Tag: books

fun

Books Read in 2014

Shanny

1. Divergent by Veronica Roth

2. Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

3. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

4. And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

5. The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty  81+ICMn8DkL._SL1500_

6. Insurgent by Veronica Roth

7. Sweet Tea and Southern Grace by Glenda Manus

8. Lies You Wanted to Hear by James Whitfield Thomson

Currently reading Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple.  Numbers 2, 4, 5, 7, & 8 are all book club picks.  Lately I’ve found I’ve had a hard time finding time to read beyond my book club obligations.  Hopefully I’ll find more time this Fall and Winter so I can have a decent showing on my books read in 2014 list!

pop culture, reading

What I’ve read so far in 2010

Shanny
Cover of "The Hunger Games"
Cover of The Hunger Games

I haven’t updated this list since June and this summer I did a lot of reading.   I’m including short reviews for each book.  Here we go:

  1. Night by Elie Weisel.  EVERYONE should read this book.  Around 100 pages, but the hardest 100 pages to get through.  So worth it though.
  2. Exposure by Brandilyn Collins.  via Kindle for iPhone.  With the exception of the main character’s lame first name (Kaycee, ugh)…it was good!  Esp for a free Kindle book!
  3. 206 Bones by Kathy Reichs.  Love her.
  4. Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson.  Very cute book.  Also a Kindle free read.  There’s a sequel I can’t wait to read.
  5. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson.  Currently working on this one.
  6. Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot.  Very cute book.  Funny.
  7. Big Boned by Meg Cabot.  See above.
  8. The Shack by William P. Young.  Thought provoking
  9. Look Again by Lisa Scottoline.  Tense.  Good.
  10. The Help by Kathryn Stockett.  Should be required reading.  Fantastic.
  11. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris… Love!  It’s book 1 of the Sookie Stackhouse books.
  12. Living dead in Dallas. by Charlaine Harris.  Hooked on this series
  13. Precious /Push by Sapphire.  Surprisingly short.  Full of foul language and behavior.  Glad I read it but wouldn’t read again.
  14. Club Dead by Charlaine Harris.  Still loving this series
  15. Twenties Girl by  Sophie Kinsella.  Fun read!  Very girlie.
  16. Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris.  This book is where you really notice the split from the tv series.  I kinda wish the tv show would stay more true to the books.
  17. Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris
  18. Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris.  This one got REALLY corny!  But I’m invested and I want to see what happens!
  19. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak.  SO good.  Haunting. Had no idea it was a Young Adult book until after I read it.
  20. Hunger games by Suzanne Collins.  Amazing.  Seriously.  Devoured this and Catching Fire in one weekend.
  21. Catching fire by Suzanne Collins.  Could not put down.  Great characters, storyline.  Can totally see as a movie. Can’t wait for book 3!
  22. Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler.  Ok, but not nearly as funny as Are You There God, It’s Me, Chelsea.  I only laughed out loud like once.  She even said on her show that she was rushing to finish this book and you could totally tell.
  23. Maneater by Gigi Levangie Grazer.  Listened to this one on the way out to the Outer Banks on CD.  It was pretty good.  Light stuff for a road trip.
  24. Anyone But You by Jennifer Cruisie.  Listened to this on the way home from the Outer Banks on CD.  Wish we had picked this one first to listen to instead of Maneater.  Super cute and we were both disappointed when we arrived home before the story was over.  Immediately checked the book out of the library and finished the story.  Would be a really cute Rom Com movie.
  25. Altogether Dead by Charlaine Harris.  I think this is the one that deals with Hurricane Katrina.  I really liked how she dealt with it.
  26. Guernsey Literary & Potato Pie Society by  Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.  Delightful!  Just a lovely book.  I’m so glad I read this.  Loved the letters format, loved the depiction of WW2.  Not as romanticized as other books I’ve read.  Wished there was more book to read.  As soon as I finished it I instantly missed the characters.
    Charlaine Harris' Dead and Gone
    Image via Wikipedia
  27. The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Crusie  Very cute.  Could definitely be a movie.
  28. Wild Ride Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer.  Liked this a lot more than I thought I would.  After the first chapter I almost stopped reading it but I’m sure glad I didn’t.
  29. Nature Girl by Carl Hiaasen.  Funny & clever.
  30. Undone by Karin Slaughter.  Very good.  Creepy.  Sticks with you.  Unfortunately once I was finished reading this I found out it’s the book that brings together 2 of Slaughter’s series.  So now I’m going to go back and read all the books I skipped.  Doh!
  31. Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris.  Liked this one a lot.  A little more somber. She didn’t do as much “Previously on Sookie’s life” as she’s done before and that made it much more enjoyable.
I have been using a fun app on my iPhone called Get Glue.  Every time you read a book or watch a movie or a show or listen to music you check in.  This has been a fun way to keep tabs on my reading list.  You earn badges that they actually mail you in sticker form! Fun!   Unfortunately I couldn’t find all my check ins from when I was reading these books.  That would have helped with this post.  I suppose I’ll use Goodreads more often so my mini reviews will be saved.
Since my last post in June I’ve read all the books starting at #11.  Keep in mind I had pneumonia and was sick for pretty much all of June so reading was about all I could do!
Next on my list is Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins.  I’m on the wait list at the library for that one.  I’m also reading Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.  So far it is very intriguing!
fun, reading

Books Read in January 2010

Shanny
  1. Night by Elie Weisel…..EVERYONE should read this book.  Around 100 pages, but the hardest 100 pages to get through.
  2. Exposure by Brandilyn Collins…..via Kindle for iPhone.  With the exception of the main character’s lame first name (Kaycee, ugh)…it was good!  Esp for a free Kindle book!
  3. 206 Bones by Kathy Reichs…..love her.
  4. Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson….very cute book.  Also a Kindle free read.  There’s a sequel I can’t wait to read.
  5. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson.  Currently working on this one.
reading

Top 5

Shanny

M3 asked me what would be my top 5 favorite must read books of 2009.  In no particular order they are:

1. My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Piccoult. Delved into really interesting family dynamics.

2. The Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer.  Not the most well written books I’ve ever read, but they do suck you in & make you fall in love with Edward.  If only they had named the baby something else.  Gag.

3.  While My Sister Sleeps by Barbara Delinsky.  Another take on interesting family dynamics.

4. Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie.  Pure fun chick lit.

5.  Hide by Lisa Gardner.  The first book I read by Lisa Gardner.  She sucks you right in and her books keep you on the edge of your seat while making you care for the characters.

reading

Final List of Books Read in 2009

Shanny
  1. Black Notice, Patricia Cornwell
  2. True Believer, Nicholas Sparks
  3. A Walk to Remember, Nicholas Sparks
  4. All About Him, Denise Jackson
  5. The Lucky One, Nicholas Sparks
  6. Remember Me?, Sophie Kinsella
  7. Change of Heart, Jodi Picoult
  8. Last Precinct, Patricia Cornwell
  9. Vanishing Acts, Jodi Picoult
  10. Memory Keeper’s Daughter, Kim Edwards
  11. My Sister’s Keeper, Jodi Picoult
  12. Undomestic Goddess, Sophie Kinsella
  13. The Pact, Jodi Picoult
  14. Nineteen Minutes, Jodi Picoult
  15. The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron
  16. Are You There Vodka?  It’s Me, Chelsea,  Chelsea Handler
  17. Picture Perfect, Jodi Picoult
  18. Confessions of a Shopaholic, Sophie Kinsella
  19. The Idiot Girls’ Action Adventure Club, Laurie Notaro
  20. An Idiot Girls’ Christmas, Laurie Notaro
  21. Twilight, Stephenie Meyer
  22. Shopaholic Takes Manhattan, Sophie Kinsella
  23. Mr. Maybe, Jane Green
  24. Little White Lies, Gemma Townley
  25. New Moon, Stephenie Meyer
  26. Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer
  27. Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer
  28. Shopaholic Ties The Knot, Sophie Kinsella
  29. Shopaholic and Sister, Sophie Kinsella
  30. Shopaholic and Baby, Sophie Kinsella
  31. The Hopeless Romantic’s Handbook, Gemma Townley
  32. Knit Two, Kate Jacobs
  33. Hide, Lisa Gardner
  34. Immoral, Brian Freeman
  35. Salem Falls, Jodi Piccoult
  36. Naughty Neighbor, Janet Evanovich
  37. The Neighbor, Lisa Gardner
  38. Bet Me, Jennifer Crusie
  39. Say Goodbye, Lisa Gardner
  40. Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married, Marian Keyes
  41. The Other Daughter, Lisa Gardner
  42. Killing Hour, Lisa Gardner
  43. While My Sister Sleeps, Barbara Delinsky

The goal I set for myself at the beginning of 2009 was 30 so I did pretty well I think.  I had some really slow spots throughout the year then some times when I’d read like a wild woman, staying up all night to finish books.  In 2009 I got in to Jodi Piccoult and Lisa Gardner, as well as Sophie Kinsella.   I’m home from the library with a big bag of books to start 2010, so we’ll see what this year brings.  I’m going to go on record and set my goal at 50.

Books Read 2010

1.

Watch this space for developments!

    pop culture, reading

    Autumn reader

    Shanny
    I’ve read some new books lately and added them to my Books Read in 2009 list bringing my total up to 36 so far for the year.  I read this batch in the mountains the last couple times we’ve been going up & I finished one just last night here at home.  For some reason when the leaves start to change I get back in the mood to read.  I’m just not a good Summer reader.  When it was time to go to the mountains the last time I panicked a little because I didn’t have a book to read and neither did CSP.  So I went to the library to pick some up.  I got there with 15 minutes before they closed & they started squawking on their intercom about them closing every 2 minutes while I was there.  So I had to do a mad dash around the library for reading material.  I went to new adult fiction & grabbed a couple then headed over to my favorite spot- Large Print Adult Fiction.  I can read for hours and hours and not hurt my eyes. CSP says I’m denying old people their reading pleasure, but hey, it’s first come first serve baby.  I’m not knocking grannies down or wrenching mystery novels out of shriveled little hands.
    Lemme tell you about the latest reads.  First of all I had started reading Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner, who I love.  But the main character started talking about hiring a surrogate to have a child & I just couldn’t hang with that.
    I did finish the following:
    1. Hide, Lisa Gardner hide — Fabulous!  Suspenseful.  Like watching a movie in my brain.
    2. Immoral, 9780312939724Brian Freeman — Also fabulous!  Reminded me a little of Jennifer’s Body without all the blood and gore & hipster speak.
    3. Salem Falls, n83036Jodi Piccoult —Loved this book right up until the last couple of chapters.  I lost sleep staying up to read this book, excited for the big trial at the end (not a spoiler, it tells you that on the flap).  It just seemed like the author got tired and wrapped it up quick as she could so she could take a nap.  Felt jilted.
    4. Naughty Neighbor, {AEE05013-6D50-4A52-BD64-12A76CBDE9F4}Img200Janet Evanovich —I’ve never read her until this book.  I picked it because it had a cute cover & synopsis on the back.  Fun book until just before the end and then I have to pronounce it the stupidest book I’ve ever read in my life.  EVER.

    Hopefully my requested books will start coming in soon.  I was pleased with a couple of the happy accidents I stumbled upon in my streak through the library.

    Any suggestions for me?  I was impressed with y’all’s suggestions before, and some of them are in my library queue right now.

      reading

      Reader’s block

      Shanny

      I’ve done pretty well with my reading this year up until a week or so ago.  Here’s my list of books read so far in 2009:

      1. Black Notice, Patricia Cornwell
      2. True Believer, Nicholas Sparks
      3. A Walk to Remember, Nicholas Sparks
      4. All About Him, Denise Jackson
      5. The Lucky One, Nicholas Sparks
      6. Remember Me?, Sophie Kinsella
      7. Change of Heart, Jodi Picoult
      8. Last Precinct, Patricia Cornwell
      9. Vanishing Acts, Jodi Picoult
      10. Memory Keeper’s Daughter, Kim Edwards
      11. My Sister’s Keeper, Jodi Picoult
      12. Undomestic Goddess, Sophie Kinsella
      13. The Pact, Jodi Picoult
      14. Nineteen Minutes, Jodi Picoult
      15. The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron
      16. Are You There Vodka?  It’s Me, Chelsea,  Chelsea Handler
      17. Picture Perfect, Jodi Picoult
      18. Confessions of a Shopaholic, Sophie Kinsella
      19. The Idiot Girls’ Action Adventure Club, Laurie Notaro
      20. An Idiot Girls’ Christmas, Laurie Notaro
      21. Twilight, Stephenie Meyer
      22. Shopaholic Takes Manhattan, Sophie Kinsella
      23. Mr. Maybe, Jane Green
      24. Little White Lies, Gemma Townley
      25. New Moon, Stephenie Meyer
      26. Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer
      27. Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer
      28. Shopaholic Ties The Knot, Sophie Kinsella
      29. Shopaholic and Sister, Sophie Kinsella
      30. Shopaholic and Baby, Sophie Kinsella
      31. The Hopeless Romantic’s Handbook, Gemma Townley

      Something happened though.  Once I finished the Twilight books & Shopaholic series I lost my mojo.  I finished Hopeless Romantic just fine, but since then I haven’t had much interest in reading.  The library emails me when a book from my list is ready to pick up, but nothing is getting me excited.  Hmmm.  I do have Knit Two here at home so maybe that will get me going.

      pop culture, reading

      Books read in 2009

      Shanny
      1. Black Notice, Patricia Cornwell
      2. True Believer, Nicholas Sparks
      3. A Walk to Remember, Nicholas Sparks
      4. All About Him, Denise Jackson
      5. The Lucky One, Nicholas Sparks
      6. Remember Me?, Sophie Kinsella
      7. Change of Heart, Jodi Picoult
      8. Last Precinct, Patricia Cornwell
      9. Vanishing Acts, Jodi Picoult
      10. Memory Keeper’s Daughter, Kim Edwards
      11. My Sister’s Keeper, Jodi Picoult

      I’m trying to read more this year.  My goal is at least 30 books.  So far I’m doing pretty well, but it is Winter.  I’m also tracking this on Facebook in the visual bookshelf app.  So do any of you have any recommendations for me?  And don’t say Twilight because I KNOW.  I’m on the waitlist at the library.  Number 9 now!  In fact, I’m about to leave for the library to pick up 6 more books.  More Jodi Picoult and Sophie Kinsella.  But I’d like more suggestions! What are you reading right now?