boookish

1. I Can Barely Take Care of Myself by Jen Kirkman (Jan. 3) 2. St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves by Karen Russell (Jan. 5) 3. Yes Please by Amy Poehler (Jan. 7) 4. If on a winter’s night a traveler by Italo Calvino (Jan. 15) 5. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins (Jan. 22) 6. The First Bad Man by Miranda July (Jan. 23) 7. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (Feb. 4) 8. Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill (Feb. 5) 9. The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell (Jul. 23) 10. Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer (Jul. 26) 11. The Life and Death of Sophie Stark by Anna North (Jul. 27) 12. Trip Through Your Wires by Sarah Layden (Aug. 1) 13. Reunion by Hannah Pittard (Aug. 17) 14. Pastoralia by George Saunders (Aug. 31)

Books finished: 14 Approximate pages: 4,444* Best month: January (6 books)

Kindle version: 12 Physical copy: 2

New releases: 4

21st century: 13 20th century: 1

Fiction: 11 Non-fiction: 3

Short-story collections: 2

Most favorite read: The First Bad Man by Miranda July Without a doubt. This book is probably one of the craziest things I've ever read, but it works, absolutely and completely. She crafts sentences that make you think the world was missing something until they were written. She finds genuine humor in the sadness, and poignancy in the mundane.

Least favorite read: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr The books I read this year were all actually pretty solid. This was just the one I was least into while reading it.

Book I just couldn’t finish: Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff I wouldn’t say that I couldn’t finish it, just that I haven’t yet. I got busy with school, hence the fact that I didn’t finish anything after August 31, and this just wasn’t calling to me during that time.

Most surprising find in 2015: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins This wasn’t surprising in that I loved it (I gave it three stars), but I had no idea it was going to get as popular as it did. I guess the mostly-unjustified comparisons to Gone Girl worked wonders! I am looking forward to the movie starring Emily Blunt, though.

Most anticipated book of 2015: Reunion by Hannah Pittard I read her debut, The Fates Will Find Their Way in 2011 and loved it, so I was anxious to read anything else of hers. It was different, but still great, and I’m excited she has another (shorter) book coming this summer!

Most memorable character: Cheryl in The First Bad Man by Miranda July Miranda July did just such a good job writing her. Cheryl’s actions are extremely unrelatable, but her voice somehow negates that, to a degree. 

Favorite author discovery: Anna North I enjoyed The Life and Death of Sophie Stark so much that I read it in a day. I’ll definitely read whatever she releases next.

Favorite cover of a book read in 2015: Pastoralia by George Saunders The aesthetic of the cover appeals to me, but also, if you look closely at the physical copy of the book, it has subtle, shiny stars on it.

This should have been posted over a year ago...

1. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (Jan. 15) 2. Tenth of December by George Saunders (Feb. 17) 3. Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell (Feb. 23) 4. The Financial Lives of Poets by Jess Walter (Mar. 13) 5. Swamplandia! by Karen Russell (Mar. 23) 6. Long Man by Amy Greene (Mar. 29) 7. Spook by Mary Roach (Apr. 21) 8. Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh (Apr. 24) 9. Sleep Donation by Karen Russell (Apr. 28) 10. Silence Once Begun by Jesse Ball (May 3) 11. When She Woke by Hillary Jordan (May 10) 12. The Martian by Andy Weir (May 13) 13. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (May 21) 14. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (May 24) 15. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (May 24) 16. A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki (May 31) 17. Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman (Sep. 8) 18. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami (Oct. 21) 19. Grace’s Guide by Grace Helbig (Oct. 22) 20. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (Nov. 1) 21. The Secret History by Donna Tartt (Dec. 26) 22. Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng (Dec. 31)

Books finished: 22 Approximate pages: 7,530* Best month: May (7 books)

Kindle version: 15 Audiobook: 1 Physical copy: 6

New releases: 8

21st century: 21 20th century: 1

Fiction: 18 Non-fiction: 4

Short-story collections: 2

Most favorite read:  When She Woke by Hillary Jordan Something about this book connected with me in a way I can’t quite explain. It was an inventive take on a future borrowing from themes of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. The introspection that takes place over the course of the narrative is thought-provoking and emotional, as she battles between her faith and her actions, her past and her future.

Least favorite read: Spook by Mary Roach I had heard a lot of good things about this author, and maybe I just chose the wrong book of hers, but I thought this was kind of pointless.

Book I just couldn’t finish: Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood I’m sure I’ll come back to it at some point (I’m more than halfway done), but it was a slog to get through as much as I did.

Most surprising find in 2014:  Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel I knew nothing of this book until it was released, and I don’t even remember how I found out about it. Maybe someone from Goodreads? Regardless, I thought it was amazing, and differentiated itself in the very crowded genre of dystopian fiction.

Most anticipated book of 2014: The City of Mirrors by Justin Cronin But...it didn’t come out. And still hasn’t.

Most memorable character: Ava Bigtree in Swamplandia! by Karen Russell I finished the last 60 pages at Starbucks, got up, stopped next door to buy the author's first short story collection, and then continued walking down the street listening to music, all the while Ava's naive, 13-year-old voice lingered in my head.

Favorite author discovery: Karen Russell I bought Swamplandia! for a friend moving to Florida, but hadn’t read it myself, partially because of all the mixed reviews. Well, lesson learned. I started with her second short-story collection, and loved it. At this point (in 2016), I’ve now read everything she’s released, so fingers crossed that she has more on the horizon.

Favorite cover of a book read in 2014: When She Woke by Hillary Jordan I don’t normally like covers with people on the cover, but this one is well done.

Favorite quote/passage read in 2014: Swamplandia! by Karen Russell “No, I don’t have to tell a soul about this, I promised myself. When you are a kid, you don’t know yet that a secret, like an animal, can evolve. Like an animal, a secret can develop a self-preserving intelligence. Shaglike, mute and thick, a knowledge with a fur: your secret.”

Books I wanted to read in 2014, as determined in January:

The City of Mirrors by Justin Cronin (TBD 2014)

Escape from Children’s Hospital by Jonathan Safran Foer (TBD 2014)

The Secret Place by Tana French (TBD 2014)

The Rise & Fall of Great Powers by Tom Rachman (May 2014)

Mount Terminus by David Grand (Mar. 2014)

The Kept by James Scott (Jan 2014)

The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton (2013)

A Guide for the Perplexed by Dara Horn (2013)

Ways of Going Home by Alejandro Zambra (2013)

The Financial Lives of the Poets by Jess Walter (2009)

Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1934)

Well, the first two on the list were never released. (The City of Mirrors is FINALLY coming out May 2016!) I started The Secret Place, since I loved all of Tana French’s other books, but yeesh. Not a fan of the writing in that one, at all. I also started Tender is the Night for a book club, but couldn’t get into it and there were other books I wanted to read more. All the rest...I just never got to them. Someday I’ll read The Luminaries, I promise.

I didn't reach my goal of 40 books in 2013, but hey, what the hell, I'll try again in 2014! Again, if I reach 14,000 pages, I'll consider that just as successful. Some books on my to-read list, including several that will be released during the year:

The City of Mirrors by Justin Cronin (TBD 2014)

Escape from Children's Hospital by Jonathan Safran Foer (TBD 2014)

The Secret Place by Tana French (TBD 2014)

The Rise & Fall of Great Powers by Tom Rachman (May 2014)

Mount Terminus by David Grand (Mar. 2014)

The Kept by James Scott (Jan 2014)

The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton (2013)

A Guide for the Perplexed by Dara Horn (2013)

Ways of Going Home by Alejandro Zambra (2013)

The Financial Lives of the Poets by Jess Walter (2009)

This is coming a bit late, since we are now halfway through January, but I figured it was better late than never. These posts about my reading goals are always my favorite (probably why I never post anything else), and I always like to have them to look back on. So, how did my year in reading go? Not great. Not terrible, but not great. I wanted to read 40 books and only made it through 24. (What happened after August to derail my reading productivity? Two words: Candy Crush. Oops.) Page-wise I had hoped to reach 14,000, but only got to 7,673 according to Goodreads (and excluding all the books I abandoned or the one I was reading into the new year). The details, without further ado:

1. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (Jan. 2) 2. Arcadia by Lauren Groff (Jan. 16) 3. We Live in Water by Jess Walter (Feb. 18) 4. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (Mar. 9) 5. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (Mar. 16) 6. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami (Mar. 27) 7. The Unchangeable Spots of Leopards by Kristopher Jansma (Apr. 7) 8. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson (Apr. 16) 9. The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer (Apr. 29) 10. World War Z by Max Brooks (May 11) 11. The Love Song of Jonny Valentine by Teddy Wayne (May 14) 12. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn (May 16) 13. Dark Places by Gillian Flynn (May 19) 14. Sorry Please Thank You by Charles Yu (May 19) 15. Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris (May 19) 16. Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami (May 28) 17. Drown by Junot Díaz (Jun. 2) 18. Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter (Jun. 25) 19. You Are One of Them by Elliott Holt (Jun. 29) 20. Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg (Jul. 8) 21. Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood (Aug. 4) 22. Wild by Cheryl Strayed (Aug. 15) 23. Mudbound by Hillary Jordan (Aug. 29) 24. Faith by Jennifer Haigh (Nov. 13)

Books finished: 24 Approximate pages: 7,673* Best month: May (7 books) Books abandoned: 3 (at least)

Kindle version: 18 Physical copy: 6

New releases: 8

21st century: 17 20th century: 7

Fiction: 22 Non-fiction: 2

Novel: 18 Short-story collections: 4

Most favorite read: We Live in Water by Jess Walter I was never a short-story person, but I think that changed this year. Of the 24 books I read, four of them were short-story collections, and that might be due to this book here, which was awesome. Maybe I'm biased because the writer is from Washington and that made his stories more relatable (finally, someone else who calls the tiny pieces of wood that get stuck in your finger, for example, "slivers"!), but this book had a great blend of human drama and absurdity. I loved the zombie story that took place in Fremont, just two miles from where I live, as well as the one about the man who write horoscopes and messes with those for his ex's sign. Just so great.

Least favorite read: Sorry Please Thank You by Charles Yu Yes, my most and least favorite books were both short-story collections. I probably should have known I wouldn't enjoy this much, since How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe definitely isn't one of my favorites, but all the stories looked quirky and kind of fun, so I gave it a try. I didn't hate it, I just didn't like it as much as the other books I read this year.

Book I just couldn't finish: Night Film by Marisha Pessl So disappointing. The letters, webpages, etc. went pretty quickly from being interesting to seeming a lot like a gimmick. That, on top of the fact the writing was way too close to Dan Brown's style (as a friend noted to me), and I just couldn't do it. It felt contrived, it felt flat, it felt unnecessary.

Most surprising find in 2013: We Live in Water by Jess Walter I had no idea about this book until I saw it sitting on a table at my local small bookstore. Score!

Most anticipated book of 2013: Night Film by Marisha Pessl Yes, I really wanted to like this book. I read her first, Special Topics in Calamity Physics, and liked it a lot. It was very disappointing to find that it didn't intrigue me at all.

Most memorable character: Camille Preaker in Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn I don't know how Flynn writes such messed up, not wholly-likable characters. But however she does it, they're certainly interesting and I will read about every single one. I ready Sharp Objects and Dark Places consecutively this year, and Camille took the cake, as far as interesting characters go.

Favorite author discovery: Jess Walter It's true, I had never read anything by him before this year. Now I'm excited to delve into his earlier works over the next couple years!

Favorite cover of a book read in 2013: Sorry Please Thank You by Charles Yu The book might not have interested me much, but the cover saved it from getting lost in my larger bookshelf, in place of a coveted spot on the shelf in my room where I keep the pretty books.

Favorite quote/passage read in 2013: Life After Life by Kate Atkinson “Ursula craved solitude but she hated loneliness, a conundrum that she couldn’t even begin to solve.” 

Books I wanted to read in 2013, as determined in January:

Night Film by Marisha Pessl (Aug. 2013)

The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer (Apr. 2013)

The Movement of Stars by Amy Brill (Apr. 2013)

The Unchangeable Spots of Leopards by Kristopher Jansma (Mar. 2013)

Arcadia by Lauren Groff (2012)

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter (2012)

Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan (2012)

A Naked Singularity by Sergio De La Pava (2012)

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (2009)

A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin (1996)

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (1963)

East of Eden by John Steinbeck (1952)

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (1938)

Persuasion by Jane Austen (1817)

I tried to read Night Film, Wolf Hall, and A Game of Thrones, but gave up on all of them. The reasons for Night Film are above, but I thought Wolf Hall was too dry when I could just watch The Tudors for essentially the same story and Game of Thrones, well, the TV show moves a lot faster. I had started Sweet Tooth in 2012, but never came back to it in 2013 and probably won't in 2014.

Arcadia by Lauren Groff

Date started: January 2, 2013 Date finished: January 16, 2013 Total pages: 290 Genre: Literary fiction, coming-of-age Rating: 4 stars

Total books in 2013: 2

Well, I didn't reach my goal of 40 books in 2012 (partially because I read some FAT books), so my goal for 2013 is again 40 books and/or 14,000 pages. Some books I’m hoping to get to include:

Night Film by Marisha Pessl (Aug. 2013)

The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer (Apr. 2013)

The Movement of Stars by Amy Brill (Apr. 2013)

The Unchangeable Spots of Leopards by Kristopher Jansma (Mar. 2013)

Arcadia by Lauren Groff (2012)

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter (2012)

Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan (2012)

A Naked Singularity by Sergio De La Pava (2012)

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (2009)

A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin (1996)

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (1963)

East of Eden by John Steinbeck (1952)

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (1938)

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett (Jan. 1)

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (Jan. 22)

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles (Jan. 29)

Vaclav and Lena by Haley Tanner (Feb. 26)

Blueprints of the Afterlife by Ryan Boudinot (Mar. 4)

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese (Mar. 17)

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Mar. 20)

The Starboard Sea by Amber Dermont (Mar. 26)

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin (Apr. 10)

The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt (Apr. 26)

The Passage by Justin Cronin (Jun. 14)

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (Jul. 7)

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (Jul. 21)

The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafón (Jul. 27)

Hot Pink by Adam Levin (Jul. 29)

11/22/63 by Stephen King (Aug. 27)

Broken Harbor by Tana French (Sep. 8)

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey (Oct. 2)

The Twelve by Justin Cronin (Nov. 18)

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov (Dec. 5)

I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb (Dec. 30)

Books finished: 21 Approximate total pages: 9,480* Best Month: March (1,651 pages*)

Kindle version: 20 (95%) Physical copy: 1 (5%)

New Releases: 7 (33%)

21st Century: 17 (81%) 20th Century: 3 (14%) 19th Century: 1 (5%)

Fiction: 20 (95%) Non-Fiction: 1 (5%)

Most favorite read: Rules of Civility by Amor Towles I don't know if I loved it because I read it at the same time as season two of Downton Abbey (they have similar tones), or if it was just really good. Either way, this story of New York upper-class society as told by the daughter of Russian immigrants was exactly my cup of tea. And, of course, it helped that we have the same first name (Katey/Katie).

Least favorite read: Hot Pink by Adam Levin I enjoyed Levin's earlier tome, The Instructions, when I read it last year, but this collection of short stories was just not for me. At all.

Book I just couldn't finish: The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway I couldn't get into this one, no matter how I tried. On the one hand, it had exciting things like a dystopian world, ninjas, etc., but it was also slow, and the grammar bothered me. Plenty of people love it, but I probably won't get around to giving it a second chance.

Most surprising find in 2012: The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt Released in 2011, this book was just flat-out entertaining, and it had it all: humor, assassins, jealousy, greed.

Most anticipated book of 2012: The Twelve by Justin Cronin I only just read The Passage this year, but as soon as I finished it, I began looking forward to the release of its sequel.

Most memorable character: Amy from Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn It's best to go into this book knowing nothing about it, so I won't elaborate.

Favorite author discovery: Justin Cronin 2014's release of The City of Mirrors can't come soon enough!

Favorite cover of a book read in 2012: Rules of Civility by Amor Towles It's so fancy!

Favorite quote/passage read in 2012: Rules of Civility by Amor Towles “In our twenties, when there is still so much time ahead of us, time that seems ample for a hundred indecisions, for a hundred visions and revisions—we draw a card, and we must decide right then and there whether to keep that card and discard the next, or discard the first card and keep the second. And before we know it, the deck has been played out and the decisions we have just made will shape our lives for decades to come.”

Longest: I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb, 912 pages* Shortest: Hot Pink by Adam Levin, 207 pages* Fastest: Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafón Slowest: Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov Funniest: The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt Saddest: Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese Scariest: The Passage by Justin Cronin Best Writing: State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

Like last year, I didn't do very well at reading in 2012. There's only so much time in the day, and most of that is spent at a desk! I only read seven new releases, so again I'm doing a top five list, instead of the usual top ten. There were several additional new releases I didn't get to, so those are ranked, as well.

Top Five Books I Read:

The Twelve by Justin Cronin

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Blueprints of the Afterlife by Ryan Boudinot

Broken Harbor by Tana French

The Starboard Sea by Amber Dermont

Top Five Books Still To Be Read:

Arcadia by Lauren Groff

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan

A Naked Singularity by Sergio De La Pava

My laptop died back in March, and while I wasn't super committed to this blog before that happened, it is definitely part of the reason why I've been so radio silent this year. Why does the Tumblr iPad app suck so much for composing blog posts?!

Genre: Contemporary fiction Setting: Brooklyn, New York City Narrator: Third person, focusing mostly on Vaclav and Lena

First line(s): “'Here, I practice, and you practice. Ahem. AH-em. I am Vaclav the Magnificent, with birthday on the sixth of May, the famous day for the generations to celebrate and rejoice, a day in the future years eclipsing Christmas and Hanukkah and Ramadan and all pagan festivals, born in a land far, far, far, far, far, far, far distance from here, a land of ancient and magnificent secrets, a land of enchanted knowledge passed down from the ages and from the ancients, a land of illusion (Russia!), born there in Russia and reappearing here, in America, in New York, in Brooklyn (which is a Borough), near Coney Island, which is a famous place of magic in the great land of opportunity (which is, of course, America), where anyone can become anything, where a hobo today is tomorrow a businessman in a three-pieces-suit, and a businessman yesterday is later this afternoon a hobo, Vaclav the Magnificent, who shall, without no doubt, be ask to perform his might feats of enchantment for dukes and presidents and czars and ayatollahs, uniting them all in awestruck and dumbstrucks, and thus, one day in the future years, be heralding a new era (which is a piece of time) of peace on earth."

Quick summary: Two nine-year-old Russian immigrants, Vaclav and Lena, become best friends despite their very different circumstances. Vaclav, who dreams of one day becoming a famous magician with Lena by his side, lives with his parents, who came to America so that Vaclav could have a better life. Lena, however, is a skinny, neglected orphan living with her stripper aunt. One day, Lena disappears from Vaclav's life, but she is never far from this thoughts. Where did she go, and will they be reunited?

How did I feel about the character(s)? These are two kids whose pasts and presents are so well-drawn that you can't help but feel for them. Maybe it's not exactly the most plausible thing for these two to have been in love since they were children, but it works within the context of the story.

What did I like most about the book? There are just some flat-out wonderful passages, such as:

“Of course they were with each other the whole time. Even when they weren’t looking, they never had to check. She was always there; he was always there. Outside her bedroom, somewhere in the darkness, like the moon.”

“He is refusing to believe. He is refusing to understand. He is the silence before a bomb explodes. He is the tick, tick tick, tick before the boom.”

Other thoughts? I've read other reviews that said the author's depiction of Russian immigrants isn't exactly accurate, but I can't really speak to that. Sure, there are a lot of stereotypes (i.e. the borscht-eating and vodka-swilling father), but the crux of the story is the relationship between the two kids, which I thought was well-developed and sincere.

Also, I heard that the author wrote this while her husband was dying of cancer and that he didn't live to see it released. Heartbreaking stuff.

Why did I read it? I saw the book on the front table at the local book store, and the cover caught my attention. I thought the overall premise sounded sweet, and thought the disappearance aspect was interesting.

Who do I recommend it to? People who like books focused on precocious kids, maybe like The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. The very quotable writing also kind of reminds me of Nicole Krauss's The History of Love.

Will I read the author’s other works? Maybe not solely based on this novel, but if the plot of her future works sound intriguing, I'll give them a shot.

Do I like the cover? Like I said before, the cover is what initially drew me to the book. In the book, Vaclav makes a magician's hat out of paper, and I think the cover kind of alludes to those paper craft projects we do as children.

How long did it take to finish? Seven days, but it is a much quicker read than my slow progress would indicate.

Rating: 3.5 stars Finished: February 26, 2012 Total Pages: 292 Kindle Locations: 4,255 Date Published: May 17, 2011 Publisher: The Dial Press Buy It: Print or Kindle

Genre: Historical fiction Setting: New York City, 1938 Narrator: Katey Kontent, a 25-year-old Wall Street secretary

First line: “On the night of October 4th, 1966, Val and I, both late middle age, attended the opening of Many Are Called at the Museum of Modern Art—the first exhibit of the portaits taken by Walker Evans in the late 1930s on the New York City subways with a hidden camera.” 

Quick summary: After meeting a young successful banker named Theodore "Tinker" Grey on New Year's Eve, Katey Kontent, together with her roommate and best friend Eve Ross, is introduced to the upper reaches of New York society. In a year that changes everything for the people involved, Katey discovers what wealth and station can bring, but also at what cost. 

How did I feel about the character(s)? Katey is awesome. She's smart, witty, confident, and an all-around great narrator.

What did I like most about the book? As I was reading this and telling other people about it, I just kept saying, "It's so fancy!" I loved that. I loved seeing the world of the rich and successful through the eyes of someone more relatable. (It doesn't hurt that we have the same first name, either). The parties, the clothes, the cars...it was just how I'd pictured that era, at least for those who made it through the Depression unscathed.

Other thoughts? They eat a LOT of canapés (but what would you expect). No, but seriously, the writing is wonderful. Take, for example, “In our twenties, when there is still so much time ahead of us, time that seems ample for a hundred indecisions, for a hundred visions and revisions—we draw a card, and we must decide right then and there whether to keep that card and discard the next, or discard the first card and keep the second. And before we know it, the deck has been played out and the decisions we have just made will shape our lives for decades to come.”

Why did I read it? I had been watching (so, so much) Downton Abbey, and I wanted to read something where the kind of lifestyle was similar. I know the two are set two decades apart, but both offer a glimpse into the world of privilege and opportunity.

Who do I recommend it to? Other people who watch Downton for the reasons above. Maybe also to fans of The Great Gatsby. It's really just a great book, though, so I highly recommend it in general.

Will I read the author’s other works? It doesn't look like he's released anything else, but his future works will very likely make their way to my to-read list.

Do I like the cover? For sure. "It's so fancy!"

How long did it take to finish? Six days.

Rating: 5 stars Finished: January 29, 2012 Total Pages: 352 Kindle Locations: 5,174 Date Published: July 26, 2011 Publisher: Viking Adult Buy It: Print or Kindle

Genre: Classic, Gothic, Mystery Setting: Victorian England Narrator: Varies, but mainly first-person accounts from Walter Hartright and Marian Halcombe

First line: “This is the story of what a Woman's patience can endure, and of what a Man's resolution can achieve.”

Quick summary: Walter, a drawing-master from London, finds himself employed at Limmeridge House in the country, where he is to teach his skills to the two young women who live there. Before he departs, however, he has a chance encounter with a woman in white, who has just escaped from an asylum. During their conversation, he mentions the place he is traveling to, and finds that she is familiar with it and the people there.

Did anything surprise me? I've heard that this was the first sensational novel, so I suspect many of the plot twists were surprising to readers during the 19th century, but those of us reading today are more accustomed to literary devices, such as foreshadowing. That isn't to say that I saw where the book was going from the beginning, because I definitely didn't, but there was only one moment when I was really and truly shocked.

Other thoughts? I don't know if it's because my reading time was spread out over so many short sessions or because it really is lengthy, but this book seemed so long. As I was reading it, I just wanted the 

Who do I recommend it to? Fans of Gothic or crime literature, as well as people who read and enjoyed Michael Cox's The Meaning of Night and The Glass of Time.

Why did I read it? This was one of the books I chose for the Back to the Classics reading challenger, for the 19th century category. I'd had it on my shelf for so long, and figured it was time! Plus, I really loved Michael Cox's books, which several people have said were influenced by Wilkie Collins. I definitely see some of the similarities, as well.

Will I read the author’s other works? I've heard good things about The Moonstone, so I will probably read that at some point, but possibly not for a long while.

Do I like the cover? I love the cover of the Penguin hardcover classics edition, designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith, which a friend gave it to me for Christmas one year. I read the Kindle edition, though, which has a plain, boring cover.

How long did it take to finish? Three weeks, and only because I started taking the bus to work, so now I have that extra reading time. Too many 12-hour work days meant I barely had any other opportunities!

Rating: 3.5 stars Finished: January 22, 2012 Total Pages: 627 (Penguin Hardcover Classics edition) Kindle Locations: 11,421 Date Published: 1859 Publisher: Public domain Buy It: Print or Kindle

Genre: Contemporary fiction Setting: Present day, Brazil's Amazon rainforest Narrator: 3rd person, focusing on Dr. Marina Singh

First line: “The news of Anders Eckman's death came by way of Aerogram, a piece of bright blue airmail paper that served as both the stationary and, when folded over and sealed along the edges, the envelope.”

Quick summary: After receiving the news of her co-worker's death, Dr. Marina Singh is sent to Brazil retrace his footsteps and finish the job he was meant to do: find her former teacher, Dr. Annick Swenson, who is developing a fertility drug in the Amazon, and convince her to move her work back to the U.S.

How did I feel about the character(s)? Marina is clearly a smart and well-respected doctor, but she didn't always come across that way. Obviously a lot of that is because she was dropped into an environment completely different from her native Minnesota, but the questions she asked of Dr. Swenson and the others she met made her seem naive. That's not necessarily a bad thing, since the reader is new to most of the details, as well, but her personality seemed to changed a lot as soon as she set foot in Brazil.

What did I like most about the book? I loved Easter. He's a smart, brave kid who quickly charmed everyone, including the impervious Dr. Swenson. He learned to overcome his disability (deafness) in such a way that it essentially became a non-issue, and he is relied upon heavily by Marina and several others. It was easy to see why they care for him so much.

Did anything surprise me? I didn't see the ending coming at all, but I won't spoil that for anyone.

Other thoughts? This isn't a fluffy book, and the pace isn't exactly fast, but it was enjoyable, nonetheless. The descriptions of the Amazon, while somewhat repetitive, successfully created a picture of the untamed setting and its native inhabitants. Although the book was largely character-driven, it also addresses several ethical questions. The fertility drug Dr. Swenson is working on would increase the age at which women could conceive, eliminating the "biological clock." But is it right to put the body through that at those later stages in life? What becomes of the children born to women who conceive at 60, or even 70?

Who do I recommend it to? People who have read Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, or who like books with determined female characters.

Why did I read it? I didn't read very many books written 2011, and wanted to try to fit this one in at the very end of the year. I had seen it's placement on several top ten lists, and thought it sounded like an interesting loose take on Heart of Darkness, which I read nine years ago for a class in high school.

Will I read the author's other works? I had previously been interested in reading Bel Canto, and I would say I'm more likely to read it now, though I've heard mixed reviews about it.

Do I like the cover? The cover is probably one of the reasons I didn't read the book sooner, because it came across as a typical, serious novel written by a woman.

How long did it take to finish? Six days, although I read more than half of it in one day.

Rating: 4 stars Finished: January 1, 2012 Total Pages: 353 Kindle Locations: 6,555 Date Published: May 15, 2011 Publisher: HarperCollins Buy It: Print or Kindle

Happy New Year!

I was a terrible reader in 2011. Though I read more books than I did in 2009, I also read 19 fewer than in 2010. Perhaps I over-reached with the goal of reading 52 books and got discouraged early on when I fell off pace. This year, my goal will be 40 books, which would double the amount I read in 2011, but still be more than I've ever finished in a single year.

Some books I'm hoping to make time for include: 

Broken Harbour by Tana French (2012)

The Starboard Sea by Amber Dermont (2012)

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett (2011)

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami (2011)

Faith by Jennifer Haigh (2011)

When She Woke by Hillary Jordan (2011)

In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson (2011)

On Canaan's Side by Sebastian Barry (2011)

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles (2011)

City of Ash by Megan Chance (2011)

The Passage by Justin Cronin (2010)

The Gone Away World by Nick Harkaway (2008)

Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier (1997)

The Alienist by Caleb Carr (1994)

Also, I read exactly zero classics in 2011 so that I could fit in a few new releases. To make sure that doesn't happen in 2012, I'm going to do the Back to the Classics Challenge hosted by Sarah Reads Too Much. Here are my (tentative) picks for the categories:

Any 19th century classic: The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (1859) Any 20th century classic: East of Eden by John Steinbeck (1952) Reread a classic of your choice: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (1953) Classic play: The Crucible by Arthur Miller (1953) Classic mystery/horror/crime fiction: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (1938) Classic romance: Persuasion by Jane Austen (1817) Classic translated to English: Night by Elie Wiesel (1960) Classic award winner: The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton (Pulitzer, 1921) Classic set in a country that you will not visit during your lifetime: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (Middle Earth, 1937)

Bloodroot by Amy Green (Jan. 2)

Tree of Codes by Jonathan Safran Foer (Jan. 12)

A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami (Mar. 1)

Running a Thousand Miles For Freedom by William and Ellen Craft (Mar. 5)

Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell (Mar. 25)

The Partly Cloudy Patriot by Sarah Vowell (Mar. 27)

The Living by Annie Dillard (Apr. 3)

Bossypants by Tina Fey (Apr. 12)

The Brothers K by David James Duncan (Jul. 23)

How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu (Jul. 30)

The Fates Will Find Their Way by Hannah Pittard (Aug. 4)

Stories for Nighttime and Some for the Day by Ben Loory (Aug. 12)

Kapitoil by Teddy Wayne (Aug. 16)

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (Aug. 26)

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom (Sep. 5)

We the Animals by Justin Torres (Sep. 7)

The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach (Sep. 27)

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (Oct. 18)

Zone One by Colson Whitehead (Oct. 24)

The Instructions by Adam Levin (Dec. 27)

Books finished: 20 Approximate total pages: 6,490 Total Kindle locations: 107,410 Best Month: August (1,144 pages)

New Releases: 8 (40%)

21st Century: 16 (80%) 20th Century: 3 (15%) 19th Century: 1 (5%) 

Fiction: 16 (80%) Non-Fiction: 4 (20%)

Fiction Contemporary: 7 (44%) Historical: 4 (25%) Sci-Fi/Fantasy: 4 (25%) Short Stories: 1 (6%)

Non-Fiction Historical: 2 (50%) Political: 1 (25%) Celebrity: 1 (25%)

Most favorite read: The Living by Annie Dillard A sprawling book that spans generations, it took me a while to finish, but it was well-worth the time and effort. The prose is gorgeous, and I loved its depictions of Washington in the 1800s. I love my state, and this book is a wonderful homage to its early beginnings.

Least favorite read: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern Just don't even get me started on this one. I understand that it has more than 12,000 positive ratings on Goodreads, but I just don't get it.

Book that I just couldn't finish: West of Here by Jonathan Evison I really wanted to love this book. A historical novel set in Washington would normally be right up my alley, but I couldn't get through the drivel. The dialogue didn't seem authentic, the prose is pretentious, and I'm really confused why the author thought he had to make up a city when he's basically just writing about Port Angeles.

Most surprising find in 2011: The Fates Will Find Their Way by Hannah Pittard I heard about this book randomly, and picked it up on the pretense that it would be similar to Jeffrey Eugenides' The Virgin Suicides, which I loved. While they share some aspects, it's definitely it's own book, and one I was surprised to enjoy as much as I did.

Most anticipated book of 2011: The Pale King by David Foster Wallace I was very excited to read DFW's final work, but the timing just wasn't right. One of the main characters works for the IRS and is studying for the CPA exam. When the book was released, I was in the middle of taking an accounting class, and the exam questions interspersed hit too close to home. I had to set it aside, but I'm sure I'll get to it.

Most memorable character: Gurion Maccabee from The Instructions by Adam Levin I mean, this is 1,000 pages in first-person about kid who thinks he's the messiah. He'd be memorable even if he wasn't eloquent and brilliant.

Favorite author discovery: Teddy Wayne I heard the praise for Kapitoil last year, but wasn't persuaded to read it until the Kindle version went on sale for 99 cents during the summer. I sure was missing out! His writing is smart, funny, and enjoyable. I flew through the book, and I can't wait to read what he releases next.

Favorite cover of a book read in 2011: Stories for Nighttime and Some for the Day by Ben Loory It's not super simple, but it's balanced, and I love the quirky imagery. It's also a good representation of the short stories inside.

I will be the first to admit that I sucked at reading this year. I finished just 20 books (as compared to 39 in 2010), and only eight of those were released in 2011. So, instead of doing a top ten list like everyone else, I'm going to do a top five list. Of course, I didn't read many of the books fellow bloggers are championing, so I'm also going to include the top five books I haven't gotten around to yet.

Top Five Books I Read:

The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach (review)

The Fates Will Find Their Way by Hannah Pittard (review)

Zone One by Colson Whitehead (review)

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (review)

We the Animals by Justin Torres (review)

Top Five Books Still To Be Read:

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett (currently reading)

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

Faith by Jennifer Haigh

When She Woke by Hillary Jordan