Ok, in 2011 I posted a list of books I was going to read during the year and failed miserably on actually reading them but I wasn't going to give up. I mean, let's be honest, how many of us actually have the time to read that we actually wished we had. So I tried again for 2012 ( 2012 Reading List) and I did a bit better. I didn't write a review for each one like I intended to do, so I am writing them now and they are found below.
Books I read in 2012 (Wahoo to me and a nice pat on the back!) and my reviews of them:
Hunger Games Trilogy
(Spoiler Alert: If you have not read the books and want to... do not read my review) I really enjoyed these books. Being a teen reading level they were a quick easy read and the chapters were short, so it wasn't as daunting to read a chapter before bed each night AND since the chapters were short I wouldn't put off reading and I would usually end up reading for a good amount of time. The story kept my interest and I usually couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. The last book had a lot of build to the ending and then it quickly ended. I would have liked at least an extra chapter or two to help with wrapping up the story. Funny story while reading these books. I hadn't finished the first book when the movie came out but all of my friends were going to go to the movie and I didn't want to miss it with them. As we were driving to the theater I was reading in the car but still didn't finish in time. I had read up to the point right before the weird attach dogs in the arena showed up... so in the story when Katnis and Peta have "won" and then it gets announced that the Capital has changed the rules again and that only one person can win, I gasped (REALLY loud) out loud and my friend leaned over and said, "I take it, you didn't get this far in the book." We had a good laugh about it.
Matched
This book reminded me a lot of The Giver and a controlled society but with a more girly take. I read Matched in one weekend because I was intrigued by the story. I wouldn't say I LOVED the book but it kept my attention and kept me curious. I am reading the sequel right now, Crossed, and am starting to get a little bored with it but I still want to finish the series just to see how everything works out.
The Noticer
I read another book by the author of this book and loved it and that is what drew me to The Noticer. This is a fictional book about a man who goes around to people who are depressed, in poverty, struggling in a marriage, have a failing business and lost the desire to have dreams in life and this man shows these people perspective and how by having perspective in life can help you better your situation. I like the other book I read by this author a little bit better, The Traveler's Gift, but I still enjoyed this one. Here a few quotes from the book that I liked:
"A true friend holds you to a higher standard. A true friend brings out the best in you."
"Most people spend so much time fearing the things that are never going to happen or can't be controlled that they have no energy to deal with the few things they can actually handle."
"Wisdom can be gathered in your downtime. Wisdom that can change the very course of your life will come from the people you are around, the books you read, and the things you listen to or watch on radio or television."
"If you want to become a person that others want to be around, you must always hold your life to the very highest standard."
Mount Vernon Love Story
A fictional book by Marry Higgins Clark (who knew) but based on factual things. It is a book about George and Martha Washington and their love story mixed in with historical stepping stones in George Washington's involvement in our country. It took me awhile to really get into this book but once I did I enjoyed it.
Peter and the Shadow Thieves
A book in a series about how Peter Pan becomes Peter Pan and his adventures. These books are written for children in elementary but I still enjoy them. This book was actually a little creepy for me because shadow thieves actually stole your shadow and when they did they stole your soul as well and... well... it really creeped me out. In the book it was like being in one of those nightmares where you are trying to run as fast as you can to get away but it only feels as if you are stuck in quicksand and can't get away AND THEN your shadow was taken.
The Work and The Glory: No Unhallowed Hand
I have liked all of these books. It's kind of fun to read about my church's history paralleled to a fictional family. I know these books are 100% accurate to history but it kind of helps put it into a more understandable timeline for myself. I'm not jumping to start the next book in the series but I may start listening to it on tape.
Harry Potter
Speaking of books on tape. I LOVE listening to Harry Potter on tape. The narrator is so talented and captivating. I used to listen to listen to all of the books on tape during the summer because they are so much fun and great background noise when working on projects or driving. In 2012 I listened to the first 2 books while driving to work whenever I needed a change from music or talk radio.
It was fun making more time to read this past year and want to continue to do so. Below are the books I hope to read this year... let's see how I do. As always... you are invited to join me if you would like.
First I want to read all the books I have started and have not finished:
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
Then I'm going to jump into the rest of these books: beginning to end!
Utopia by Sir Thomas More
Peter and the Secret of Rundoon by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
The Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas
Twenty Years After by Alexander Dumas
The Giver by Lois Lowry
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy
I do also want to read a fun and light book this year... any recommendations?
The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy
I do also want to read a fun and light book this year... any recommendations?
1 comment:
You should read Deception Point by Dan Brown (author of Davinci Code) if you haven't already. I don't know if I'd consider it "light" but it was a fast, thrilling read and I was hooked the whole time. Even Chris read and love it, which is saying something ;)
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