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 Thankfully 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 To 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!