My Reading in 2009

For me, it was an exploding year of reading! To my knowledge, it's the very best I've ever done. But perhaps it's because I actually kept track. I've really been enjoying Goodreads for that reason. Anyway, here are some stats (thanks for the idea Lula) of my reading for '09~

Overall count: 49.5 (hehehe, I'm saying the .5 to be funny but technically I did read half of the book at the end of the year but I'll finish it in 2010 and fully count it then.)

Non-fiction:7
Romances:8
Classics:6
Adult Fiction:11
Young Adult:13
Poetry:1
Graphic novels:3
Female authors:26
Male authors:17
Really disliked:4


Top 10 Favorites, in no particular order:

1. The Silenced by James DeVita: This was a very powerful read for me. It is a dystopian novel set in futuristic time but is based on an actual experience of Sophie Scholl who was an activist against Hitler in WWII. Through the eyes of this story, I felt powerfully what it must mean to be courageous. I really felt I took something from this book that will last within me for a long while. It has only grown as now I've read more and researched a bit about Sophie.

2. The Uglies Series by Scott Westerfeld: These are magnificently written books that are also dystopian. They are true page turner's. It caused me wonder about the meaning of words like ugly and pretty. Yet, I feel the very heart of these books are the intimate elements of friendship.

3. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer: This book is told through letters only which caused me to realize the power and the old art of letter-writing. It feels like getting to know or reconnect with old friends again. Heartwarming!

4. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins: Another page turner! This book is also dystopian and isn't actually very pleasant yet I couldn't put it down. I truly felt for this created world and these characters. There is a lot to think or talk about with this book.

5. The Nature of Jade by Deb Calletti: This book will make you fall in love with elephants! Plus. many elements of this story have lasted with me. It was realistic yet vivid, hauntingly subdued and still hopeful.

6. The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck: Fall into the simple life again through the eyes of a Chinese farmer and his family. As Wang-Lung experiences his life, it is poignantly clear even in what you feel through these words that there will be periods of good, challenging and miserable. I realized that perhaps in the beginning stages of our lives we have so much more than we realize. Take nothing for granted in this story and also get to know the character of the earth.

7. Emma by Jane Austen: How I love Emma and her grand intentions! She is so charming, affectionate and satiating. I find it hard to resist this idealistic classic!

8. Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott: Reading this was simply horrifying for me yet is a tale that remains quite eye-opening and will not be easily forgotten.

9. The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci: In this graphic novel, the artwork is amazing along with the writing. A lot different and a better experience than I ever expected in reading a graphic novel. In the end, it left me wanting more.

10. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair: Another horrifying, unforgettable book but in a completely different way. In his definite classic, Sinclair has proven the power in the written word. I've been really into books about this time period lately. This book made be thankful that we have an F.D.A. today even if it still may be problematic.

*Remember for more comprehensive reviews on the books I've read this year, please read my book review's on 5-squared.

Image credit: mandj98 - Creative Commons

Revision of Summer Reading Thing

I think I signed up for this challenge in the wrong way so I'm just going to re-post with my LDS fiction list that I'm planning on reading this summer. This list is all LDS authors now. I'll go for reading these, at least, for the Summer Reading Thing. I'm planning on reading the other books from my previous list at some point but these are the ones I need to read and review in order to be eligible for the challenge.

1. PickUp Games by Marcia Mickelson
2. Lemon Tart by Josi Kilpack
3. Fool Me Twice by Stephanie Black
4. The Host by Stephenie Meyer

I'm new to these challenges but I'm hopeful to enjoy them. I can't go overboard as I would like to sometimes with reading & cool challenges. I also love book groups which I probably have too many to keep up with but I give a good effort as I can. I just have to pace myself as I'm a slow reader that savors and has to re-read sometimes. I think I'll speed up with practice. Most of all, I'm aiming to have fun reading this summer!

Summer Reading Thing

My friend, Marcia, signed up for this summer reading challenge and so I thought I would as well. I have a ton of books in my t0-be-read list so I'm going to pull from there. I may also switch it up a little as needed, since I start zealously with reading each summer but then it gets too busy sometimes by the end, which I think is alright for this challenge. I hope. Anyway, I love to read so here's my choices for this summer:

1. PickUp Games by Marcia Mickelson
2. Lemon Tart by Josi Kilpack
3. Fool Me Twice by Stephanie Black
   
4. Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor: Being the First Jane Austen Mystery by Stephanie Barron
   
5. Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James
   
6. The Host by Stephenie Meyer
7. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Piccoult
   

I think this will be a good list. Alternates will include but not limited to my choices from my other challenges currently listed on my side bar, from other book groups I'm already in, or books that may come out by the end of the summer that I may get excited about in a spontaneous moment. For now, this is my speculative list for this summer. I can't wait to get reading!

Update on my '09 goals and a writing challenge

So far on some of my '09 goals, I'm right on track but on others I'm way off. First, I'll concentrate on where I'm going right and then I'll discover where to improve next. I'm planning on reading 25 books overall and so far I've read and reviewed six books. I feel this is going great! I also have a few extra books that I read in February, since that was a huge reading month for me, that I'll be counting in as I review them on 5-squared.
My next goal that I'm on task for is writing poetry. I'm planning on 10 poems and I've written three so I'm staying strong with that. I feel it will come and I'm making sure to write down the bits and pieces of inspiration that come which I can later create into a poem.
Here's my discovery part of my goals given the fact I need a lot of improvement in my next few goals of '09. I'm behind on two of my stories to my sister which I'm going to remedy in the next three days and send them to her. I haven't been working on conversational Spanish like I had hoped with my children so I may give that up for now. I have walked some but not every day like I should be. Although, I have read my scriptures here and there, I'm behind on the actual lessons for Sunday School but I'm not ready to give up here. I do have excuses, perhaps even valid ones, for my lacking to do what I intended but who doesn't? I'm ready to do better and I will eventually.
Lastly, I'm going to put a lot of things on hold and concentrate on Tristi's Writing Challenge in April. I plan to wildly write as much as I can. I plan to write a series of short stories. I plan to write a first draft down that I'm aiming to be a novel. Of course, I'll still add to my poetry & three more poems would be great too. I'm not getting any younger and I do have writing that I dream of doing but I'd like to make that more of a reality now. This will be my first writing challenge ever! I'm looking forward to it and I know this excitement will carry me thru to the end of April.....and beyond!

I'll keep updates on this challenge here.

2009 Looking Forward

A New Year is here again! Here I go pondering about my life and I'm looking forward with some new goals for 2009:

1) I plan on reading 25 books and posting the book reviews on 5-squared. I broke it down to 2 per month with an extra book thrown in one of those months. I plan to attend, as consistently as I'm able, the Classic Lit. book group and Focus book group and these reading selections will help me achieve this goal.

2) I plan on writing one personal story from my life each month and mailing it to my sister, Bonnie. I would like my sister to get to know me better and I'd like to record bits and pieces from my life. I would also like to include writing a poem here and there as well. (10 poems/12 stories)

3) I plan on continuing to make tote bags for people. I would also like to use re-usable tote bags at the grocery store and get in this habit of becoming more eco-friendly.

4) I plan on helping my children learn some basic conversational Spanish, having regular trips to the library with them and scheduled reading time too. Also, I'd like to help them learn their math skills better, esp. multiplication facts, including re-memorizing some myself.

5) I plan on going on a walk every day. I'd like to be ready to participate in the "Light the Night" Walk or the "Walk Now for Autism."

6) I plan on reading the scriptures for the Sunday School lessons for church. Teachings are from the Doctrine and Covenants this year. Our Heritage is suggested to be read along with this, so I'll read this too. I would also like to read these chapters from the Holy Bible in Genesis, Pslams/Proverbs, Job and the Four Gospels.

I'll update and re-evaluate my progress, even if just to myself, from time to time.

When we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning, by dreams that need completion, by pure love that needs expressing, then we truly live life.
~Greg Anderson

Timothy T.C. So wrote this great article on setting goals - Check it out!