and a little bit of a letdown.

Fly Away Home

I wanted to like this book.  I read Good In Bed and loved it.  I enjoyed In Her Shoes and Little Earthquakes and even Certain Girls.  I wasn't crazy about Best Friends Forever, but I was determined to give this one a try.  But I couldn't like it.  I didn't sympathize with Sylvie, to the point where I found myself skimming her chapters.  I wasn't interested in her story at all.  Lizzie's story wasn't bad, but I felt that I knew where it was going back on page 110.  Diana had the "best" story, as it was quick-paced.

Demonglass - Rachel Hawkins

I have to say that I was very skeptical when I borrowed Hex Hall from the library a few months ago.  I wasn't a big fan of Twilight and have steered away from books that mention paranormally things - werewolves, vampires, witches, etc (with the exception of Shiver, but I am having a hard time with Linger).  My husband mocked me so much when I first brought it home from the library that I actually read the book in secret for the first several chapters.

Nate's response to this book was no different than the first - only this time, I wasn't reading in secret.  I finished this book in one day.  Partly because its an easy read, but mostly because I just couldn't put it down.

My favorite part about the book is the "love triangle".  I am a sucker for these plotlines.  I want to be all "Team Cal!", but I feel like he's hiding something.  And there's something about Archer's snarky-ness that makes him so likable.

Very excited for the next book!

Ready to Read

From Goodreads Bookswap:
The Girl Who Would Speak For the Dead
Lock and Key
The Queen's Fool

From the library:
The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June
Linger

Waiting List For:
Night Road (#14)
Demonglass (read for pick up!)
Drinking Closer to Home (in transit)
After (#1)
Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang (#1)
The Carrie Diaries (#1)
Getting the Pretty Back (#1)

Delirium - Lauren Oliver

I had HUGE expectations for this book, mostly because I was so moved by Before I Fall (to the point I practically shoved the book down my younger sister's throat and told her she HAD to read it).

I really enjoyed this book. It made me remember what it felt like to first fall in love. From the first night Alex and Lena spent in the woods, I wanted them to escape together.  And even though this book was part-dystopian, I never really felt that. The government was super controlling and there were a ton of restrictions, but I don't think that the plot was too focused around it. It played an incredibly crucial part in the story, but it wasn't the central idea. I think that is why I liked it so much. Lena never set out to go against the rules, but that's exactly what she ended up doing. That is what made her so likable.

I didn't realize that it was supposed to be part of a trilogy, so I was really upset with the ending at first.  I was left feeling "That's it?!?".  But now, I cannot wait until the second one comes out.

Book Club Bridal Shower

So I am currently planning my younger cousin's bridal shower, even though I am not in the wedding party. I finally found a theme and the more I work on everything, the more excited I get about it. I am planning her a Book Club Bridal Shower!! I made book mark invitations, created book plate labels for the guests to put in the covers of the books they bring for her, and have a ton of almost new books for the prizes for the games! I am going to serve coffee house type food (along with a sandwich tray, just in case), like coffee, tea, scones, cupcakes, and cinnamon buns. I am making little bags of chocolate covered espresso beans and bookmarks as the favor. I just hope that her friends participate, otherwise it won't work. But I am keeping my fingers crossed!!

Did You know...

The library blocked my account. I didn't even know that they could block an account, but they blocked mine. So I went on Thursday to update my information (and pay my fines) and they gave me a new library card, sending me on my way with the assurance that everything would work just fine. When I got home and attempted to log into my account, it said there is a problem with my login number. The library is closed until Monday, so I can't even call and fix it until then!
While I was there, though, I borrowed Landing by Emma Donoghue, The River Wife by Jonis Agee, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley, and The White Queen by Philipa Gregory. And from Goodreads, I got 3 books in the mail yesterday. Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout, Time of My Life by Allison Winn Scotch, and One Day by David Nicholls.
My reading goal for 2011 is 75 books. I ended up reading 51 in 2010. Nate said I have to pick lighter reads to break it up a little bit. I recently started Outlander, which I have seen good reviews for. But its 850 pages! The last time I read a book this long was when I read The Mists of Avalon in high school! I also have other lengthy books on my to-read list for this year. Books I wanted to read last year but didn't get around to it. Like The Stand, for instance. Or a reread of I Am Charlotte Simmons. And this will be the year I finally make it through the DaVinci Code!! I have tried and tried since I was a senior in college (a good 6 years ago) to read this book, and I have not succeeded. I read Angels and Demons and LOVED IT. I have both of his other books on my bookshelf, waiting to be read.
Happy New Year!

Bunny likes to read, too!

my read shelf: