2012 Reading List

For 2012, I planned not to participate in any challenges as they are a lot of pressure. So I was just going to read the over 100 books that I have not read yet and not purchase any more for the year. Okay this has already failed as I bought a couple books for Christmas ( although it was a gift), just pre-ordered B&N paperback edition of Divergent by Veronica Roth (Good Reads book of the year), have my eye on the entire Laura Lippman series (a lot sale on Ebay) and the one or two books I'm missing from my Kathy Reichs 'Bones' series.

I need to stop buying stuff!!!!!!

Anyway I got an invitation from Debra's Book Cafe to participate in the 2012 Big Book Challenge. I figured I'd give it a shot because I would not have to purchase any thing and it would give me an excuse to dust these giants off. So I chose 4 books to tackle over the coming year, because I want to read other books too, some people have more but I figure I can read one every 3 months. They range between 581 to 1323 pages (at least the editions I have). 

Images from GoodReads and Google

In 2012 I also plan to read Harry Potter for the very first time, I have the UK version with the 'adult' look. Basically I don't like the covers of the regular HP books, too childish for me, so I search far and wide (Amazon UK) and found the most gorgeous binding of the books. The story is still the same but the presentation is sexy. More pics when I actually read and blog about them. They are so sophisticated the collection gets its own shelf.

I also decided to read books with either an elephant on the cover, or in the title or both. I love elephants!!!! Below are to books I am currently reading:

Images courtesy of Good Reads

See you in the next post!

Christmas Book Haul 2011

These are the books I bought for Christmas with a Barnes and Nobles gift card that I got. All five cost me around $19.

Clockwise: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare - I'm really excited for the second installment in The Infernal Devices Series.

The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood - a dystopic, bio sci-fi novel :)

Deeper Than the Dead by Tami Hoag - a detective thriller

The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister

Hannah's Dream by Diane Hammond - I have a thing for elephants and this year I intend to read at least 5 books with either an elephant on the cover or about elephants.

Well that was my holiday book haul, I'm really trying to not buy as many books this year and read the over 100 that I have yet to touch.

See you in the next post

2011 Challenge Done!!!!!

I have completed my revised challenge of reading 30 books this year. It was close at the end but I made it. Initially I chose 50 books but with work/life I had to make it a more realistic goal.

I participated in a few challenges and have read at least one book for each. I'm not sure if I'll do any this year but I'll definitely be reading as much as I can. 2011 has introduced me to the online book community and genres such as YA that I had no interest in before. For 2012 I'm looking forward to the Hunger Games movie (but more specifically the nail polish collection created as a homage to the series).

Images provided by GoodReads

So with that hope everyone had a great literary 2011 and wishing you all a 2012 with great reads.

3 books in 23 days

The year is quickly coming to an end, as a result I had to alter my reading goal for the year from 50 to 30. Although I reduced it I'm pretty glad I even got to read one book. So can I read 3 books in 23 days? We'll see...

Since my last post I've read the following:

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Read this for Banned Books Week

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Book #1 in the Hunger Games Trilogy eagerly waiting to read the other two plus I can't wait for the movie.

The Survivor by Sean Slater

School shooting, Asian gangs, crime underworld etc. I received this as a participant in the 2011Mystery & Suspense Reading Challenge. Review is forthcoming.

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger

Read this for Banned Books Week. Whenever a story is told from a teenagers point of view it's considered to raunchy and explicit, as if teens cannot express themselves. I didn't really like the main character, he was just too self absorbed.

Images provided by GoodReads