Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts

Monday, April 2, 2012

Favorite Reads (so far...)

I realize I haven't been around in awhile. Winter is tough for me, I think I have SAD(Seasonal Affective Disorder), the darkness, the short days, the seemingly overwhelming need for comfort food in large quantities. And now I seem to be turning a corner as spring is in the air. One thing I have been doing is reading. I have read 32 books so far this year (putting me 7 ahead for my goal of reading 100 this year). My favorites so far...









Amy's bookshelf: 2012-favorites


10th AnniversaryThe ImmortalistsShelter MeComfort & JoyHappy BirthdayFriends Like Us

More of Amy's books »







Book recommendations, book reviews, quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists



1. Two Kisses for Maddy: Even though I "knew" history I really wanted to read this book. Yes, I cried and thanked God that it wasn't my story. It made me grateful for what I have and reminded me of the all encompassing love that babies inspire.

2. A Discovery of Witches: An interesting tale of witches, vampires, daemons--history, science, and magic. It took awhile to get into but I devoured the last half.

3. 11-22-63: I have never finished a Steven king book before, too scary for me to even start most. My book club picked this and I anxiously awaited my turn to come up at the library after reading a preview chapter. It was very good! I liked all the what ifs and the idea of time travel and consequences and love . A captivating read, don't let the number of pages scare you.

4. Tempest: This was in the hot young adult books in an article I read so I requested it from the library. I liked it. I liked the main character and I normally prefer books with a female narrator since it captures more emotion adn feelings normally. But this guy is inspiring--he freely talks about love and loyalty and proves it throughout the story. Turns out he is a time jumper who gets stuck in the past when something happens to his girlfriend. While there he discovers what he is and how he might be...moreThis was in the hot young adult books in an article I read so I requested it from the library. I liked it. I liked the main character and I normally prefer books with a female narrator since it captures more emotion adn feelings normally. But this guy is inspiring--he freely talks about love and loyalty and proves it throughout the story. Turns out he is a time jumper who gets stuck in the past when something happens to his girlfriend. While there he discovers what he is and how he might be able to fix things. The ending is a little sad and leaves you wanting more...

5. The Fault in our Stars: I really enjoyed this book even though it's ultimately sad, it is a book about young adults with cancer. But it is also about love, hope, family, and real life. The two main characters are easy to connect to and understand and their relationship is real. I even liked the ending that is not really an ending because it is true to the character. Suppossedly they are making this into a movie, I kind of hope not it is the kind of story that best lives in a book. If they do I hope they are very true to the book

6. Joy for Beginners: I loved her other book, School of Essential Ingredients. And I loved this one, a story of 6 women friends who make a pact to do something that scares them to celebrate life. The story's descriptions of love, marriage, friendship, and motherhood ring true. Each chapter tells you enough of the story to know the women (and cry with them a little) and leave you wanting more of their story.

7. Pandemonium(Delerium #2): Great 2nd book in a trilogy. At first I was having a hard time getting into it because it kept jumping back and forth between what happened to Lena after she escaped into the wilds and then the now when she is in NY as part of the resistance. Not sure how I feel about Julian and that "love" story and the ending blew me away, I didn't see it coming until the last 2 pages. Now I can't wait to see what happens in number 3. Ms. Oliver can you please write faster!




Thursday, January 5, 2012

Pinterest to Reality {Spice Rack Bookshelves}


Reality:




we love them! I had my sister buy me 6 and we only hung 2 due to our space and we also found that in order to pull books out you have to have a significant amount of space between them and she isn't that tall yet. And they are like 4 bucks a piece!
because this is a frequent sight at our house--now she can find books easily and her favorites are in easy access. And yes my 18 month old still fits in her Bumpo chair and loves to sit in it.

And when we build our dream house and have a family room like this

source


part of the walls will be our book display using these shelves!

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Friday, December 16, 2011

Favorite Books of 2011

I am interrupting my Pinterest to Reality series for a couple posts.
My goal this year was to read 100 books, and I have read 108 with a couple weeks to go in December but I think it is safe to post my favorite books of 2011. An eclectic list for sure, heavy on the Young Adult literature. But 2 non-fiction selections made it on--if you haven't read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks you should! Thanks to my book clubs I have read some books I never would have picked up and many friends suggestions ending up being my favorites!




The Immortal Life of Henrietta LacksPeople of the BookThe School of Essential IngredientsThe Scent of Rain and LightningScott Westerfeld: Uglies Quartet: Uglies, Pretties, Specials, Extras






When You Went AwayThe Forgotten GardenCutting for StoneDivergent



Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates UsCrossedLegendThe Bronze Horseman

my read shelf:
Amy's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf)




Thursday, June 30, 2011

June Reads

My goal is 100 for the year, I have read 61 so far(15 this month)! My favorites this month Divergent and The Midwife's Confession





Amy's june-11 book montage




A Secret Kept

Numbers

Sippy Cups Are Not for Chardonnay: And Other Things I Had to Learn as a New Mom

The Midwife's Confession

The House at Riverton

Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist

Still Missing

Divergent

Big Girls Don't Cry

The Distant Hours

Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance

Mystery

A Thousand Sisters: My Journey into the Worst Place on Earth to Be a Woman

Indulgence in Death

The Last Lie




Amy's favorite books »



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Friday, June 17, 2011

Read this Book!!


This is an awesome book. I read it in a day and a half and if I didn't have a baby crawling all over totally interested in my books I would have read it nonstop! In the vein of Hunger Games, it takes place in a dystopian future where young people have to choose a faction to belong to for the rest of their lives. The factions are coolly named for the personality trait that they believe is most important: abnegation, amity, candor, erudite, dauntless. But the main character's test proves she is something different--a divergent. The story of her choice, its implications, and the results of a segregated society provide intrigue and end in a war. I believe this is going to be a series...

Sunday, May 1, 2011

April Reads






Amy's april-11 book montage




Water for Elephants

Sing You Home

Tick Tock

The Right Call: A Novel

Crossing the Bridge

Still Alice

The Adoration of Jenna Fox

A Fine Balance




Amy's favorite books »



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