.the reading list.

Since one of my April goals is to read more, I figure why don't I start sharing some of the books I've been reading. I won't give away to much about the books, just a quick little synopsis and if I liked it or not. I love looking at other people's books lists so hopefully you like this new post series as well!

Orange Is The New Black: Piper Kerman

Did you watch the Netflix series based on this book? OH. MY. GOODNESS. It is soooo good! I devoured the first season within a week or so and can't wait for the second season to start. I knew that I wanted to read the book but was skeptical, cause really could it be as good as the show? The answer is: it's good, but not as great as the show...which is to be suspected because the show is loosely based on the book. In the book we follow Piper as she navigates her year in federal prison. She is not your average inmate and we experience her trials and tribulations as she tries to fit in and survive. I recommend this book, it was interesting and an easy read. I feel a little bit more prepared for any future sentencing (which hopefully don't ever occur)!

A Walk In The Woods: Bill Bryson

I love this man, Bill Bryson can always make me laugh out loud. He is not only hilarious but he can make the most uninteresting things really interesting! In this book he takes on the adventure of hiking the Appalachian Trail with one of his high school friends. The Appalachian Trail runs all the way from Georgia to Main and is hiked by thousands of hikers each year. Bryson does a great job of blending facts and history in with his own personal experience on the trail. I learned a lot about the historic AT while laughing out loud and enjoying it without all the work of hiking it myself.  When reading it, I had to take a picture and share this passage with everyone...its SOOOO FUNNY! I highly recommend this book and all books by Bryson!

. i still read this and just giggle. 

Bossypants: Tina Fey

I don't know why it took me so long to read this book, it is amazing! I absolutely loved every minute of reading it. The book is a story about Tina Fey's life and I felt as if I was having a conversation with her. This is one of the first memoirs I've read in which I felt this way. She shares her stories with you, most of them are super funny but she also gives us a dash of hope and optimism. I highly recommend the book, especially if you love to laugh and are looking for an easy, fast read!

Gone Girl: Gillian Flynn

You have probably heard of this book, even if you are living under a rock, you heard of it somehow. This book was huge, it was on the best sellers for months and months. I worked at a used bookstore and we couldn't keep a copy in stock for a whole year..yeah, it was that huge of a book! Because it was so popular, I think I had higher hopes for the book. I read her earlier books before this one and I loved them. This one, I didn't love this one as much. The story follows the disappearance of a wife, her husband is a suspect, and you follow both characters both past and present through the ordeal. I didn't like the characters, maybe if they were a bit nicer, I would have like them and appreciated the book more. This is a book, I say check out for yourself..it wasn't for me, but millions of others loved it!

What books are you reading?

.Jan. & Feb. books.

Whoooooaaaa....hello, let me introduce myself. My name is Sho, I run this blog and I haven't done it for a long time....I apologize. I love reading so let me share with you a list of books I read during Jan. and Feb.....enjoy!

The Road: Cormac McCarthy  Let me just say it...nope, not my cup of tea.  I'm not a survivalist, if it was a fight or flight situation, I my friends would flight. If the world is going to end, I'm going to have a drink and a nap and hope to not have to deal with any aftermath.  This book is about surviving and walking the road to a better place, but really does that place exist?

(source)

The Zookeeper's Wife: Diana Ackerman This is a wonderful true story about Polish zookeepers in Warsaw during WWII. This couple protected over 300 jews in their little, crazy zoo, where people became names of animals. They were brave and noble people, and I hope that I have  little bit of me in them. That I would do the same things they did to protect others.

(Source)

Misty of Chincoteauge: Marguerite Henry  Dave and I went to Assateague Island and stayed in Chincoteauge two years ago. Since then I have heard many people talk about this book and have wanted to read it. It's a kids book about wrangling up the wild pony, a pony nobody had ever caught until a determined little boy. He and his sister work hard to purchase the pony, Phantom,  and her colt, Misty, at the fireman's auction. The children were able to tame Phantom but she always yearned for the wild. One day they let her free, knowing that they should not contain her, but Misty remained due to her love for her little owners.

(source)

The Beach House: Jane Green  I must admit, I highly enjoy women's contemporary fiction, aka "chic lit." and Mrs. Green is a great writer in this genre. The book was very easy to read, light, fun, and touches on subjects such as family, and what we want from life. This book reminds you have you never know how one person can change your life or how a home can bring strangers together to form a new family and an unbreakable bond.  This is all I will tell you in hopes you to will read the book!

(source)

Pretty in Plaid: Jen Lancaster  This was a decent book, a quick read. It's not my favorite of Lancaster's but it's not the worst it. This is a book dedicated to all the little memories she has and the specific items of clothing she wore during these times. She guides us through her childhood to adulthood via her wardrobe. It wasn't bad but I'm not going to beg you to read it...just pick it up if your looking for something light and easy.

(source)

CURRENTLY READING:      Confederacy of Dunces

(source)

.misty from chincoteague.

Last night I started reading the children's book Misty from Chinoteague. It's an older beloved book that many people have read, including my pops. As I'm starting the book it has taken me back to the trip Dave and I took to Chinoteague in 2011 to see the wild ponies. Having been to where the book takes place I can visualize exactly what the author is writing. It had me thinking about our trip and how beautiful and amazing it was.  Check out my post about our trip and learn more about the wild ponies of Chinoteague...here!

.2012 books.

Here is the whole list of ALL the books I read in 2012!  I have highlighted my top ten books and linked them to amazon, this way you can read more about it and hopefully want to read it too!!

No Country For Old Men: Cormac McCarthy
The Ten Year Nap: Meg Wolitzer
Of Bees and Mist: Erick Setiawan
Deadly Decisions: Kathy ReichsL
Angela's Ashes: Frank McCourt
The Hunger Games: Suzanne Collins
One Day: Nicholas Day
Catching Fire: Suzanne Collins
Mockingjay: Suzanne Collins
Meet Josefina: Valerie Tripp
The Book Thief: Markus Zusak
We Are All Equally Far From Love: Adania Shibli
Little Princes: Conor Grennan
Warrior of the Light:  Paulo Coelho
The Girl's Guide to Homelessness: Brianna Karp
Room: Emma Donoghue
Skinny: Diana Spechler
The Lucky One: Nicholas Spark
I've Got Your Number: Sophie Kinsella
It Looked Different On the Model: Laurie Notaro
The Genie and Joe Maloney: Anita Feagles
Run Like A Girl: How Strong Women Make Happy Lives: Mina Samuels
New Owner's Guide to Bulldogs: Hank & Card Williams
Weird Sisters: Eleanor Brown
Virgin Suicides: Jeffery Eugenides
Lies that Chelsea Handler Told Me: Various 
Nickel & Dimed: Barbara Ehrenreich
Yiddish with Dick and Jane: Ellis Weiner
Still Mostly True: Brian Andreas
The Lost Continent: Bill Bryson
Through No Fault of My Own: Fesler Lampert
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? Mindy Kaling
Geek Love: Katherine Dunn
Jemima J: Jane Green
Mostly True: Brian Andreas
A Wrinkle in Time: Madeleine L'Engle
On The Bright-side, I'm No Longer The Girlfriend of a Sex God: Louise Rennison
Edgar Allan: John Neufeld
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children: Ransom Riggs
Bright Lights, Big Ass: Jen Lancaster
My Fair Lazy: Jen Lancaster
Evil Genius: Catherine Jinx
Genius Squad: Catherine Jinx
Genius Wars: Catherine Jinx
Sadako and 1,000 Paper Cranes: Eleanor Coerr
Coraline: Neil Gaiman
Pippi Longstocking:  Astrid Lindgren
The Little Prince: Antoine de Saint Exupery
Was She Pretty?: Leanne Shapton
The Reformed Vampire Support Group: Catherine Jinx
If You Were Here: Jen Lancaster
Balzac & The Little Chinese Seamstress: Dai Sijle

WHAT WERE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE BOOKS THIS YEAR?

.december books.

It's the end of the year and the last month for me to reach my reading goal of 50 books in 2012. Did I make it? Find out:

Genius Wars: Catherine Jinx  This is the third book within the Genius trilogy. The gang is at it again to find Prosper English and put a stop to him once and for all. Jinx takes us on a suspenseful journey while Cadel fights for the lives of his friends and family as well as his own.

Sadako and One Thousand Paper Cranes: Eleanor Coerr    Did you read this book back in middle school when you were younger? I never did and then someone at work said that it was her favorite kids book  and recommend it.  OH MY GOODNESS!!! This is such a touching little read that left me in tears. I'm not even going to tell you what it's about...all I am going to say is READ it and thank me after!!

Coraline: Neil Gaiman  I loved the movie Coraline when it came out and when I finally found out it was a book , I knew I had to read it.  I feel like all my co-workers LOVE Neil Gaiman, so I needed to read it right away. Unfortunately, I found the book to be good but not great. Gaiman is able to paint a picture with his words which I admire. I didn't even have to compare the book to the movie since he used his words to paint me the exact picture he wanted me to see.

Pippi Longstocking: Astrid Lindgren  I never knew the story about Pippi Longstocking all I knew was she had red hair in pigtails and owned a horse.  I LOVED this book and all the little stories about the crazy and lovable Pippi.  I am now a huge fan of Lindgren and am looking to read more of her books.  If you haven't read Pippi Longstocking you should read it and I recommend it to all young girls to read!

The Little Prince: Antoine de Saint Exupery  Yet another book that everyone should read as well as every little kid. The book only took me about an hour to read, I fell in love with it. I smiled and cried all within a few pages. Again, I'm not going to tell you what the book is about. I'm just going to tell you that you NEED to read it!!!

Was She Pretty?: Leanne Shapton  Quick, real quick book about girlfriends and relationships through the eyes of the guy. It has drawings with it as well...it's a cool little book.

The Reformed Vampire Support Group: Catherine Jinx  I was on a Jinx roll this last month! This book was pretty good, a light, funny read. The book follows a group of Vampires who have taken the oath not to drink human blood. One night one of the group members is killed which sends the other members on the hunt. Follow their adventures to figure out who is after them and all the little incidents that happen along the way.

If You Were Here: Jen Lancaster  This is Lancaster's first venture into fiction. However, she doesn't venture that far out, more like puts a toe into the water instead of doing a cannon ball. The story follows a middle aged Chicago husband and wife who move out of the city into Jake Ryan's house in Sixteen Candles. The house needs total renovation which pushes the couples relationship and finances. The voice of the book is the same as Lancaster using in her memoirs. It's a good book and fans of hers will also enjoy this novel.

Balzac and The Little Chinese Seamstress: Dai Sijie  This was a beautiful, enchanting book taking place in China during the Cultural Revolution. Two boys being re-educated in the country discover a trunk of banned books in which they steal to escape their reality. One boy who falls in love with the little seamstress also uses these books to teach the seamstress about the world and how to be a city girl. Both boys fall desperately in love with the little seamstress while she falls in love with the world and city from the worlds of the forbidden books.

DRUMMM ROLLL PLEASE......

Total read in 2012 is....

52/50!!!

I'm gonna be honest it was a little touch and go this month. I was nervous about having to read 6 books this month. My co-workers gave great recommendations for young adult and children chapter books to help pull me through to my goal!! One of the many perks of working in a bookstore!! 

Within the next week I will share with you my top 10 favorite books from 2012!

.November Books.

Bright Lights, Big Ass: Jen Lancaster  Funny, delightful memoir about how living in the city can kind of suck. Especially when you have fallen from your high financial class and now are working temp jobs trying to survive. This wasn't my favorite of hers but it wasn't horrible either. I know that I will always get a laugh out of her antics, like calling the police on her neighbors.

My Fair Lazy: Jen Lancaster  Jen finds her addicted to reality t.v. self not to be as cultured as those around her. After a few times of having a hard time talking with others about things not associated with reality t.v. or pop culture she decides to go Fair Lady on herself. With the help of her friends she begins her movement to become more cultured and refined. It's was fun to be along for the ride....as well as knowing that she never gives up her reality t.v. addiction but just handles it in smaller doses!

* I also think it's fun to read Jen Lancaster books because it was my sister's name before she got remarried.  I never knew my sister would be an author..haa *

Evil Genius: Catherine Jinx  First off, Jinx is an Australian author therefore the book takes place in Sydney and that made my heart very happy! I love reading and being like "OOHHHH...I know that place!!!"  It makes me feel proud and a tad bit special. Evil Genius is the first of a trilogy about Cadel Piggot. Cadel is a super genius, hacking into computers from a young age and graduating high school at 14 year olds. He is now attending Axis Institute that teaches people about world domination with classes like infiltration, hacking, embezzlement, ect. The book is interesting and a thriller. You feel for Cadel during the whole book and find yourself cheering for him when he begins to find himself. 

Genius Squad: Catherine Jinx  The Axis Institute was been blown up and Prosper English is in jail. Cadel finds himself in a lousy foster home until he mets a team of teenage hackers that offer him a place on the Genius Squad. The Genius Squad is formed to find information on GenoMe, a business associated with Prosper English.  Finally Cadel feels safe and useful again, but those feelings don't last to long. 

                                      

Goal Update:

43/50 books

eeekkk...I have to read 7 books in Dec. 

I better get to a reading if I want to reach my goal!!!

.october books.

Just so you know...I ROCKED it this month in the reading department!! I'm pretty excited to share with you the books that I read. Now that it's getting colder outside and I don't have to train for any races I'm taking the time to snuggle under a blanket and keep company with a good book.

Let's get on with it....drum roll please....HERE THEY AAARRRREEEEE:

Geek Love: Katherine Dunn   I have tried to describe this book many times to friends, but I just can't seem to do it justice! It's about a carny family (who created their own side-show children), growing up, loving who you are, and family values. I really loved this book, I found it interesting and continuously intriguing. I highly recommend it!

Source 

Jemima J: A Novel About Ugly Ducklings and Swans Jane Green  Story about Jemima Jones falling in love with herself and then with the man of her dreams. Jemima Jones has low self esteem, she is overweight and feels invisible. She meets a guy over the internet (late 1990s) and send him a picture of her that has been photoshopped to show her about 100lbs. slimmer. She falls for the guy online and then pushes herself to lose the weight for when she flys across the world to meet him. Things happen, happiness and sadness occur, and then in the end she gets her happy ending! YAY for love stories. This was a good, quick, easy read. I enjoyed it. 

Source

Mostly True: Brian Andreas   Short little poems and pictures. Read it and then donated it. Not a keeper.

A Wrinkle In Time: Madeleine L'Engle  I picked this up at the airport because I was looking for a cheaper book (yay Young Adult) that would grab my attention. This is a book I feel like EVERYONE (yep..everyone) read when they were younger, but nope that me. The story follows a young girl and her little brother as they travel in space/time to rescue their father. L'Engle discusses themes of conformity, individuality, conquering your fear, and having faith in the unknown. This was a good book (and my first sci-fi one!). I have it saved to give to my niece next time I see her!

Source

On The Bright Side, I'm Now The Girlfriend of a Sex God: Louise Rennison  Follows Georgia, a 14 yr. old British girl, while she tries to win back a good looking, older boy. The book is in form of her diary in which is complains and loves like most 14 year old girls who are in looooovvveeeee.  This is just one in a series...and the series was recommended to me...I think reading just this one was good for me. If I had a boy crazy teenage niece I would give her these books. 

Source

Edgar Allan: John Newfeld  This was a quick, touching read. A white family adopts a young black boy. The town becomes upset and threatens the family, telling them to to return the child. The family makes a hard, heart tearing decision that affects each member differently. 

Source

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children: Ransom Riggs  This book was great! I read it within a few days because I couldn't put it down!! The story follows Jacob as he tries to figure out his grandpa's last words. He finds himself learning more about himself as he discovers his grandpa's past, his peculiar friends, and their way of living. Jacob becomes a hero that he never thought he would or could be.  I highly recommend this book to everyone!

goal update: 

39/50 books

I'm getting closer and closer to my goal! 

It's finally starting to feel like I can accomplish it.

Currently reading:

What are you reading?

.september books.

It's that special time again where I share with you what I read the month before. Is it just me or does it seem like the months go by faster and faster the older you get?

Through No Fault Of My Own: Felser Lampert  This was  a great little read before bed. It's the diary of young well to do girl growing up in the 1920's in St. Paul, MN. She gets in trouble at home, sneaks out to go to Friday night dances, and gets in trouble more than a few times! It was a cute little read that gives the insight to what Grand Ave. and St. Paul was like way back when. 

Source

The Lost Continent: Bill Bryson  Oh, how I love Mr. Bryson!!! He is the only guy that I feel can write about anything in the whole world and make it both interesting and funny. This book is about his travels through small town America after living in Great Britain for 10 years. His snarky remarks are spot on at times and make you laugh out loud when reading. This book was written in 1989 but still holds some truths to this day. I highly recommend you picking up a Bill Bryson book and getting lost in his little world. 

Source

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? Mindy Kaling  I was recommended this book by my best friend, so I put my name on the library waiting list and waited for about 2 months for the book. I waited so long I forgot that I was on the list! The book was really easy to read it took me only about 2 days of casual reading to finish the book. Kaling shares many random funny stories about her life from childhood to writing on The Office. The stories are hilarious, but fall into random parts of the book. I would have liked the different stories to be more organized into chapters/sections of the books, however that is my only complaint. This book made me love Mindy Kaling!!! I recommend it for a light, easy read in between books or if you are looking to release some stress. 

Source

What have you been reading?

Goal: 32/50 books!!

.august books.

OH MY! Can you believe it's September already? Seriously...September!??!! Where or where did the summer go? But now it's time to get ready for fall and that makes me very, very happy. Fall is one of my very favorite seasons, I'm excited to be back in MN to feel the chill in the air and see the leaves change colors.

Enough with my ramblings...here are the books I read in August:

Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me: family and friends of Chelsea Handler  Usually I'm a big fan of Chelsea Handler books, they crack me up. But this one, eeeehhh..not so much. It's stories from her friends about the lies that Chelsea Handler has told them and tricks she has played on them. Basically, if she loves you like family then she will f with you to her liking.

Source

Yiddish with Dick and Jane: Ellis Weiner  This is a great little book! Haaa! It tells a story as Dick and Jane have grown up and it's super duper funny. Dave grew up with his dad speaking some Yiddish around the house, so I quizzed Dave on EVERY yiddish word.  He did pretty good, but if he didn't know it I just looked up the definition in the back of the book. I know that this is one that I will pick up again and again to read and learn yiddish. I think it would be great if we spoke a few yiddish words in the house when we have kids. It's a great way to keep Dave's heritage in the family!

Source

Nickel and Dimed: Barbara Ehrenreich  This book is one you may have read in college or high school as a summer reading list. I have seen this book for years but have never read it, so when it showed up at work and I could have it for free, I jumped on it! I loved this book. Ehrenreich, a journalist, goes on assignment to find out if families coming off welfare will be able to survive working low end jobs. She spends the next few years going across America working lower end jobs and trying to survive in the different cities. In the end she finds that really it's not able to happen, she worked herself to the bone trying to make ends meet. Currently,I'm working in a low end job struggling sometimes to make it all come together so this book spoke to me. People work hard for their money, very hard, and they take pride in it..but with the way things are structured it's hard to get ahead. This book is a MUST read for everyone!!!!

Source

Still Mostly True: Brian Andreas   Little book with drawings and little stories. Eh...not to bad but not so great.

Source

Currently Reading:

Source

( I LOOOOVEEEE Bill Bryson! I'm excited to dig into this books!)

I'm also reading the September Issue of Vogue....swoooonnn!!!!

.July Books.

I am FINNNNAAALLLYYYYY getting around to posting this! Usually the first day of the following month I post what  books I read the month before, but as you know...I'm lazy! So here are the books that I read in July:

New Owners Guide to Bulldogs: Hank and Carol Williams  This is an older book on bulldogs and caring for them that I borrowed from our store. It was filled with information on the history of the bulldog (bull baiters), things to know before you decide you want a bully, care tips, training tips, etc. It was a good book and a quick read. I read it in about two days so we could really know 100% that a bulldog was for us.  Not long after finishing the book we got the call that we were able to adopt our own English bulldog! Good thing I was prepared due to the book!

Source

The Weird Sisters: Eleanor Brown  This book has been popular at the bookstore, it seems to be on everyone's book club list! I adored this book and waited patiently for my turn to come on the library waiting list ( I was #245 on the list). The story is about three sisters that come home during a period of time that their mothers is sick. They all come home for different reasons however and try to work on their personal issues while keeping them secrets. The story is about family, independence, growing up, and learning who you are. Plus the family always is reading and how doesn't love a book about people who love to read?

Source

The Virgin Suicides: Jeffery Eugenides  I have needed/wanted to read this book for years. I used to have the movie and Dave has the soundtrack...so it was basically the last thing to complete the trifecta. The book is about the mysterious and eccentric Lisbon sisters, whom a handful of boys on the block are obsessed with. Over the time of a year the boys watch as one by one the LIsbon sisters commit suicide trying to put all the pieces together.  This was Eugenides first novel and he does it beautifully. You become transfixed by the characters and find yourself searching for answers along with the boys. 

Source

Currently Reading:

Source

What have you been reading?