I am an avid reader. Ok, that's an understatement. Reading is as much a part of me as eating, sleeping and dancing. For the last two years I have done a reading challenge on one of my favourite websites, Goodreads. In 2013, I read 200 books! And in 2014 I read 145.
Goodreads enables a user to track what they read, rate the books and then also view the statistics (longest book read, number of pages read, etc). It also gives great recommendations based on what you read before.
Through school I am challenging myself to read a minimum of 100 minutes per day. The student who read the most minutes at the end of a three week period gets a $75 Amazon gift card. I don't have tons of time on my hands but so far, I've done well! It's just about keeping it up.
I have already read 11 books in 2015... I'll give a quick rundown.
1. Deluge - Lisa T. Bergren
The fifth and final book in the River of Time series, one I have loved for quite a while now. Being the last book in the story, it both ripped my heart out but gave it the most wonderful conclusion ever. It was one of the most well written out of the entire series, it wrapped up so many loose ends and gave a final taste of all the beloved characters. (I'm trying to say lots without giving anything away XD) For me, I found that it finished off the series, but it gave the imagination a head start on what life for the characters would be like after the books.
The fifth and final book in the River of Time series, one I have loved for quite a while now. Being the last book in the story, it both ripped my heart out but gave it the most wonderful conclusion ever. It was one of the most well written out of the entire series, it wrapped up so many loose ends and gave a final taste of all the beloved characters. (I'm trying to say lots without giving anything away XD) For me, I found that it finished off the series, but it gave the imagination a head start on what life for the characters would be like after the books.
2. A Moveable Feast - Ernest Hemingway
After reading 'The Old Man and the Sea' for English a few months ago, I discovered Hemingway's prose. I was instantly swept away in his writing and wanted more, so I took on a recommendation from my dad, (A huge Hemingway fan) 'A Moveable Feast'. I really enjoyed this one, it was easy to read, easy to understand, and gave a fresh, unpolished yet thoughtful perspective of everyday Paris life in the 1920s. It's basically Hemingway's journal of a few years in Paris. It fascinated me! I find that the novels written way back when are the best ways to learn about that time period. Interestingly enough, Picasso, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ezra Pound and many others of the time are featured in the book as Hemingway knew each of them.
After reading 'The Old Man and the Sea' for English a few months ago, I discovered Hemingway's prose. I was instantly swept away in his writing and wanted more, so I took on a recommendation from my dad, (A huge Hemingway fan) 'A Moveable Feast'. I really enjoyed this one, it was easy to read, easy to understand, and gave a fresh, unpolished yet thoughtful perspective of everyday Paris life in the 1920s. It's basically Hemingway's journal of a few years in Paris. It fascinated me! I find that the novels written way back when are the best ways to learn about that time period. Interestingly enough, Picasso, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ezra Pound and many others of the time are featured in the book as Hemingway knew each of them.
3. Growing Up Duggar - Jana Duggar
This book popped up on Goodreads as a recommendation. It looked interesting so I picked it up at the library. I didn't enjoy it very much, it was basically just a sketch of how they were brought up. Parts were interesting but I got the feeling that they were sending the "our way is the right way" message which turned me off.
This book popped up on Goodreads as a recommendation. It looked interesting so I picked it up at the library. I didn't enjoy it very much, it was basically just a sketch of how they were brought up. Parts were interesting but I got the feeling that they were sending the "our way is the right way" message which turned me off.
4. A Wreath of Snow - Liz Curtis Higgs
Liz Curtis Higgs is one of my all-time favourite authors, writing Scottish novels. *Sigh* They're wonderful. Anyway, I started reading this novella at Christmas time but got lost in the busyness of the season and didn't continue. I picked it up again in the New Year and thoroughly enjoyed this short Scottish Christmas story. It was predictable, VERY PREDICTABLE, but enjoyable all the same. It was a story of forgiveness vs. regret and it held the usual Liz Curtis Higgs magic.
Liz Curtis Higgs is one of my all-time favourite authors, writing Scottish novels. *Sigh* They're wonderful. Anyway, I started reading this novella at Christmas time but got lost in the busyness of the season and didn't continue. I picked it up again in the New Year and thoroughly enjoyed this short Scottish Christmas story. It was predictable, VERY PREDICTABLE, but enjoyable all the same. It was a story of forgiveness vs. regret and it held the usual Liz Curtis Higgs magic.
5. Tiger Lily - Jodi Lynn Anderson
Getting this book from the library, I was really excited about it. The story of Peter Pan, from Tiger Lily's side yet told through Tinkerbell's thoughts. It sounds fascinating, right?! Well, unfortunately, I found it empty, lacking meaning and not very well written. There were some beautiful moments, like Tinkerbell musing over the fact that it's possible to learn so much about people without even speaking to them, by watching their reactions and paying attention to their body language. But otherwise, it was a let down. I was disappointed and thought that it could have been better.
Getting this book from the library, I was really excited about it. The story of Peter Pan, from Tiger Lily's side yet told through Tinkerbell's thoughts. It sounds fascinating, right?! Well, unfortunately, I found it empty, lacking meaning and not very well written. There were some beautiful moments, like Tinkerbell musing over the fact that it's possible to learn so much about people without even speaking to them, by watching their reactions and paying attention to their body language. But otherwise, it was a let down. I was disappointed and thought that it could have been better.
6. Everything I Need to Know About Love I Learned From a Little Golden Book - Diane Muldrow
I picked up this little book in the bookstore downtown while browsing. IT IS ADORABLE. You all know the Little Golden Books, those little children's stories we all read. Well, this book compiles illustrations from a lot of them, with the little messages that go along with the stories. It has to be the cutest book I've read in a long time.
I picked up this little book in the bookstore downtown while browsing. IT IS ADORABLE. You all know the Little Golden Books, those little children's stories we all read. Well, this book compiles illustrations from a lot of them, with the little messages that go along with the stories. It has to be the cutest book I've read in a long time.
7. Four Blood Moons - John Hagee
Some of you may have heard of the theory that the world will end after the four blood moons of 2014/2015. A friend of mine told me about the theory, I heard about this book so I decided to read it to understand the theory more. Well, John Hagee REALLY wants to get his point across. This book was basically an essay, which isn't a bad thing. It was an interesting book and I got the information I wanted about the Four Blood Moons, but no one knows when the world will end, except God!
Some of you may have heard of the theory that the world will end after the four blood moons of 2014/2015. A friend of mine told me about the theory, I heard about this book so I decided to read it to understand the theory more. Well, John Hagee REALLY wants to get his point across. This book was basically an essay, which isn't a bad thing. It was an interesting book and I got the information I wanted about the Four Blood Moons, but no one knows when the world will end, except God!
8. Grace - Howell Conant
So, I have an enthralment with old movies and I especially love Grace Kelly. While killing time at the library the other day I stumbled upon a book about her that I hadn't read yet! This one was by one of her photographers who actually moved to Monaco with her after she married Prince Rainier. It gave a glimpse to what kind of person she was behind-the-scenes accompanied with lovely photos. I really enjoyed this one! :)
So, I have an enthralment with old movies and I especially love Grace Kelly. While killing time at the library the other day I stumbled upon a book about her that I hadn't read yet! This one was by one of her photographers who actually moved to Monaco with her after she married Prince Rainier. It gave a glimpse to what kind of person she was behind-the-scenes accompanied with lovely photos. I really enjoyed this one! :)
9. Humans of New York - Brandon Stanton
Another Goodreads recommendation, this book is a compilation of photos taken by a man who spent a year in New York taking portraits of people all over. It's fascinating and the stories that go along with the pictures are everything from hilarious to tear-invoking. It inspired me as well, one day I'd love to just go around taking portraits.
Another Goodreads recommendation, this book is a compilation of photos taken by a man who spent a year in New York taking portraits of people all over. It's fascinating and the stories that go along with the pictures are everything from hilarious to tear-invoking. It inspired me as well, one day I'd love to just go around taking portraits.
10. A Bouquet of Love - Janice Thompson
Janice Thompson is another favourite author of mine. This book was #4 in a series about weddings. (#1 about a photographer, #2 about a baker, #3 about a dress designer and now #4 about the flower supplier lady) It's a really cheesy series, but it's enjoyable to read. It's cute and light and Janice Thompson pens some hilarious moments.
Janice Thompson is another favourite author of mine. This book was #4 in a series about weddings. (#1 about a photographer, #2 about a baker, #3 about a dress designer and now #4 about the flower supplier lady) It's a really cheesy series, but it's enjoyable to read. It's cute and light and Janice Thompson pens some hilarious moments.
11. Stormbreaker - Anthony Horowitz
The first book the in Alex Rider series, I was very skeptical about this book, I wasn't sure I was going to like it but I had agreed to try it. I started the book one night and I was hooked instantly. I couldn't put it down and when I had to put it down I couldn't stop thinking about what could possibly happen next or how the conflict was going to resolve. It was action packed and intense, but really well written. I went through it really fast, I was finished the day after I started it, and now I can't wait to read the others!
That's all I have for now. Have a wonderful weekend!
The first book the in Alex Rider series, I was very skeptical about this book, I wasn't sure I was going to like it but I had agreed to try it. I started the book one night and I was hooked instantly. I couldn't put it down and when I had to put it down I couldn't stop thinking about what could possibly happen next or how the conflict was going to resolve. It was action packed and intense, but really well written. I went through it really fast, I was finished the day after I started it, and now I can't wait to read the others!
That's all I have for now. Have a wonderful weekend!
That's a lot of reading O.o I've been reading at least two hours for the HCOS read-a-thon (although I only made 97 minutes the other day. Oops!) but there is no way I've read eleven books this year. Good job! =)
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