My Reading Year..So Far

Well it certainly was a cold winter and spring is taking its sweet time getting here. Which means I have been reading a lot. So far this year I have read 50 books. I am 33% towards my Goodreads goal of 150 books read in 2016. I have read some good books and also some not so good books. I have read a lot of four star books this year which makes me happy. My favorite books of the year so far have been Illuminae by Amie Kaufman, The Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer, Here's My Heart: A Legacy and Love and War by Leigh W. Callan, Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, and the Legend series by Marie Lu.

I have also been excited to discover author Rosamund Du Jardin. She wrote young adult novels in the 1950s. They are just delightful. They remind me of Beverly Cleary's books for older kids or a later Maud Hart Lovelace. They are just simple, happy books. I wish I could have read these when I was younger. I am still working through all her books the library has.

I have also been on a Laura Ingalls Wilder kick after finally reading Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography. I adored Pioneer Girl. It was absolutely amazing for a LIW enthusiast. There were pages and pages of anointed notes. My nerd heart sang for joy. I am in the middle of The Selected Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder by William Anderson. I love how the letters give a peek inside Laura's writing process. I read a fictionalized account of Rose Wilder Lane, A Wilder Rose by Susan Witting Albert. I also have two more books West From Home and On the Way Home, which are letters and diaries from Laura's trips. I can't wait to read those!

Yesterday was Beverly Cleary's 100th birthday! How amazing is that! I love, love all of her books. The Ramona books were some of my favorites as a kid. I always felt I had so much in common with her. I also loved Dear. Mr. Henshaw and Ellen Tibbetts. But Fifteen is my favorite book of hers. I just love Jane Purdy and I appreciate how confident she becomes by the end of the book and doesn't care if people make fun of the flowers she is carrying. Yesterday I decided to read the first two Ramona books again. And wow they really hold up. They are delightful!

As far as book challenges this year I cut way down. The only one I am really participating in is Read Your Own Damn Books. I have such high TBR pile (and two bookcases). Hopefully this challenge will help me clear some of them out and stop me from buying more books.  I am putting myself on book buying hold. I can only read books I already have or library books. So far I have read 17 books that qualify for this challenge. I also am still doing the Century in Books challenge. I am also going to participate in the Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon. I won't do all 24 hours because I have an MS Walk that morning but I will try to participate as much as possible. I just put a bunch of books on hold at the library so I will have a big pile and variety to choose from.

So that's what's going on here in my reading adventure. What has your reading year looked like so far? What is the best book you have read this year?

The Big Game's On Read-a-thon

I used to have to watch the Super Bowl for school, analyze and pick it apart. When I graduated I didn't really have the desire to watch it anymore. Football has never been my game. Baseball is my passion and always will be. And don't even get me started on the (mostly sexist) commercials. So today instead of checking out the big game I will be participating in Jenn's Bookshelves the Big Game's On Read-a-thon. I am not pre picking books to read or setting a goal. I just plan to enjoy some books from my (large) TBR pile. I am starting to read this morning so I will keep checking in throughout the day. Happy reading everybody!

10 am
The two books I am starting off with today are See How They Run by Ally Carter and Rosemary The Hidden Kennedy Daughter by Kate Clifford Lawson. See How They Run is the second book in Carter's Embassy Row series. I always enjoy her YA books. She gives a lot of depth to her characters and I love the teennage spy/international intrigue/secret society elements in this series. I have always been fascinated with the Kennedy family and always saddened by the way Rosemary was treated so I definitely wanted to read Rosemary when I heard it was coming out. I am listening to that one on Audible while doing things around the house and cooking. I am planning to make some delicious chicken noodle soup for me and my mother in law to eat while my husband goes to his super bowl party.

11:30 am
I finished See How They Run which ended on a cliffhanger. I need to remember to stop reading her books until the next one is out! The next book I am reading is A Wilder Rose by Susan Witting Albert. It is a fictionalized account of Rose Wilder Lane's life but based off of her letters and diaries. I love all things Laura Ingalls Wilder (except the awful tv show) so I have been so excited to read this book. It also made me realize I still haven't read Pioneer Girl the annotated bibliography of Laura Ingalls Wilder so I went and grabbed it from Amazon with my birthday gift card. Thanks to Amazon Prime I will have it Tuesday. I am really excited. Ok going to settle I with A Wilder Rose and a cup of lavender chamomile tea!

7:00 pm

I just finished eating dinner and I am stuffed. It took me a couple of hours to make the soup but it was worth it in the end. It was delicious. I added too many noodles but I still enjoyed it. 

I am halfway done with A Wilder Rose. Currently I am reading about her time during the Great Depression. It is very sobering to read about how difficult it was with so many people losing their money, homes, jobs and a lot of people not even having food. The book says that the Little House books may never have been published if it wasn't for the Depression because Rose actually had time to write them since she wasn't getting that much work. I also found it interesting how much she seems to hate Roosevelt and all his programs. There is so much good stuff in this book as far as history goes. I also am interested in the relationship between Laura and Rose. The book is mainly based on the fact that some people think that Rose is the actual author of all the Little House books using only her mothers bare boned outlines. I have heard this before and have never known if it is fact or rumor. As soon as I finish this book I am going to investigate!

I listened to the Rosemary Kennedy book the whole time I was making the soup and it is just tragic. I like the way Kate Clifford Lawson talks about the way people with disabilities and mental illness were perceived at the time. I had no idea moron and idiot were used to categorize people and were medical terms. And interesting to hear how Joe Kennedy Sr. and Jr. initially thought Hitler's ideas were good. 

10:50 pm

I just finished A Wilder Rose. It was such a good book. If you aren't a huge Little House fan you probably won't enjoy it as much as I did.  But I loved it. The book seemed well researched with just a light dramatization. There is so much more to this book than the story about Laura and Rose and the writing of the Little House books. I loved the background information and the history and events surrounding the book. 

I am on chapter five of Rosemary. World War II has just started. Interesting how Joe Kennedy was a huge isolationist. It's sad how he put Rosemary's letter in the diplomatic pouch because he didn't want anyone to see how childish she wrote. 

I am starting Legend by Marie Lu as my last book of the night. I have had this one on my TBR list for awhile and I am looking forward to reading it. I love that the first chapter has gold writing. I am not sure if I have ever seen that in a book before. I will add a little wrap up tomorrow. 

Thankfully Reading Day 2

It has been a great day. It was far more relaxing than I anticipated. Instead of doing my cooking in one giant block I rationed it out over the day. I just took my last batch of pumpkin muffins out of the oven so I am officially done cooking. Of course I had to sample a muffin and they are delicious. Shhh don't tell. I finished Royal We and Nowhere But Here today. Loved Royal We. It was so good. The other book not so much but you can't win every one. I was listening to A Darker Shade of Magic while I cooked today and I am really getting into the story.

I am so excited to head to my parents tomorrow for our big family Thanksgiving. I love Thanksgiving and it is definitely my favorite holiday. We always have a great time laughing, eating and enjoying being together. I probably won't read at all tomorrow but that's ok. I hope everyone has a terrific Thanksgiving!

Thankfully Reading Day 1

I love fall and I love Thanksgiving. It is my favorite time of year. And the last few years I have really enjoyed participating in Thankfully Reading Weekend. I decided to start today since the weekend is going to be super busy for me. I am hoping to enjoy some good books!

10 am

I am starting out with finishing up two books I started reading last week but haven't had a chance to pick up lately Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas and A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab on audiobook. The audiobook will be useful this week as I cook and drive. Cheers to Thankfully Reading weekend! 

3 pm 

I have been enjoying a day of reading, going to the grocery store (twice), editing photos and making a delicious pork chop/potato crockpot dinner. I went off recipe so hopefully it turns out ok. The house is already starting to smell delicious! 

11 pm

Dinner turned out delicious if I do say so myself! 

I finished The Crown of Mindnight. The last sixty pages were amazing and the ending made me wish I had the next book. My next read is The Royal We by 

Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan. I am about half way through and I am really loving it. 

More tomorrow! 

Checking In

Well I have been a failure at the blog this year! It has been a really busy year. I have mostly updated my reading progress on Instagram, Twitter and Goodreads but with Thankfully Reading coming up I decided to check in on the blog.

I have read lots of books so far this year. I have had good book luck as most of what I have read has been really great. I have also done a better job with putting a book away if I am not enjoying it. I am such a completist so that is really hard for me. But there are too many good books to keep reading bad ones! I have read 188 books so far this year. Of course this also includes books listened to.

I am doing well in my challenges. I have finished the What's In a Name challenge. I have far exceeded my Mount TBR goal of 12 books and am almost done with my 26 books challenge. I am still trucking away on the Century in Books challenge. It has definitely been a great reading year.

Thankfully Reading is one of my favorite parts of November. This is where you spend whatever time you can Thanksgiving weekend reading and relaxing instead of participating in the horror that is shopping. I hate shopping more than anything so this is perfect for me. This year I have overbooked myself on the weekend with photo sessions and a football game so I won't get in as much reading as I usually do. I plan on starting my Thankfully Reading on Tuesday which is earlier than the official start time of Thursday. 

I will let you know in my year end wrap up the books I read for each challenge and more on what my favorite books were in 2015.

A Century of Books Challenge

I was really excited to hear about the A Century of Books challenge on The Readers podcast. What an interesting idea. Basically you read 100 books one for each year. This is right up my alley. I figure it will take me a few years to complete the challenge but I am excited to do this. It will give me a chance to read books from different eras. I have decided to do the 100 books starting in 1915. I looked on Goodreads and wow there are so many good books from that year. I am excited to get started. I am just going to keep track of the books I read in this blog entry. I may every once in a while do a separate blog entry to update on books read or do some book reviews on the books I have read. Let me know in the comments what your favorite book is from each decade!

1915

1916

1917

1918

1919

1920

1921

1922

1923

1924

1925

1926

1927

1928

1929

1930

1931

1932

1933

1934

1935

1936

1937

1938

1939

1940

1941

1942

1943

1944

1945-- Heaven to Betsy by Maud Hart Lovelace

1946

1947

1948

1949-- Practically Seventeen by Rosamond du Jardin

1950

1951--The Mystery of the Fire Dragon by Carolyn Keene

1952

1953

1954

1955-- Beezus & Ramona by Beverly Cleary

1956-- Fifteen by Beverly Cleary

1957

1958

1959

1960

1961

1962

1963

1964

1965

1966

1967

1968-- Ramona The Pest by Beverly Cleary

1969

1970

1972

1973

1974

1975

1976-- Interview With A Vampire by Anne Rice

1977

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984-- Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns

1985

1986

1987

1988-- Debbie: My Life by Debbie Reynolds

1989

1990

1991

1992 -- Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

1993-- The Vicious Vet by M.C. Beaton

1994-- Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener by M.C. Beaton

1995--Agatha Raisin and the Walkers of Dembley by M.C. Beaton

1996--Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage

1997-- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling

1998--The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

1999-- Death Du Jour by Kathy Reichs

2000

2001--The Piano Shop on the Left Bank by Thad Carhart

2002

2003

2004-- The Deadly Dance by M.C. Beaton

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009-- Love Letters by Katie Fforde

2010

2011-- Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

2012-- Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

2013-- Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

2014-- Land of Love and Drowning by Tiphanie Yanique

2015--

2014 Wrap Up!

I love books and reading. There is nothing better than getting lost in a good book. No matter what is going on in your life you can always get distracted or cheer up with a book. 2014 has been a wonderful year for me in many ways but especially since I had a wonderful reading year.
I read 205 books in 2014 with a total of 68,442 pages. Technically not all of them were actually read but a lot were audiobooks so listened to. I am happiest with the fact that 152 of the books were library books. My goal was to check out more books from the library and not spend so much money on books. I also completed  a few challenges this year.

What's In A Name 7
I just finished this challenge today on the last day of the year! I read The Longest Winter: The Battle of the Bulge and the Epic Story of World War II's Most Decorated Platoon by Alex Kershaw to complete the a reference to time category. You can read about the other categories read in this post. Honestly this is a challenge I usually forget about and it just happens that I read books that fit into the categories. Hopefully next year I can purposely complete this challenge.

Thankful Reading
I had so much fun thankful reading this year. You can read all about it in here, here, here, here and here. I ended up completing five books and reading parts of two more for this challenge.

Empty Shelf Challenge
Jon Acuff challenged his followers to read more books in 2014. I will have to say this was the push I had to read more books than I have in the last few years. I have always been a huge reader but starting and owning my own business for the last few years had put reading on the back burner. I completed 211 books for this challenge as it started a little before the new year. I wasn't great about posting every book to the Empty Shelf Challenge Pinterest board but I tracked them all in Goodreads. Another great thing was discovering so many new books through the Pinterest board from what others were reading.

2015 Challenges
As of right now the challenges I am planning on participating in are
What's In a Name
2015 Mount TBR  (Pike Peak's Level-12 books)
Thankful Reading in November (of course).

Edited to add:
I have decided to do two more challenges in 2015: 26 Books and A Century Of Books.

It has been a wonderful 2014. Happy New Year and here's to a wonderful 2015! Thanks for reading!

Susan

Thankfully Reading Weekend 2014: Wrap Up Post

Well it was another fun T

hankfully Reading Weekend

. I wish I could have participated more the last two days. But family and sick pets take precedence over reading. Shocking I know!

I ended up reading five books in total and parts of two other books. Out of those there was one Nook book, two audiobooks, four print books and one library book. I read 1,844 pages.

I would say it was successful. I read books that have been on my physical TBR pile for awhile. I enjoyed everything I read. I do wish I could have participated more in the challenges and on Twitter but I just ran out of time. I am already looking forward to next year!

Thankfully Reading Weekend 2014: Sunday

8:30 pm

It has been another crazy day. So much for a relaxing weekend of reading. But I had a wonderful day with my family. I spent this morning with my sister and then the rest of the day at my Grandmothers house. I had a

photo shoot

with my baby cousin and then helped my sisters decorate Grandmas Christmas tree.

It was definitely a fun day. But then we ended up getting stopped in terrible traffic on the way back so I just got home. I am 186 pages into

Frostbite

and it is really getting good. Finally some action is happening. I also started a new audiobook

The Wonderful Bed by Gertude Knevels

. It is a children's adventure book that reminds me a little of Narnia except they are accessing a secret world through a bed and not a wardrobe. I have

 to prepare for a photo shoot tomorrow so hopefully I can get more reading done after I finish that. I will check in later. 

10:20 pm

I finished Frostbite. I was a little disappointed that most of the book just led up to one big scene and that was pretty much it. I did enjoy the new characters and fleshing out the main characters more. I don't think this series is a trilogy which makes it a little more palatable to have a slower book. I will still read the next one but won't jump to grab it.

I am 150 pages in to

Deja Dead

. This book is a little slower for me to get into because the subject matter is pretty grisly and I don't want to read it at night. So far I am not really getting sucked into the story or writing style. I will keep reading it after this weekend and hopefully it will pick up.

I will try to do a

Thankfully Reading

wrap up post this week. It has been a great weekend and I am really sad it is over. 

Don't forget to check me out on 

Twitter

 and 

Goodreads

! 

Thankfully Reading Weekend 2014: Saturday

2 pm

I managed to get some good reading in today despite the hours I have spent at the vet. My poor little kitty has been sick for over a week and not getting better. She was very unhappy at the 

vet today. She was literally climbing the walls. She is sleeping now so hopefully she will feel better soon.

I am about half way through

Frostbite

. It's a little slower than the first Vampire Academy book and a little annoying how she has three guys falling all over her. But I do love that they are in a ski lodge. I love any books written about people at ski lodges. I wish I was at one now in front of a big roaring fire. I haven't read any of

Deja Dead

today so I probably won't be finishing that one this weekend. I am on the last chapter of

The Racketeer

so I am trying to find another audiobook to read after that one. I am headed out on the road in a couple of hours so probably won't get any more reading done except by audiobook this weekend. 

11:30 pm

Just got back from an amazing

Butch Walker

concert. It was SO good. In my opinion he is one of the most talented singer/songwriters in music today. He went back to his hometown and had the show at the local theatre. The music was wonderful and it was just a perfect evening!

I finished

The Racketeer

. It was really good and I really didn't see the end coming. 

I am about halfway done with

Frostbite

. I will probably finish it tomorrow. I am headed to bed now but I can't wait to check in with everyone and see what you have been reading. 

Don't forget to check me out on 

Twitter

 and 

Goodreads

! 

Thankfully Reading Weekend 2014: Friday

Jenn asked us what book

we are most thankful for this year

. I would have to say that is T

o Kill a Mockingbird

. I actually read it for the first time in July. I can't believe I have never read it before. Sometimes there are these books that are so hyped up that they end up disappointing you. This book did not. It was a wonderful, beautifully crafted story. It brought forth so many emotions. It was a beautiful book.

9 pm

Well today has pretty much been a bust reading wise between sick animals and other distractions. I did finish Cinder. I definitely enjoyed it. I really want to read the next one in the series.

I just have a few chapters left in The Racketeer audiobook. The one thing I don't like about audiobooks is that it is hard to go back and figure out who people are if you forget the names of characters. 

I started

DeJa Dead by Kathy Reichs

this afternoon. It is the first Temperance Brennan book. I love her YA adult series

The Virals

. This book has started out good but it is pretty graphic so I may have to switch to something else for night time reading. I have been known to have nightmares after reading scary/graphic/bloody books at night.

I just edited my Thanksgiving phtoos and put on Facebook. I know my family hates that I take so many photos at family celebrations but I think it is really important to document our time together. It is rarer than ever these days to all be in the same house. I got some good group photos this year. I know what everyone is getting for Christmas!

11 pm

Decided to take a break from the grisly Deja Dead and start

Frostbite by Richelle Mead

. And there is a massacre in the first 20 pages. So not a good choice either! I am just going to go ahead and expect nightmares tonight. I have had Frostbite on my Nook for a few months now. I love that I am getting a chance to clear off books that I have been neglecting on my TBR pile since I have been reading so many library books.

Don't forget to check me out on 

Twitter

 and 

Goodreads

! 

Thankfully Reading Weekend 2014: Thursday

Happy Thanksgiving y'all! What an amazing, fun filled day full of family and food. I ate way too much and laughed so much. It has been a busy and crazy day but so fun! I love my family and Thanksgiving really is one of my favorite holidays. This is just part of our amazing spread!

As far as reading goes I haven't been able to do much. I read a little of Cinder this morning and more tonight. I am really getting into this book. It feels a little different from a lot of books I have read lately and I am looking forward to seeing how it develops. I also love a good alternative twist to an old fairy tale. I have had lots of driving/cooking time to listen to the audiobook The Racketeer. I am definitely loving this book. I am already trying to predict the MCs next move and where this book is going and so far I haven't been able to figure it out. I can't wait to see what happens with this one. 

I am pretty tired from this day (food coma) so I think I will call it a night soon. But I am looking forward to tomorrow which will hopefully be a read all day kind of day. What books have you been enjoying on this Thanksgiving Day? 

Don't forget to check me out on 

Twitter

 and 

Goodreads

! 

Thankfully Reading Weekend 2014: Wednesday

I am excited to get started on

Thankfully Reading weekend

2014! Technically, it doesn't start until tomorrow but I am starting today since I am off. I am really looking forward to reading some books that have been on my TBR pile. I will be updating this post periodically throughout the day and publishing it tonight. I will be updating

Twitter

and

Goodreads

throughout the day.  I would love to know what you are reading for Thankfully Reading.

10:30 am

Slow start this morning. The first book I am going to read is

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

. I have been looking forward to reading this book for awhile so I am excited to get into it. 

I am also planning on cooking most of my Thanksgiving dishes today so I am going to listen to

The Racketeer by John Grisham

on audiobook while cooking. I have set out my ingredients for cooking and that is about it. I can't seem to get started cooking. 

So far I am feeling as if I am getting nothing done. Maybe I should go back to bed and start again. Just kidding. 

2:00 pm

Well I just finished The Naturals and I really liked it. I really wanted to get to the end and see who the murderer was. I guessed it right before it was revealed. I definitely want to check the other book in the series. I am going to take a quick cooking break and listen to my audiobook before I start on my next print book. I will leave you with these two adorable photos of my dog cuddling in my lap. 

5 pm

Yay I am done cooking everything except green beans that I will cook tomorrow morning. I feel very triumphant. 

I started my second book earlier

I Like You Just The Way I Am by Jenny Mollen

. She is an actress and this book is comedic essays about her life. She does have some pretty funny stories but also some real cringe worthy moments. I was just in the mood for a silly memoir. It definitely is fitting the bill. And it is great paired with a nice peppermint ice cream!

9:00 pm 

Finished I Like You Just The Way I Am. It was ok. There were definitely a few laugh out loud funny parts. I am starting my third book

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

. I am really excited about this book. It is one I have been saving. Several people have recommended it to me. I am hoping it lives up to the hype!

My Love of Epic Generation Spanning Book Series

Since age 11 I have enjoyed sweeping family epics set during important events. Even if the story wasn't completely strong I enjoyed the historically accurate events that they were set in. These stories always gave a personal aspect to events you read about in history books. To this day my feelings on immigration tie back to a story about a boat full of Jewish people who were turned away from America during WWII. I have really enjoyed following different fictional families through history.  The Winslow family during the Civil War, the Federcenckos during the Russian revolution and the Lindheims and Murphys during WWII.

These books helped me learn history. I was always really fascinated with history and would read my whole history text book at the beginning of the school year so these books were interesting as they brought these events to life. They definitely helped me remember dates.
It has been a while since I have read a sweeping generation spanning epic. Someone recently recommended I check out The Century Trilogy by Ken Follett. The Fall of Giants reminds me of these books I loved so much as a child and young teen. The core stories are sometimes far fetched especially how characters end up interacting but the history swirling around them sucks me in. World War I isn't a war you read about as much as WWII so I really was interested in finding out more about it. The first book definitely goes into great detail about the events leading up to mobilization and the beginning of the war not just in Great Britain but how if affects those in Russia and The United States. I enjoyed reading all the different perspectives. The battles and events are detailed but also have a human element as you are feeling and thinking along with the characters. I love how long these books are. I adore fat books!

The second book did not grab me as much in the beginning but I am getting more into it about 300 pages in. I enjoy the new characters who were just children or not even born in the last book. This book focuses on World War II. One thing that  Follett does that I enjoy is taking real historical events and dialogue but placing the characters there on the scene. That is actually one of my favorite things about these sweeping epics. Inevitably the characters will run into famous men and women of the time. Even when the circumstances are a little far fetched I still love it!

I am looking forward to checking out the third book in this series. I would love to hear your own favorite epic generation spanning books.  As always you can see what I am reading on Goodreads and check out my Twitter. 

Thankfully Reading Weekend 2014

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of all time. I love fall, eating and hanging out with my family so it is the perfect combination! Over the past few years I have also added my love of reading to the mix by participating in

Thankfully Reading

. Thankfully Reading is November 27-30 and is a way to stay at home and relax while shopping and Black Friday nonsense is going on.  There are no rules just to read whenever you get time. I love this challenge and really enjoy my time Thankfully Reading and blogging about it. This is usually the only time I ever consistently blog! I have been setting aside some books as they come in specifically to read that weekend. This is what I have set aside. I will probably also throw an audiobook in there to read while driving and cooking.

I actually will start my Thankfully Reading a day early on Wednesday. This year I probably won't make it through half the books as I have a

concert

Saturday and a

photo shoot

Sunday. The good news is Thanksgiving is back at my parents house so I won't have that stress the day of Thanksgiving hosting. Check back Thanksgiving week for more updates. You can also keep track with me on my

Thankfully Reading Goodreads shelf

 and

my Twitter account

. And if you want to see what my previous Thankfully Reading weekends were like check them out

here

,

here

,

here

,

here

and

here

!

My Favorite Book Apps

Although I love paper books my house is completely overrun with books. The emergence of technologies such as ebooks has been helpful in keeping my husband happier with less physical books strewn around. But my favorite technology right now are my book apps on my iPhone. I wanted to share my three favorite book apps with you today.

Goodreads: Of course this is my number one favorite app. I use this at least once a day if not more. It is a condensed version of their regular website. I use this to track all my books that I am reading, scan books in bookstores that I want to read and look up book reviews. Plus, when I am at the library I can look up books on my to read list to check out. Also, the app has a library of public domain ebooks. I don't love reading an actual book on my iPhone since the screen is so small but I definitely will on my iPad. 

Overdrive: This app works in conjunction with my local library. It has a database of audiobook and ebooks. I absolutely love this app! I listen to audiobooks whenever I am cleaning or editing photos. They have a decent selection based on the particular library you are a member of. Check out your library to see if they participate with Overdrive.

Free Audiobooks: This is one of my favorite apps because it is a bunch of free public domain audiobooks. Librivox is a website that offers free public domain audiobooks read by members of their community. This is so amazing and I love it. You can also volunteer to be a reader! Some of the readers can make you wish the chapter was over more quickly but I am not complaining over this wonderful free service. Definitely check it out!

I would love to hear about your favorite book apps.  I always have room for more! Tell me your favorite apps in the comments and thanks for reading.

My Love For Lucy Maud Montgomery Books

One of my favorite authors is Lucy Maud Montgomery. I love all her books and have been reading them since I was very young. But it may surprise you to hear that the Anne of Green Gables books are not my favorite. In fact they are pretty far down the list. It isn't that I don't like the books because I do. It's just that she has so many other books that are better. Here are my favorite L. M. Montgomery books or series in order:

1. The Blue Castle
2. Emily of New Moon books
3. Pat of Silver Bush books
4. Rilla of Ingleside (I know technically it is a part of the Anne series but I consider it a stand alone)
5. Kilmeny of the Orchard
6. The Golden Road
7. Magic for Marigold
8. Anne of Green Gables books
9. Jane of Lantern Hill
10. The Story Girl
11. Chronicles of Avonlea
12. Further Chronicles of Avonlea

Today I want to talk about my favorite book. The reason I love The Blue Castle is because Valency gets to do what people dream of doing: Telling off people keeping you down and venturing into the world with no fear. Of course it is unlikely that she would have done this if it wasn't for the doctor's diagnosis. Because she has been given a death sentence she suddenly becomes free to do whatever she wants to do and really live her life for the first time. I love the word pictures in this book. This is what most attracts me to all of Montgomery's books. She paints these gorgeous word pictures that you can see in your head. For instance, when Valency first sees The Blue Castle: "There was a diaphanous lilac mist on the lake, shrouding the island. Through it the two enormous pine-trees that clasped hands over Barney's shack loomed out like dark turrets. Behind them was a sky still rose-hued in the after light, and a pale young moon." I can just see that in my head. It is beautiful. I love her flowery language. It may seem overdone to some people today but I have always thought it beautiful. I am currently rereading this book so finding lots of good quotations this morning.

"Love! What a searing, torturing, intolerably sweet thing it was--this possession of body, soul and mind."

"Sometimes the pine boughs tapped against the panes with friendly signals. Sometimes she heard the little hissing whisper of snow against them right at her side. Some nights the whole outer world seemed given over to the empery of silence; then came nights when there would be a majestic sweep of wind pines: nights of dear starlight when it whistled freakishly and joyously around the Blue Castle; brooding nights before storm when it crept along the floor of the lake with a low, wailing cry of brooding and mystery."

I think the beauty of L.M. Montgomery's books are the love and sympathy you always feel for her heroines. They all come from sad backgrounds and a lot of them are orphans. They have to pick themselves up and keep moving on no matter what tragic circumstances happen. L.M. Montgomery has lots of wisdom to impart through her words and books!

If you have never read L.M. Montgomery I suggest you do so as soon as possible. She will open up a beautiful world to you. If you have read her books please tell me in the comments below what your favorite book is and why. And if you haven't get started reading today!

2014 Reading Updates

Oh blog how I have neglected you! I have actually read more books this year than I have in years previous. I have read so much plus been busy with work and life that I haven't updated my blog since January. I have decided to commit to writing in this blog at least once a month. We shall see what happens. I used to write all the time but my skills have really become rusty.

Anyway on to an update of what I have been reading this year and how my book challenges are going. First, I have been religious about using Goodreads to track all my books this year. I have been on Goodreads since 2010 but only used it sporadically. This year, I took some time and set up shelves which has made tracking books I have read so much easier. Also, it has been super helpful if I want to read the next book in a series but don't quite remember which one I read last.

Another goal I had this year was to spend less money on books and check out more books from the library. I have always felt a little guilty about checking out books instead of buying them until I read an author (sorry I can't remember who) who tweeted about libraries. She said the more books are checked out the better chance librarians have of getting books out to people and that it is good for authors. That was all I needed to hear! This year 74% of the books I read have been checked out from the library. Oh yeah did I mention that because of Goodreads I am going to share lots of statistics and numbers with you? One of my favorite things about my library is that when you check out books at the bottom of the receipt it tells you what you have saved by borrowing instead of buying. How much do I love this? I feel like I have earned a bunch of extra money although I haven't.  Here are just a few of the receipts I have from this year.

Another good thing to come from going to the library so often is that I have started volunteering there. My library is very special as I have been going to the same one since 1989. I always wanted to work there growing up so volunteering is second best!

I decided to only do two challenges this year. The first one is the What's In A Name 7 challenge. I have read a book in four of the five categories. Here they are--

A position of royalty: 
The Kings and Queens of Roam: A Novel by Daniel Wallace. This book is by the author of Big Fish which I absolutely loved. This book wasn't as good but I still enjoyed it. I love the darkness of Wallace's writing in this book. It often takes a grim turn but I really liked the magical elements.   

A number written in letters: Thirteen Reasons Why  by Jay Asher. This book was so good. It was very sad and heart wrenching but I couldn't put it down. Sometimes when I read a book like this where there is a sad tragedy I wish that the ending could change and they would miraculously be alive. Definitely check this book out but only when you are in the mood for a sad read.

A forename or names: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks
by E. Lockhart. I LOVED this book. Give me a book about boarding school and a 16 year old semi criminal in training and you have me hooked. Seriously I have read so many boarding school books this year (8) that I made a whole Goodreads shelf. This book is funny and I love E. Lockhart's writing. I really want to check out more of her books after reading this one. 

A type of element or weather: Monsoon Summer
by Mitali Perkins.  Ok I am not ashamed to admit I adore young adult books. Just because books are written for 15 & 16 year olds etc doesn't mean they can't be enjoyed by adults. Let's be honest I am 32 years old but I still think I am 16 sometimes because of the books, movies and TV shows I enjoy. Some of the best books I have read this year are young adult books. In fact, 36% of the books I have read this year are young adult books. Monsoon Summer was an excellent book. I love how Jazz is a teenage entrepreneur.  I wish I had started my own business at fifteen. The description of the food in this book makes me want Indian food right now. I can't wait to read more of Mitali Perkins books.

The second challenge I am doing this year is Jon Acuff's Empty Shelf challenge. I credit this challenge with making me read more books this year than I have in a long time. I have always been a big reader but the past few years it has fallen away due to working hard on my business. I have made it a priority this year to read as many books as I can. I also participate in Jon Acuff's 30 Days of Hustle and one of my hustles a few months ago was to read a book a week. I was excited to reach that goal. I think reading is really important in keeping your mind in shape and taking some time for yourself.  Reading relaxes me and I love to get swept away into other worlds, times and places. Check out my shelf on Goodreads to see all the books I have read for the Empty Shelf challenge. I have read one hundred twenty-six books for the challenge. I just want to highlight four of my favorite books I have read for this challenge.

To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee. Here is the biggest shame of my reading life: I just read this book for the first time earlier this month. This book definitely lived up to the hype. Wow, it was so good. I could barely put it down. It broke my heart,  encouraged me, made me happy and sad. So, so good. I understand now why this is called one of the best books ever. 

Tell the Wolves I'm Home: A Novel
by Carol Rifka Brunt. This book brought me to tears several times. It is such a beautiful but sad story. It was full of emotion and complex feelings. It was one of those books where after I finished it I had to sit quietly and just absorb it. If there is any book you read in 2014, I recommend this one. 

Tell the Wolves I'm Home: A Novel

by Clint Hill. This book was really thorough on the five days surrounding the JFK assassination. It was written by Jackie Kenendy's Secret Service man. He was the one who crawled on the trunk to get to her after the shots. It was very well written and detailed and the personal account from someone so close to the terrible tragedy was very moving to read. There are also lots of photos in this book.

The Cuckoo's Calling (A Cormoran Strike Novel)

by Robert Galbraith. I started this book with a dose of skepticism. I had heard that many people didn't like the book. I also tried to forget that JK Rowling was actually the author. I ended up absolutely loving it! I enjoyed the flawed Cormoran Strike and although the murder plot wasn't the most brilliant the book was fast paced and exciting. I read it in just a few days. I have the second book on hold at the library (60 people in front of me yikes) and I can't wait to read it.

I promise I will be better about updating my blog for the latter half of 2014. I am always looking for new amazing books to read so please tell me the top four books you have read this year in the comments. Looking forward to adding to my to be read shelf! 

Please note that Susan's Reading Adventure is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. However I will never post content on any book or product that I don’t love.

2013 Wrap Up

2013 has been a terrific year. I enjoyed it so much. I had lots of good book time!

According to my Goodreads I read 86 books. I am sure there were more as I don't always remember to log every book I read. I read some really great books. Some of my favorites were The Perks of Being A Wallflower, The Storyteller, Silver Linings Playbook and The Fault in Our Stars.

I only participated in a couple of challenges this year: Thankfully Reading Weekend and What's In a Name challenge. I want to attempt more challenges in 2014. I have already decided to do the What's In a Name challenge and the Empty Shelf challenge. If you know of any other good challenges to try please tell me in the comments below. 

As always you can keep track of my reading progress on Goodreads and Twitter. Thanks for reading and Happy New Year!

What's In a Name 6 Wrap Up

Well a day before 2014 and I am finally writing about the What's In A Name challenge. I have done a terrible job of updating this during the year. But I did complete the challenge on the 26th. I enjoyed reading all the different books in the categories. I always like doing this challenge. You can check out the previous books I read here. 
The final book I read for the challenge was for the Party or Celebration in a title. I read The Girls' Guide to Love and Supper Clubs by Dana Bate. This book was not as frothy as I thought it would be. I was cringing through a lot of the book because the protagonist had a knack for getting herself in ridiculous situations. It was a quick and easy read and I enjoyed most of it. The ending was a little silly but to be expected.

I am looking forward to doing this challenge again in 2014! I will try to be better about updating the blog as I read but we all know how that will not likely happen. Check back for my end of year post soon!