One more week and we’ll be in November! My mind becomes muddled when I think about all there is to do, but the excitement this time of year brings is totally worth the ataxia in
my opinion. It will be busy and hectic that’s for sure and I’m going to relish every moment of it! Next month NaNoWriMo begins, and with it my crazy pursuit to complete a 50,000 word novel in one month. While my frenzied writing is occurring the holiday season will be upon us, and the bright spot of this time will be my husband’s return home -for one month’s R&R. Crazy and hectic don’t seem adequate words when I really think about it, but they’re all I’ve got at the moment. I’ve got better words somewhere…I know I do-but my brain-muddleheaded-ness is quite severe, so I’ll leave it at “crazy and hectic”.
With all the things my life will be full of, I’m certain my “To-Read” book list probably won’t get much shorter. I typically read about one to five books a month…Yes of course there are times where I go a whole month or more without reading a single book; these months are rare, but they do happen. Much of the first half of this year was taken up with moving and adjusting to my husband being away and re-acquainting myself with life in Miami. Consequently, I didn’t spend much time with my nose in a book– a problem I remedied over the summer when life slowed down and my mother helped me cart over one of my bookshelves from storage. That shelf is full now-full of books I’ve read(see the list below) and ones I plan on reading just as soon as I can. I’m glad to say for the last few months my nose has been perfectly perched inside a book more often than not for which it and I am grateful. One of the the things I love doing best is shopping for books, often I’ll be at a thrift store, library, or bookstore with a book in my hand and it will take me a moment or two to recall if I’ve read it or not. I’ll turn it in my hands a few times, run my fingers over the jacket, turn to a random page and read a little to see if it will jag my memory-or not. This simplest thing is by far one of the greatest pleasures in life for me. Naturally, I love being able to catalog all of most of the books I’ve read on websites like Good Reads with that spirit in mind, I thought it would be fun to list the books I read this year. When I look at a book I read, or even think about it-I can instantly be taken back to where I was in my life at the time. It’s very much like having your own personal time machine.
Here is my list for 2011 (so far) in no particular order.
- Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen (I re-read this before the film came out.)
- Evermore by
Alyson Noël - Blue Moon by Alyson Noël
- Night Star by Alyson Noël
- Dark Flame by Alyson Noël
- Everlasting by Alyson Noël
- Shawdowland by Alyson Noël
- Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
- Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
- Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
- Passion by Lauren Kate
- Torment by
Lauren Kate
- Fallen by Kate
- Mindblind by Jennifer Roy
- City of Fallen Angels by
Cassandra Clare - Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
The Borgia Brideby Jeanne Kalogridis - The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and The Struggle by
L.J. Smith - The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Midnight by L. J. Smith
- The Vampire Diaries: The Fury and Dark Reunion by L. J. Smith
- The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Nightfall by L. J. Smith
- The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Shadow Souls by L. J. Smith
- On Writing by Stephen King
- Outlander by
Diana Gabaldon - Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon
- Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
- Drums of Autum by Diana Gabaldon*
- Save the Cat by Blake Snyder
- Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen (I re-read this at least once a year.)
- Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (see above)
- Destined by
Jessie Harrell*
*The novels marked with an asterisk are the novels my nose is currently parked in. I can’t speak highly enough for Jessie Harrell’s first novel due out next month. Please check back sometime next month for my thoughts on Destined!
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. It was one I especially enjoyed writing!
love & books,
nicóle
Nicole Olea’s love language is communication. She does this best using her keyboard as a freelance copywriter and editor. Creative and resilient with high-level experience in social media management, content creation, and eCommerce marketing, Nicole Olea was a professional volunteer, sharing her skills with various non-profit organizations who paid her in hugs. For the last 20 years, she’s lived a quasi-nomadic life, moving across the country and the Atlantic with her active-duty husband and their three kids. She’s awkwardly stumbling toward her goal of becoming a saint. She’s got God-sized dreams and wants you to have them too!
Great list! How were the Shiver books?
Trisha the Shiver books were great in that they’re about wolves, but not your typical sort of way… Maggie Stiefvater is one of my favorites. Her Raven Boy Series. Is good too!
Wonderful and inspiring list. I believe that it is a true blessing to have be able to make time to read a good book. It is one of life’s under appreciated delights. Great list.
WOW, impressive list of books you’ve read there! My 12-year-old daughter LOOOOOOOVES to read. Seriously, like every breathing moment she’s not in school!
I’ve always been like that too. At school during breaks or walking in the halls I always had a book in my hand.
An impressive list. I didn’t keep track this year, but think I might next year.
Wow, you’ve read so much. I’ve just read about five or so.
Yeah. I’ve always got a book on me. I’ve been known to pull one out in line at the supermarket!
WOW, you’re amazing. I wish I could read that much. I think I work too much and LOVE sleep too much. 5 books a month, I’m lucky to read that much in 8 months.
Whoa, that’s quite the reading list!
You totally rock! I have a loooong list of books to read but haven’t had time to get to them. 🙁
I read everywhere!
I’ve read 11 so you got me beat! Have you read Wicked?
I love the list and only read books in my lap!!
I love yet another list! And that you read more than one book at a time, yes? I usually am reading three at a time all in different years!! I have not even thought of a kindle, my love for a book in my lap wins!
I love the feel of an actual book too. I use the kindle ap on my iPad/iPhone occasionally or for the times when I’m caught without a book!
I LOVE reading, I just need to go to the library more so that I can!
Sounds like an interesting list!
Wow – you’ve read a TONthis year! Thanks so much for the special Destined shout out. (((hugs)))
You made me realize that I haven’t finished one book this year. That’s just shameful!
How are the Vampire Diaries books? I couldn’t get into the show, but if the books are good, I may give them a try.
Kathleen – There are very few similarities between the storyline of the show and the novels. I found the novels entertaining-but I think if you didn’t get into the show-you probably wouldn’t get into the books.
Have you read The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins? That is a series I have no problem recommending!
Great list! I’ve recently found that having an iPad has definitely affected how much I read…I need to start disciplining myself to put the iPad down and pick a book up, LOL!
I love to read, and it’s fun to see other book-lovers lists.