Thank You 2010!

Thanks to a great 2010; I set a goal to read 100 books and got 110 instead! For 2011, I've set some new goals....111 books, lose weight, get in shape, keep blogging, and minimize the clutter in my home office.

One of the ways I'm going to de-clutter is to post my books on the book swap for goodreads. I really like the site a lot and if you are a reader, you should take a look at it. Not only can I list the books I've read or want to read, but I can swap books with other book lovers and only pay the price for shipping. I look forward to swapping some of my books to free up space and clean out that room!
my read shelf:


I'm in the middle of two books right now that will carry over to 2011. I could have finished another book, but my husband complained that all I had done this holiday is READ! I didn't read much the last two days, but will make that up easily.

Happy New Year! Happy Reading in 2011!

Number 110 -- The Omnivore's Dilemma

The Omnivore's Dilemma: The Secrets Behind What You Eat, by Michael Pollan, was eye-opening to say the least! I read the "Young Readers Edition" because that's what we had at the MHS Library, but I doubt it is too far off his original adult publication. What I appreciate about Pollan's writing is that he's not preachy or theoretical in his approach, but simply gives us the facts as he knows them. And he does know his "stuff" because the book is full of HIS experiences with the different types of food cycles he talks about.

I've explored some of the websites he lists in the book and will forever change the way I look at what the supermarket gives me to eat. I wanted to make a change in the way I ate in the New Year, and this book has given me the foundation I needed and a plan to follow! I'll let you know how it goes.

Number 109 -- Bullet Point

Bullet Point, by Peter Abrahams, is a face-paced YA thriller. It started a little slow for me in the first few chapters, but soon gained speed. I was disappointed in the last page, but the story played out and the questions were answered in the end.

I've read other books by Abrahams (most recently Reality Check -- really good!) and will make a point to read whatever else of his we have in our library.

Number 108 -- Literary Tattoos

You may not be like me, but I like tattoos! I don't know why exactly, but I find them beautiful and fascinating. I have one (it's Opus reading a book, which I got after I received my Masters of Library Science in 2004), and to the chagrin of my husband, I would like several more! (My husband spent 35 years in the military and has ZERO tattoos!)

My daughter bought this book for me this Christmas. It is filled with tattoos based on literary themes, quotes and book illustrations. If you like literature, or tattoos, or both, it's a wonderful book to look through. The stories that go along with some of the tattoos are very interesting, too!

Number 107 -- Guts

If you've ever read Hatchet or any of the other "Brian books" (Brian's Return, Brian's Winter, The River, or Brian's Hunt) you need to read Guts, by Gary Paulsen. This autobiography tells of Paulsen's real-life adventures that led to his writing of Hatchet and the Brian character. It is truly amazing the life that this one man has led.

Number 106 -- My Life in Dog Years

Gary Paulsen is one of my favorite writers! I didn't even know about him until I became an elementary librarian a little over 7 years ago. I'm sure I had heard about him, but had never read or made a connection to his stories. When I moved into the elementary library, I found the students and teachers talking about Hatchet and I felt like I needed to read the book as well. I was completely hooked! When I finished, I gave the book to my husband and after he read it, he asked me to get all the other "Brian books" for him to read.

My Life in Dog Years was mentioned by The Book Whisperer (Donalyn Miller) during a staff development she was presenting. I hadn't thought about looking into the "real life" stories of Gary Paulsen, but as soon as I got back to the library, I found we had not only this book but also Guts (which is next on the pile to read). My husband has read them both over this holiday break and now I am enjoying them as well. As far as I'm concerned, any book by Paulsen is a MUST READ!

Number 105 -- The Justice Game

The Justice Game by Randy Singer was really good! The quote on the front of the cover, under the title, reads: "[Singer] is every bit as enjoyable as John Grisham" -- Publishers Weekly-- I would totally agree! And what I like most is that Singer is a Christian and writes about his characters struggles with God and religion.

Before reading this book (I actually have an Advance Reader Copy I picked up at TLA), I visited his website and found that he has several books published. I'm going to be looking for them and try to read them all. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline very much. If you like courtroom drama, you'll want to read The Justice Game.

Number 104 -- Up Close: Harper Lee

Kerry Madden's writing about the life of Harper Lee worried me in the beginning. The first few chapters read like a bad student biography: born this date, father born this date, mother born this date, father and mother met, etc. I wondered if I would want to read the rest of the story, especially understanding that Harper Lee is a difficult person to write about.

Though she is a famous author, Harper Lee lives a very private life and does not give interviews. Madden, picks up the pace, however, when she gets into the story of how Lee wrote To Kill a Mockingbird and includes many wonderful anecdotes from friends and family who know Lee well. After finishing the book, I'm going to go back and watch the film again (there is quite a bit about her part in the making of the movie). I will also have to read In Cold Blood (by Truman Capote) again after realizing the part she played in the writing of that story.

If you decide to read this short biography, don't let the first few chapters turn you away from a very interesting finish.

Rating What I Read

Several people have asked if I would "rate" the books I've read. I was thinking about stars, thumbs up or thumbs down, but I've decided on my favorite thing in the whole wide world -- PENGUINS!

So, from now on, I will use these little guys to tell you how much I like a book:

Number 103 -- Possessing Jessie

Possessing Jessie, by Nancy Springer, is a short, quick read (only 88 pages) about a young girl dealing with the death of her brother. As the title suggests, it does deal with possession and would be considered a "light" horror story. Though it was easy to read, there is no real resolution at the end and I felt neither here nor there about the book. I think young adults would enjoy it, but for me, it was more of an "eh" (one shoulder shrug) read.

(see post after this one to understand the penguins!)

Number 102 -- Matched

Have you read The Giver, Unwind, or The Hunger Games? Like the dystopian storyline? Then you've got to read Matched by Ally Condie.

This story focuses on The Society and begins with a young girl turning 17 and meeting her "match;" the young man The Society has chosen for her. Though the ceremony goes as planned, the information she is given about her match includes the picture of a different young man. What could it possibly mean?! Is it a mistake? The Society doesn't make mistakes!

I've heard that dystopian storylines are going to be more prevalent in YA literature, and that writers are moving away from the supernatural (vampires, werewolves, etc.). I like both, so we shall see what comes out next year. Regardless, if the story is well written, I will want to read it!

Speaking of reading....I finished this story while on a weekend vacation to Beaver's Bend State Park with my family. There are no tv's there and we spent our days walking the trails, driving and looking at deer (we saw 45 the first day!), and reading. My husband and daughter both finished a book while we were there as well. Nice to just sit in a cabin and read in the quiet with your family around you, and the fire crackling in the fireplace!

Number 101 -- Alex Cross's Trial by James Patterson

This is my first audio book to discuss on my blog, but I listen to audio books all the time! I have them in my car, on my iPod and playing from my computer. My husband shakes his head when he comes into the house and hears a book blasting from the computer while I cook or when I'm vacuuming and he can't talk to me, because my iPod is all the way up so I can "read" while I work. It makes housework much more enjoyable!

I like James Patterson and have read many of his Alex Cross books. This one is different, in that the story is told by Alex Cross from one of the stories his grandma used to tell him as a boy. Set in the early 1900's, the story follows a young white lawyer who is sent back to his home town in Mississippi to investigate nearby lynchings. The story goes behind the scenes with several characters and reveals their struggles for safety in a corrupt and volatile period in our history.