25 books in 2011

Well, it's that time of year again. Time to start fresh, make goals for the year ahead, and promise ourselves that this is the year I will finally (instert personal goal that you can't seem to accomplish here). I have high hopes for 2011, along with a very long to-do list. Among the many goals that I have set for this year, I would like to read 25 books...at least!

1. Sarah's Key ***
2. Hunger Games *****
3. Water for Elephants *****
4. Catching Fire *****
5. Mockingjay *****
6. The Ice Queen **
7. Knit Two ***
8. Heart of the Matter ****
9. Fallen *
10. Matched *
11. The Paris Wife ****
12. The Help *****
13. The Secret Life of Bee's ****
14. The Undomestic Goddess ****
15. Best Friends Forever ***

Can you keep a secret?

Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Laugh out loud funny! I think there's a little bit of Emma Corrigan in all of us.



View all my reviews

BookCrossing.com

In my family...we share books. I usually read a book, then pass it on to someone else, then they pass it on, and eventually it comes back home to me. This is so fun for me because when I read a great book, I want to share it with everyone. How cool would it be share your book with the whole world? Well, I just discovered that you can! With bookcrossing.com you can register your book, release it "into the wild", and watch it travel all over the world. I registered my first book today! I can't wait to release it, though I'm not sure how I will yet. I'm VERY excited about this website!

what is bookcrossing?
BookCrossing is many things. Most of all, it's the act of giving a book a unique identity, thus giving its reader the ability to stay connected and watch it pass through the hands of people all over the world.

our mission
to connect people through books

how we do it
our free online archival and tracking system allows users to connect with other readers, journal and review literature, give their books lives and track their journeys.

who we are
BookCrossers themselves are the spirit of BookCrossing, we simply provide form and function by advocating literacy and building relationships around the physical objects of books. The team *link to team page* that continues to make all of this happen is based in Sandpoint, Idaho.

The Time Traveler's Wife

If I had to describe this book in one word it would be.....transcendent. The Time Travelers Wife is a beautifully written novel that reminds us love is forever. Henry DeTamble has time traveled his whole life and because of it he has had to fight, steal, and survive by any means necessary. Never knowing when or where he's going, love was the last thing on his mind, until he met Clare Abshire. Clare gave him a reason to live and love. This seemingly impossible love takes us on a journey through time laughing, crying, and loving every page. Audrey Niffenegger finds words for feelings we thought were indescribable. In this sci-fi/romance novel, love is the only reality. This book should definitely be on your reading list for 2010.

The Carrie Diaries

This was a lighthearted, fun filled, get to know Carrie Bradshaw book. We all know Carrie as the author of a sexy little column in the New York Star, but we know nothing about Carrie's life before Sex and the City. Where did she come from? What was her family like? What made her decide to be a writer? Believe it or not, Carrie had friends before Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte. This book took me back to High School in the 70's with my best friend Carrie. All of the boy troubles, friends turned frenemies, even the mean girl that we all hated. Just like us, Carrie went through it all. Every experience pushing her a little closer to New York City. For Sex and the City fans....this is a must read!

Where it all began...

When I was a little girl my mom and I would take weekly trips to the library. It was something that I looked forward to everyday and at night I would lay awake in my bed thinking about all of the books I wanted to read. I first fell in love with the Berenstein Bears, then moved on to Ramona, followed by Sweet Valley High and Judy Blume, which eventually lead to R.L. Stine. When I was in 6th grade I bought my very first Danielle Steel Novel, Star. I know that to some people 6th grade may seem a little young to be reading Danielle Steel, but I had already read everything else.

As a self proclaimed serial reader I've read a lifetimes worth of books, some of them twice. All of these books have left me with something...an appetite for more. James Bryce once said, "The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it". I agree with him 100%. I may not remember every detail of every book, but I remember the feeling I had after reading the last page. So, I've decided to start reviewing all of the old favorites that have helped nourish my love for reading.

25 books in 2010

I've always loved to read, but for the past 4 years I haven't had much time. Shortly after Kaylee's 1st birthday, my friends decided to start a bookclub. I gladly jumped right in thinking if I had a deadline, I would have to read, right? WRONG! We had a 300 page limit and I barely made it each month. However, I loved being in a bookclub so I stuck with it. In November of 2007 we chose to read Twilight...Oh boy! I don't know how, but I read that book in 3 days. I read during naptime, while making dinner, sitting at the doctor's office, and in line at the grocery store. I was obsessed! It made me realize that if I really wanted to read, I would find the time.

I've set my reading goal for 2010 at 25 books and I am determined to do it! I will be updating my booklist as I go and I will rate each book based on this star rating...
***** OMG! This book is amazing!
**** I will read this book at least 2 more times before I die
*** I liked it
** I'm glad I finished it
* I'd rather be cleaning...

Here is my booklist so far...

1. Time Traveler's Wife *****
2. Dear John ****
3. Eat, Pray, Love ***
4. Chasing Harry Winston **
5. The Carrie Diaries ***
6. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner ***
7. 90 Minutes in Heaven *
8. A Reliable Wife ****
9. Matters of the Heart***
10.The Gift****
11.Can you keep a secret? ****
12.The Shack ***
13.Post Mortem ***
14.The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo ****
15.The Christmas Box ***
16.Love the one you're with ***
17.The Girl who played with fire (currently reading)