2011 Book Challenge Recap

This was my third attempt at finishing 52 books within the year.   Didn't quite make it in 2011, but I'm hoping to get beyond 52 in 2012!


Here is a recap of this last year's reading pleasures......

2011 Book List:

1. Born in Death by JD Robb
2. The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
3. Awakened by PC Cast & Kristin Cast
4. Zuzu's Petals by Lauren Ward Larsen
5. Naked in Death by JD Robb
6. Glory in Death by JD Robb
7. Immortal in Death by JD Robb
8. Promises in Death by JD Robb
9. Origin in Death by JD Robb
10. Fantasy in Death by JD Robb
11. Reunion in Death by JD Robb
12. Holiday in Death by JD Robb
13. Loyalty in Death by JD Robb
14. Ceremony in Death by JD Robb
15. Conspiracy in Death by JD Robb
16. Witness in Death by JD Robb
17. Treachery in Death by JD Robb
18. Creation in Death by JD Robb
19. Purity in Death by JD Robb
20. Memory in Death by JD Robb
21. Visions in Death by JD Robb
22. Kindred in Death by JD Robb
23. Divided in Death by JD Robb
24. Vengeance in Death by JD Robb
25. Survivor in Death by JD Robb
26. Innocent in Death by JD Robb
27. Betrayal in Death by JD Robb
28. Judgement in Death by JD Robb
29. Indulgence in Death by JD Robb
30. Imitation in Death by JD Robb
31. Portrait in Death by JD Robb
32. Seduction in Death by JD Robb
33. Three in Death by JD Robb
34. Strangers in Death by JD Robb
35. Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling
36. A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard
37. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
38. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
39. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
40. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins 
41. Destined by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast 
42. Sing Me Home by Jodi Piccoult
43. Cut by Patricia McCormick
44. Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue by Stephanie Laurens
45. In Pursuit of Eliza Cynster by Stephanie Laurens

2010 52 Book Challenge

So close and yet so far away.  I crammed in quite a few books at the end, but still fell short.  I’m hoping to achieve the 52 books in 2011.  Here is my list for 2010:
41. Lover Mine by J.R. Ward
40. Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward
39. Lover Enshrined by J.R. Ward
38. Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward
37. Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward
36. Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward
35. Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward
34. Dark Lover by J.R. Ward
33. The Rest of Her Life by Laura Moriarty
32. Strangers in Death by J.D. Robb
31. Promises in Death by J.D. Robb
30. Strangers in Death by J.D. Robb
29. The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordon
28. The Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordon
27. The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordon
26. Comeback by Claire Fontaine and Mia Fontane
25. The Brazen Bride by Stephanie Laurens
24. The Reckless Bride by Stephanie Laurens
23. The Untamed Bride by Stephanie Laurens
22. Autobiography of a Fat Bride by Laurie Notaro
21. Heat Wave by Richard Castle
20. Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
19. I Love Everybody (And other white lies) by Laurie Notaro
18. We Thought You Would Be Prettier by Laurie Notaro
17. Pieces of Happily Ever After by Irene Zutell
16. How to Be Cool by Johanna Edward
15. Ten THings I Love About You by Julia Quinn
14. Married by Morning by Lisa Kleypas
13. The Keepsake by Tess Gerritsen
12. The Elusive Bride by Stephanie Laurens
11. Kindred in Death by JD Robb
10. Pieces of Happily Ever After by Irene Zutell
9. notes left behind – 135 days with Elena by Brooke & Keith Desserich
8. Someone To Watch Over me by Lisa Kleypas
7. Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
6. At Last Comes Love by Mary Balough
5. The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan
4. Are You There Vodka? It’s Me Chelsea by Chelsea Handler
3. Testimony by Anita Shreve
2. Sam’s Letters to Jennifer by James Patterson
1. The Tenth Circle by Jodi Piccoult

so-so book

I just finished Percy Jackson & The Lightening Thief. It's been on my list to read for a while as I would see while browsing at BN. I found a copy for $5 a while back and decided to pick it up and read it after seeing the movie was out. Wow. I was not overly impressed. It was okay, don't get me wrong. However it just did not have the same pull that Harry Potter did for me. And you can see similarities. I love stories about the Gods and Goddesses, but this book just doesn't seem to flesh out it's characters well enough for me. I will probably read the next one and give it another go, but I'm not holding my breath.

On a good note, I signed up for some free book giveaways on Goodreads and found an email today that indicated I will be receiving a free book! Hoopta!

Book Highlights

A couple of you asked about some of the books I read last year and I thought I'd share some highlights or favorites of mine.

*Even if you have been vacationing on Mars, you still would probably have heard about the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. While I wouldn't go as far as to call myself a "Twi-mom", I do have to admit a fondness for the series. I know some haven't cared for the series, but I love it. Eclipse is my favorite out of the four books.

*Dear John by Nicholas Sparks -- a very recent read for me and one prompted by the film that is being released soon. Next month I think. It was good, definitely didn't end the way I thought it would. It was a pretty quick read for me, but one I enjoyed.

*Cassandra Clare's City of Glass, etc--excellent writing. It's geared towards the teen readers, but I found it very engrossing.

*Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett -- This has been on my "to read" list forever. It is quite long, but is a fantastic read. It took me a bit to get into the book, but once I did I did not want to put it down. There is a follow up book, which is now on my "to read" list. ;-)

*Laurie Notaro -- anything by her is just, well, super awesome. She writes with such hilarity that I laugh out loud many times. The Idiot Guide series are excellent!

Those are a few of the highlights of my faves. This year I'll attempt to actually write more as I read them.

What are your favorites you've read?

2009 52 Books in 52 Weeks

So, I didn't reach my goal of 52 books last year. However I came close. I'm putting my list here so I can come back and find it if I need too. And I'm starting my 2010 list in the sidebar.

* 49. Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
* 48. Songs of a Humpback Whale by Jodi Piccoult
* 47. Keeping Faith by Jodi Piccoult
* 46. Breaking Dawn (reread)
* 45. Eclispe (reread)
* 44. New Moon (reread)
* 43. Tempted by PC & Kristin Cast
* 42. This Common Secret by Susan Wicklund
* 41. shattered SILENCE by Melissa Moore
* 40. Things I Want My Daughters To Know by Elizabeth Noble
* 39. Happiness Sold Separately by Lolly Winston
* 38. Thank You For All Things by Sandra Kring
* 37. Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling
* 36. monster by Jonathon Kellerman
* 35. five things i can't live without by Holly Shumas
* 34. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet
* 33. The Abstinence Teacher by Tom Perrotta
* 32. The Godmother by Carrie Adams
* 31. Up Close and Personal by Fern Michaels
* 30. Woman In Red by Eileen Goudge
* 29. The Next Thing on My List by Jill Smolinski
* 28. Salvation in Death by J.D. Robb
* 27. A Hunger Like No Other by Kelsey Cole
* 26. No Rest For the Wicked by Kelsey Cole
* 25. Wicked Deeds on a Winter Night by Kelsey Cole
* 24. Dark Needs at Nights Edge by Kelsey Cole
* 23. Dark Desires after Dusk by Kelsey Cole
* 22. Kiss of a Demon King by Kelsey Cole
* 21. The Abortionist's Daughter by Elisabeth Hyde
* 20. Just Breathe by Susan Wiggs
* 19. Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer
* 18. Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer
* 17. new Moon by Stephanie Meyer
* 16. Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
* 15. EON Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman
* 14. whispers, the voice of paranoia by Ronald Siegel
* 13. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
* 12. City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
* 11. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
* 10. Hunted by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
* 9. The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club by Laurie Notaro
* 8. The Wishsong of Shannara - Terry Brooks
* 7. The Elfstones of Shannara - Terry Brooks
* 6. Sword of Shannara -Terry Brooks
* 5. Acheron - Sherrilyn Kenyon
* 4. 8 Sandpiper Way ~ Debbie Macomber
* 3. Collateral Damage ~ Fern Michaels
* 2. The Dragon Heir ~ Cinda Williams Chima
* 1. The Wizard Heir ~ Cinda Williams Chima

Oh snap

I just noticed I'm still reading book #48 (I started the other week, but haven't made any progress in the last week and a half). Can I get 4-5 more books in before the year is up for my 52 Books in 52 Weeks?!

I think I can, but I'll have to get moving. Or shall I say reading.

I Must Confess

I have a serious addiction to books. I visited two bookstores this week and came home with 7 books. Although, they were all bargain-priced books so that saved me. The sense of peace and wonderment that comes over me when I walk into the bookstore....ah, I just cannot fully express. To smell an unopened book, it's pure heaven for me.

My bookshelf next to the bed is overflowing and I've got lots to read in the coming weeks. Life is good.

Bogged Down

In my spare time, which really is limited to just before bed and the time I sneak in the bathroom by myself, I've been reading Terry Brook's Sword of Shannara trilogy at the urging of my husband. I can now fully appreciate why it took him 3+ years to finish the damn thing. And I read much faster than he does.

I am so bogged down in this book, it just has not grabbed my attention. Jason promises it gets better and I'm almost finished with the first book, so I remain hopeful. It also reads much like Lord of the Rings and I'm finding it annoying to see the similarities.

But I'll persevere. I've only not finished a book a handful of times and I'm going to give this one my best effort.

52 Books in 52 Weeks, effort II

I thought I'd give this a go last year and just kinda petered out writing about it. But Amy over at In The Eyes of a Survivor challenged herself for 2009. I know I easily read 52 books last year, and am joining her in the challenge this year.

I'll be keeping a list of my books in my sidebar and occasionally writing about them. I really dislike writing reviews, but will share my basic thoughts on a book if I have a strong reaction one way or the other.

Anyone else care to turn a page with us?

Books so far

So, I while back I posted that I was going to try and read 52 books this year. Essentially one per week. I'm a bit backlogged in writing them up so here is a bunch. And since I'm catching up, it's really just a highlight of each book.

#1, 2, & 3: Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer
Fabulous series where a teen girl falls in love with a vampire and finds out her best friend is a werewolf. Easy read, one you can't put down!

#4The Historian
The story of Vlad Dracula. It stretches in pieces, but the ending is good. There were moments when I did want to look up and around as I felt not so alone.


#5Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
Love, love, love this. Timeless classic.

#6, 7, & 8 His Dark Materials
The Golden Compass & following stories. I found it very interesting. I was not aware that these books have been around for many years already, and wanted to read them after hearing the hullabaloo with the "anti-Christ" theme. While I can see that some would draw that conclusion, I found a great story.

52 weeks = 52 books

So, I was blog cruising the other day and came across someone who is reading a book for every week of the year. Since I read so much, I thought it sounded like a good idea. So, I'm going to give it a shot. What about you?

I found this website, Shelfari that you can keep track of your books online. Books you've read, planning to read, your wishlist. Very cool.