Gone Girl

The Book:  Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Summary:

    On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer? 
     As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?

What I Thought:

I'd heard great things about this book, and then got the chance to meet the author (and get a signed copy of the book), so I had to jump on the bandwagon and give it a read.  

I found that there were parts where I couldn't put the book down and then times that it felt like it was dragging along.  Overall, though, Flynn kept me guessing and I could never predict what would happen next! I really enjoyed reading such an original book (what a plot idea!), but found the ending rather unfulfilling.  Nick and Amy are definitely unique characters, but very well developed through the dual narration. These two left me with the urge to read up on true-crime cases and psychopathy.

Rating:
7/10

Matched

The Book:  Matched by Ally Condie

Summary (taken from Matched Series website): 

In the Society, Officials decide.  Who you love.  Where you work.  When you die.

Cassia has always trusted their choices.  It's hardly any price to pay for a long life, perfect job, the ideal math.  So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one...until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.  Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path no one else has ever dared to follow - between perfection and passion.

What I Thought: 

I found this book al little hard to get into at first, but I was hooked by the end.  I read it because a lot of kids at school were reading this, but I'm not too much of a sci-fy, futuristic reader, so I wasn't expecting much.  I really think when Cassia starts to rebel against the Society is where it starts to get interesting.  She's matched with her best friend, Xander, but all of a sudden she's not sure the Match is right for her and of course this leads her to doubt all of the Society's choices for her.  I enjoyed this idea and the way the author carried the story, but I felt some pieces where left hanging for me.  Why did the Society take the artifacts?  Why did they cut the trees?  What happened with the last "red tablet" incident?  And the obvious, does she get to Ky?  Hopefully all of these will be answered in the next books in the series!

Rating:  7/10

The Traveler's Gift

The Book:  The Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews

Summary (taken from Goodreads): 

This unique blend of fiction, history, allegory, and inspiration shares the story of one man who has lost his will to live. But an encounter with seven of history's most inspirational characters, among them Anne Frank and Abraham Lincoln, leaves him with seven bits of wisdom with which to confront his future.

What I Thought: 

I am not a fan on sad/depressing books at all, and when I started reading this book for my book club, I was not that excited about it.  I changed my mind quickly, though, as David, the main character began to gather his seven decisions of success from famous leaders in history.  I think the author could have done much more with such bigger-than-life characters in this story, but none the less, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  Not only was it fun to go back in time to such stand-out moments in time, but the overall message was so positive and inspiring.  The "big idea" seems to be that  YOU are responsible for you and your life, which is terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.

Rating:  9/10

The Reef

The Book:  The Reef by Nora Roberts 

Summary (taken from Nora Roberts Site): 

Tate Beaumont, a beautiful student of marine archaeology, and Matthew Lassiter, a sea-scarred young man, share the dream of finding Anguelique’s Curse, the jeweled amulet surrounded by legend and said to be long lost at the bottom of the sea. Forced into a reluctant partnership with Matthew and his uncle, Tate soon learns that her arrogant but attractive fellow diver holds as many secrets as the sea itself.


What I Thought: 

I always enjoy a Nora Roberts story line and especially enjoyed the elements of treasure hunting and sea life present within this Roberts tale.  And, though, nothing less of a cheesy (yet begrudgingly enjoyable) romance can be expected from this author, I didn't believe this love story.  I understand a basis for lust with two young and attractive people out at sea for weeks or months on end, but why do these two characters love each other?  Their story line felt shallow, rushed, and unbelievable to me.  In fact, Tate and Matthew, the two main characters were actually the only characters I didn't much care for!  All of the rest of the characters were so lively, defined, and realistic that I had a clear picture of them throughout the book.  Buck, the drunken and loyal uncle. Ray, the restless retired father.  Marla, the fiery southern belle.  LaRue, the charming, mysterious canuck. And finally, the very rich and very crazy villain, VanDyke.  Even some of the minor characters left a impact, while the two main characters remain a mystery to the reader.  In all, not her best work, but definitely a fun summer or beach read.

Rating:  6/10

Empty

The Book:  Empty by Suzanne Weyn

Summary (taken from GoodReads): 


It's the near future - the very near future - and the fossil fuels are running out. No gas. No oil. Which means no driving. No heat. Supermarkets are empty. Malls have shut down. Life has just become more local than we ever knew it could be.

Nobody expected the end to come this fast. And in the small town of Spring Valley, decisions that once seemed easy are quickly becoming matters of life and death. There is hope - there has to be hope - just there are also sacrifices that need to be made, and a whole society that needs to be rethought.

Teens like Niki, Tom, and Gwen may find what they need to survive. But their lives are never going to be the same again.

What I Thought: 

Weyn's concept for this book was such a great idea that I was thrilled to find a copy and start reading.  This book hits on so many hot topic themes that worry and concern today's family:  rising oil prices, global warming concerns, wars over oil, affects of running out of non-renewable resources.  The book just doesn't quite cut it though.  The dialogue of the teens is unrealistic and forced due to the author's attempt to convey news and political information through the characters conversations.  The love triangle seems so shallow alone and particularly in compassion to the suffering surrounding the families of the three teens.  The ending also seems too tidy and forced.  I was hoping for better from this book, but it least it does bring up real issues that gas guzzling countries will need to face in the near future.

Rating:  4/10

The Fox Inheritance

The Book:  The Fox Inheritance by Mary E. Pearson

Summary (taken from author's website):

Once there were three. Three friends who loved each other—Jenna, Locke, and Kara. After a terrible accident destroyed their bodies, their three minds were kept alive, spinning in a digital netherworld. Even in that disembodied nightmare, they were still together. At least at first. When Jenna disappeared, Locke and Kara had to go on without her. Decades passed, and then centuries.

Two-hundred-and-sixty years later, they have been released at last. Given new, perfect bodies, Locke and Kara awaken to a world they know nothing about, where everyone they once knew and loved is long dead.

Everyone except Jenna Fox.


What I Thought: 
I read the first book, The Adoration of Jenna Fox, for a YA Lit class for my masters several years ago and was very surprised at how much in enjoyed it.  When I saw the sequel, I enjoyed re-reading the first book again and was very excited to jump into the new addition to the story.  Perhaps my higher expectations is what made this book less enjoyable for me.  I found this book very different from the first and couldn't really get into the story line until well into the book.  While the we are building our impression of Jenna along with the character as she pieces everything together in the first book, I felt that Locke and Kara, the main characters in this book, were more difficult to support. Locke seemed weak and whiny and hard to place as a character while Kara was "empty" and rather unlikeable thoughout.  This one was much more involved with the sci-fi aspect of the story as well, not my favorite genre, being set in the future and involving a mad scientist.  I still like the first, despite the sci-fi aspect, but wonder if it should have just been left alone with a hopeful Jenna setting out for her unlimited future and Locke and Kara's suffering at an end at the bottom of the pond.

Rating:  4/10

HPB Challenge!

A new reading challenge is up on the Half Price Book Blog.  The goal is to read some classics, the challenge is to pick one of each and read it before the end of March (when they change the challenge)! 

1. A Children's/Young Adult Classic     (I picked The Great Gatsby)
2. 19th Century Classic                         (I picked A Tale of Two Cities)
3. 20th Century Classic                         (I picked Catch-22)
4. A Classic Play                                   (I picked A Midsummer Night's Dream)

You can submit your choices on the blog by January 27 and be entered for a chance to win $50 at HPB!
Get to reading!

100 Cupboards

The Book:  100 Cupboards by N.D. Wilson

Summary (taken from author's website):
Twelve-year-old Henry York wakes up one night to find bits of plaster in his hair. Two knobs have broken through the wall above his bed and one of them is slowly turning . . .Henry scrapes the plaster off the wall and discovers cupboards of all different sizes and shapes. Through one he can hear the sound of falling rain. Through another he sees a glowing room–with a man pacing back and forth! Henry soon understands that these are not just cupboards, but portals to other worlds.

What I Thought: 
I think the kids in the school book club will love this book.  I, however, am not a huge fan of fantasy novels and this is obviously a fantasy.  I love the original idea- a wall of cupboards that lead to other worlds!  However, the other worlds couldn't quite keep my interest.  I felt that the whole book could have easily revolved around the already odd Henry since the other left several story lines barely touched on, let alone finished.  What happened to his parents?  Who are his real parents?  Why did he not seem to get a normal life (full of baseball and other "boy" things)?  Why did he not seem to worry about his parents?  I felt like we didn't get to know Henry himself very well since hints about him were dropped but never explored.  Perhaps the author answer all of these questions in the sequels, though, I guess I'll just have to keep reading and find out!

Rating:  5/10

Darkly Dreaming Dexter

The Book:  Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

Summary (taken from book cover):
Meet Dexter Morgan, a polite wolf in sheep s clothing. He's handsome and charming, but something in his past has made him abide by a different set of rules. He s a serial killer whose one golden rule makes him immensely likeable: he only kills bad people. And his job as a blood splatter expert for the Miami police department puts him in the perfect position to identify his victims. But when a series of brutal murders bearing a striking similarity to his own style start turning up, Dexter is caught between being flattered and being frightened -- of himself or some other fiend.


What I Thought: 

I've been on a huge Dexter kick lately, so when I found the book that the T.V. series was based on, I was curious to see how close the story lines were.  Turns out that they based the first season of the show very closely on Lindsay's first Dexter book up until the very end.  In an odd turn of events - at least for this book-lover - I definitely like the television version of this storyline better than in the book!  Don't get me wrong, this was still a good book that really kept my attention (even though I new what happened for the most part) and it was interesting to really have access to the serial killers thoughts, even as he thought he was going crazy, but  something was missing.  Maybe it was the odd conversations with himself, the some arrogant reactions,  or that he was more "empty" than the Dexter on the show, but I never really feel in love with print Dexter as much as screen Dexter.  This could be the further characterization for the show or maybe Michael C. Hall is just that good.  Either way, I was surprised when I finished the book and I realized I'd rather watch Dexter than read Dexter.  All in all a good read though, whether you've seen the show or not.

Rating:  7/10

P.S. Read more about Lindsay's Dexter books here!

Weekend In Paris

The Book:  Weekend in Paris by Robyn Sisman

Summary (taken from book cover):
Small-town girl Molly Clearwater moved to London to follow her dream of a fun and fashionable city life.  Everything seems to be coming up roses when her boss offers her a perk: a free weekend trip to Paris.  Molly's ecstatic until she discovers her boss's idea of "business," and she impulsively decides to bard a rain to Paris on her own.

Within moments of stepping onto the cobblestoned streets of Paris and making her first friend at her auberge, Molly is swept up in adventure.  From infiltrating her boss's business conference in disguise to touring the midnight city on the back of a handsome stranger's motorbike, Molly find her weekend away from her troubles turning into a voyage of passion and self-discovery that will change her life forever.

What I Thought: 
Mom and I decided to read a "light" book together during our vacation last month, but this proved to be a difficult task.  Finally we settled on Weekend in Paris.  Within about 20 pages, we both realized our mistake.  It did prove to be a very light read, but it failed to keep (or ever get, for that matter) my attention.  I had higher expectations for this book with glowing reviews printed on both covers from some of my favorite authors, but I found I disagreed with their praise comparing the main character to Elle Woods and Bridget Jones.  I found Molly to be a very shallow character, changing her opinions and self images on the whimsical reactions to the surrounding characters.  Beyond that, most of the plot was driven by coincidences so unrealistic I found myself actually rolling my eyes while reading.  Now, I'm a fan of cheesy, predictable, rom-com style, but I just found this book was trying for something that never quite worked out.  I doubt I will read anymore from this author.

Rating:  2/10

The Lincoln Lawyer

The Book:  The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly

Summary (taken from author's website, found here):
Mickey Haller has spent all his professional life afraid that he wouldn't recognize innocence if it stood right in front of him. But what he should have been on the watch for was evil.
    
Haller is a Lincoln Lawyer, a criminal defense attorney who operates out of the back seat of his Lincoln Town Car, traveling between the far-flung courthouses of Los Angeles to defend clients of every kind. Bikers, con artists, drunk drivers, drug dealers — they're all on Mickey Haller's client list. For him, the law is rarely about guilt or innocence — it's about negotiation and manipulation. Sometimes it's even about justice.
    
A Beverly Hills playboy arrested for attacking a woman he picked up in a bar chooses Haller to defend him, and Mickey has his first high-paying client in years. It is a defense attorney's dream, what they call a franchise case. And as the evidence stacks up, Haller comes to believe this may be the easiest case of his career.
    
Then someone close to him is murdered and Haller discovers that his search for innocence has brought him face-to-face with evil as pure as a flame. To escape without being burned, he must deploy every tactic, feint, and instinct in his arsenal — this time to save his own life.

What I Thought: 
I am a fan of Connelly and as soon as I heard this novel was being made into a movie I knew I needed to read quick, before see the movie.  I have to admit, I had a hard time getting into this book at first, but that could have a lot to do with the busy schedule leaving little time for reading.  Once I had a chance to read more than a few pages in one sitting, I found it hard to put down.  Each chapter seemed to offer a slight change in the case against Roulet and I was never quite sure what to believe.  As the reader, you are really finding everything out along with Mickey and there seems to be a twist or a surprise everytime you think you have it figured out.  This was the first of Connelly's books I read that featured Haller (I've read several books about Detective Bosch), and I'm definitely planning to find another to read soon!  I was also glad that I finished the book before seeing the movie, I think it made the movie even better somehow.  (The movie was very good, I'd recommend seeing it.)

Rating:  8/10

The Hunger Games

The Book:  The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Summary (from this website for the book):
Twenty-four are forced to enter. Only the winner survives. In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Each year, the districts are forced by the Capitol to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the Hunger Games, a brutal and terrifying fight to the death - televised for all of Panem to see.

Survival is second nature for sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who struggles to feed her mother and younger sister by secretly hunting and gathering beyond the fences of District 12. When Katniss steps in to take the place of her sister in the Hunger Games, she knows it may be her death sentence. If she is to survive, she must weigh survival against humanity and life against love.


What I Thought: 
I must say that even after close to 400 pages, I'm not sure how I feel about this book.  I do know that it kept my attention - this is a credit to the awesome writing.  I also know, though, that it was an unsettling experience because of the actual setting and storyline.  Each time I found myself really relating to the stories and characters, the barbaric setting snapped me back to the reality of the book:  these children, most of who are already starving, are basically being selected to serve as gladiators or sorts on reality television.  Reading the book as an adult, I can appreciate that the world of Panem - the North America of the future - is very likely a sarcastic approach to the authors political opinions.  As a young adult reader - the intended audience - I would likely take the book more at face value.  Either way, the setting of the book left me uneasy and not wanting to stay long in the world of the characters.  Although I would say I'm not a huge fan, I would like to read the second book.  I find that, while I'm not a fan of the setting and what happened in the first book, I am interested to see the reactions of the people of District 12 (like Gayle and Prim) after what happened in Book 1. 


Rating:  7/10

The Great Gatsby

The Book: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Summary (an excerpt from this article):

The Great Gatsby is probably F. Scott Fitzgerald's greatest novel--a book that offers damning and insightful views of the American nouveau riche in the 1920s. The Great Gatsby is an American classic and a wonderfully evocative work.Like much of Fitzgerald's prose, it is neat and well--crafted. Fitzgerald seems to have had a brilliant understanding of lives that are corrupted by greed and incredibly sad and unfulfilled. The novel is a product of its generation--with one of American literature's most powerful characters in the figure of Jay Gatsby, who is urbane and world-weary. Gatsby is really nothing more than a man desperate for love.

The novel's events are filtered through the consciousness of its narrator, Nick Carraway, a young Yale graduate, who is both a part of and separate from the world he describes. Upon moving to New York, he rents a house next door to the mansion of an eccentric millionaire (Jay Gatsby). Every Saturday, Gatsby throws a party at his mansion and all the great and the good of the young fashionable world come to marvel at his extravagance (as well as swap gossipy stories about their host who--it is suggested--has a murky past). Despite his high-living, Gatsby is dissatisfied; and Nick finds out why...

What I Thought: 
I decided to read the book because it's a classic - classics are generally the best literature has to offer.  I found this book starting out very slow and I had a hard time getting into it.  By the end though, I felt so close to the characters I was sad at the ending and at the fact that the there was an ending.  So much so, that almost immediately after finishing the book, I dug out the movie (Robert Redford was a fitting Jay Gatsby!) Although I can't say that this is one of my favorite books, I think it could eventually become one of my favorites.  I think - as might be hinted at in that it is a classic - this isn't a quick one-time read.  I plan to re-read this novel a few more times in the future and I predict I will like it more with each read.


Rating:  8/10

Secrets, Lies & Algebra

The Book: Secrets, Lies & Algebra by Wendy Lichtmen

Summary from the Harper Collins website:
(Visit the Lichtmen site, too: http://www.wendylichtman.com/ )

In the eighth grade, 1 math whiz < 1 popular boy, according to Tess's calculations. That is, until she has to factor in a few more variables, like:
1 stolen test (x),
3 cheaters (y),
and 2 best friends (z) who can't keep a secret.

Oh, and she can't forget the winter dance (d)!

Then there's the suspicious guy Tess's parents know, but that's a whole different problem.

Can Tess find the solutions?

What I Thought: 
Being a math teacher and future librarian, I absolutely loved the combination Lichtman comes up with in this book.  I was really surprised how much math was accurately and relevantly incorporated into Tess's story.  I also really enjoyed the layers to Tess's life - everything relates.  Her problems with the cheaters lends itself to the problem with her mother's friend.  The things she learns in math class, tie in to her life and allow her to try to organize and make sense of the turmoil in her relationships.  I would very much recommend this book to lower level readers and those hoping to brush up on their math skills!


Rating:  7/10

Insatiable

The Book: Insatiable by Meg Cabot

Visit Meg Cabot's website:
(http://www.megcabot.com/insatiable/#) 

Sick of vampires? So is Meena Harper.
But her boss is making her write about them anyway, even though Meena doesn’t believe in them. Not that Meena isn’t familiar with the supernatural. See, Meena Harper knows how you’re going to die (not that you’re going to believe her; no one ever does). But not even Meena’s precognition can prepare her for what happens when she meets—then makes the mistake of falling in love with—Lucien Antonescu, a modern-day prince with a bit of a dark side . . . a dark side a lot of people, like an ancient society of vampire-hunters, would prefer to see him dead for. 

The problem is, he's already is dead. Maybe that’s why he’s the first guy Meena’s ever met that she could see herself having a future with. See, while Meena’s always been able to see everyone else’s future, she’s never been able look into her own. And while Lucien seems like everything Meena has ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, he might turn out to be more like a nightmare. Now might be a good time for Meena to start learning to predict her own future . . . If she even has one.                             
(Summary from the book cover.)

What I Thought: 
I am a huge fan of Cabot.  Many of her adult books read like romantic comedies or "chick flicks" and usually feature a quick-witted, sarcastic main couple that makes the plot seem more truthful.  I also, though somewhat embarrassing, will admit to enjoying vampire books.  Insatiable seemed, then, to combine two of my favorite literary happenings into one novel.  Although I did enjoy the book, but it didn't quite live up to my expectations.  I found the beginning a little slow, but noticed that as I got into the book, it was difficult to put down.  Once the prince of darkness arrived in New York, things got interesting and I had to know what happened next to Meena, Lucien, and Alaric.  For all the great build up, though, I was a little disappointed by the ending (which seemed to hint at a sequel).  Overall, it was a fun read, but not one of my favorites by Cabot.


Rating:  7/10

Are You There, Vodka?

The Book:
Are You There, Vodka? It's Me Chelsea by Chelsea Handler

Summary from the Chelsea's website:
(http://www.chelseahandler.com/)

When Chelsea Handler needs to get a few things off her chest, she appeals to a higher power -- vodka. You would too if you found out that your boyfriend was having an affair with a Peekapoo or if you had to pretend to be honeymooning with your father in order to upgrade to first class. Welcome to Chelsea's world -- a place where absurdity reigns supreme and a quick wit is the best line of defense.
In this hilarious, deliciously skewed collection, Chelsea mines her past for stories about her family, relationships, and career that are at once singular and ridiculous. Whether she's convincing her third-grade class that she has been tapped to play Goldie Hawn's daughter in the sequel to Private Benjamin, deciding to be more egalitarian by dating a redhead, or looking out for a foulmouthed, rum-swilling little person who looks just like her...only smaller, Chelsea has a knack for getting herself into the most outrageous situations. Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea showcases the candor and irresistible turns of phrase that have made her one of the freshest voices in comedy today.

What I Thought:
Because I am generally a fan of Handler's E! show, Chelsea Lately, I had an interest in reading one of her books. I found the tone of the book to be similar to that of her show, with some hit-or-miss humor. While some of the situations Handler describes from her life are humorous, I found some parts to be unnecessarily vulgar. I think it really comes down to tastes in comedy -- If you like Handler's style of comedy, you will probably enjoy her essays on life experiences. On the other hand, if you don't enjoy Handler's style, this book is surely not for you.

Rating: 5/10

Shiver

The Book:
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Summary from the author's website:
(http://www.maggiestiefvater.com/)

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human... until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

What I Thought:
I thought this would be another Twilight-ish book, but I was pleasantly surprised. Unlike Stephine Meyer's werewolves, Stiefvater's werewolves change because of the weather - more specifically the cold. I enjoyed the twist on the traditional werewolf story and the main character's troublesome romance seemed to fit very well in the dark YA tale. Though I felt the book dragged a bit in some parts, the desire to find out what happens to the characters kept me reading. I found the last few chapters left me heartbroken, surprised and eager for the next installment, Linger.

Rating: 9/10

Nerds Like It Hot

The Book:
Nerds Like It Hot by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Summary from the author's website: (http://www.vickilewisthompson.com/)

As the sole witness to a mob-related murder, mousy makeup artist Gillian McCormick needs to disappear if she wants to stay alive. With the help of her octogenarian film star friend Cora Bledsoe, Gillian transforms into a Marilyn Monroe look-alike and books passage on a Nerd cruise headed for Mexico. She also brings along backup; P.I. Lex Manchester and his partner Dante Fiorello, who agree to work undercover as nerds to protect Gillian until the cruise docks.

But once aboard ship, things are far from simple. The cruise is loaded with unusual and suspicious characters, from lusty nerds to cross-dressers, making it nearly impossible to identify a real threat. And when things begin to heat up between Gillian and Lex, will he be able to keep her safe when all he wants to do is keep her for himself?

What I thought:

This book is what you expect from a typical modern romance novel -the characters were likable, the plot line was somewhat predictable, the main couple find themselves in some interesting encounters. I felt the ending was a little sudden and awkward though.

This book it isn't for those looking for a deep read, but it is a cute, light and fun read. Great for beach/pool reading!

My Rating: 6/10

Finally!

I have just finished my master's degree in library science and will finally be able to pick up a book to read for fun! I have plenty to read and hope to document some of my reading on this new blog. I will be keeping track of all the books I read each year on separate pages at the top and try to highlight good reads in blog entries. Can't wait to read my way through all the new-to-me books on my shelves!