Reading is Sexy

Last year, I stumbled upon an online bookclub that is filled with a bunch of cool chicks that love to read. While I've always loved books and always seem to have a book on my nightstand, my reading time has varied greatly through the years. At the end of 2008, though, I became pretty wrapped up in the enthusiasm of the book group and jumped on the bandwagon when the girls were setting reading goals for themselves for 2009. I didn't really talk about it here, but my original goal was to read 50 books in 2009, though after a stellar month in January, I upped it to 100.


I'm happy to say that I just completed my 100th book for the year! It's crazy to me that I've read that many books this year, but it's something that really brings a smile to my face. After the crazy end to 2008, burying myself in books last winter was the perfect balm for my battered psyche and a great way to regain my footing with life. I started reading not just at night, but sometimes at lunch, when waiting for appointments, while enjoying coffee on the weekends, etc. I let my gossip and fashion magazine subscriptions lapse because I rarely made time for them anymore. I rediscovered the library and the used bookstore because when you're reading 2-3 books a week, buying them retail gets pricey.

I've obviously kept my bookclub peeps informed of my progress and my close friends and co-workers know about my reading habits, but mostly this was a personal goal, something that was just for me. And I loved having that so much. Something that I was working towards all year that had nothing to do with work or family, that was just for personal fulfillment.

One of the results of reading this much in a year is that I've learned quite a bit about my reading tastes. I stepped out of my comfort zone and read books that I normally wouldn't even give a second glance. I "don't read romance novels", but dude, Nora Roberts sure can write one heck of a good love story. I don't consider myself a fan of historical fiction, but I couldn't seem to put Sacred Hearts or The White Queen down. And I sure wish that the Young Adult category has existed in it's current form when I was in high school because so many of these books are amazing reads - for both teens and adults.

In addition to reading a ton of books, I also made time to attend local author events and get my books signed. I met Jodi Picoult with Blondie and Sporty and Megan McCafferty with Jessica. Both of these women I really admire and would love to grab a drink with them one day and chat about life and stuff.

I also attended signings by Alan Brennert and David Levithan. Alan Brennert's wife is so sweet and is still in awe of his recent success from Moloka'i and Honolulu. David Levithan is one of the few authors that puts into words the emotions that I know I have, but can't seem to formulate into a coherent thought. If you ever have a chance to hear him speak, please go!

I've chronicled all of my reading for the year on GoodReads, along with short, spoiler-free reviews of each book, so I won't list all of the books here. The link to my page is on the right side of the blog, so feel free to browse there if you so choose. However, here are my favorites from the year, in no particular order:

Moloka'i by Alan Brennert


The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood


Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins
(The Hunger Games/Catching Fire)


Outlander by Diana Gabaldon


Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik


Friday Night Lights by HG Bissinger


The Guernesy Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer


Love is the Higher Law by David Levithan


The Road of Lost Innocence by Somaly Mam


The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion


The Jessica Darling Series by Megan McCafferty
(Sloppy Firsts/Second Helpings/Charmed Thirds/Fourth Comings/Perfect Fifths)



Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri


Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan


Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

I think I'll shoot for 50 books in 2010 as there are some sewing and cooking goals that I have for next year. After this year, I don't think I could go back to just reading 1 or 2 books a month - it almost feels ingrained in me now, something that both relaxes me and provides a ton of enjoyment. Here's to another good year in books!

Like being a kid again

I love books. Like, LOVE books. I could spend hours in a bookstore without batting an eye. I love looking at them and reading them and most importantly, taking them home with me.

The problem with the taking them home part is a) they take up space and b) they cost money. Hmph. I'm really trying to make more of an effort on both fronts, but it's not like I'm going to give up reading or anything... and then it dawned on me. Way back when I didn't have the luxury of buying books whenever I darn well pleased, there was a place that I practically lived in.

The library.

I can honestly say up until a few weeks ago, I hadn't stepped foot in a public library in years. Probably since high school. Which is just odd seeing as how it was one of my absolute favorite places to visit when I was a kid. The local library was just a few minutes drive from my house and a quick visit was a real treat. Sometimes there was a school project that prompted the trip, but more often than not, it was just for fun.

Sweet Valley High and Babysitter's Club books were checked out in large stacks alongside National Geographics and reference books for school stuff. As I got older, we stopped going as much and I'm not completely sure why. I'm guessing it had something to do with buying more books from the local bookstore and having the high school library to use in a pinch.

Those warm memories from childhood have definitely stuck with me though and I made my first visit to our local library soon after we moved into the new house. It's much smaller than the one I used to visit as a kid, but it still felt familiar and it put a smile on my face right when I walked in the door. The purpose of the visit was to check out the 3rd book in the Twilight series and reserve the 4th book, but I've since been back several times. I still get that same kick out of bringing home a stack of books that I did back when I was in elementary school.

I've also discovered audiobooks. When I'm on my training walks, plain music starts to get old after awhile, but switching to audiobooks has helped immensely. I prefer books that I've already read once, but there are enough of them that I don't think I'll have problems finding new material. I'm almost done with Twilight (the series is so good that I'm not ready to give up that world quite yet) and figure I'll eventually move on to the HP series.

I have a feeling that the library is going to quickly become one of my favorite places again. :)

Such a bandwagoner

Ya'll (and you know who "ya'll" are) won't stop talking about this book and I couldn't stand it any longer. I'm going to start Twilight tonight. And I'm planning to get a little sleep. I can hear some of you cackling all the way up here in Los Angeles ;)

Exciting movie news

In light of all the recent posts from my blogger friends about ' My Sister's Keeper' from Jodi Picoult, a book that I also love, I decided to check out her website. Look what I found:

"My Sister’s Keeper film news: During a brief visit to the LA set last week I had the pleasure of meeting many of the actors, and watching them work. Cameron Diaz and Jason Patric are brilliantly portraying Sara and Brian Fitzgerald - you’re going to be very impressed. As for the Anna and Kate’s characters, Abigail Breslin and Sofia Vassilieva are such remarkable little actresses that they literally had the entire crew in tears during one particularly emotional scene - an assistant was handing out Kleenex! Kudos to Nick Cassavetes, the very gifted director who is working all this magic. I will be going back to the set soon, meeting the rest of the actors (including Joan Cusack and Alec Baldwin) and will post more about my second visit - I can’t wait!"

I had no idea they were turning the book into a movie. Group outing when this hits theaters, anyone?!

The end of an era

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past several weeks, then you know the 7th and final Harry Potter book was released Saturday the 21st at midnight. No, I did not wait hours in line for the book and the accompanying release party, but I did pre-order it and have been anxiously anticipating its arrival for several weeks. I am a huge Harry Potter fan though not quite as obsessed many of the hard-core fans.

When I got the book on Saturday I couldn't wait to start reading it, but this time around it is bittersweet. I started reading the series shortly before the 2000 summer release of Book 4. I was hooked after the first few pages of Book 1 and then quickly tore through Books 2 and 3 (I mean, they are children books afterall). That summer, I was living with my 2 best friends, Kristin and Jamie, in a summer sublet and all 3 of us had bought copies of Book 4 and we started devouring them as soon as they arrived. We were all so entranced that poor Jamie almost bombed a summer school final b/c she couldn't put the book down long enough to study! But with the conclusion of each book there has been the promise of another chapter of the story yet to come. This time, however, after reading the last page it is finally The End.

I'm only about half way through the book at this point in part b/c I've been super busy this weekend, but also because there is a part of me that wants to drag it out as long as possible. I can't wait to see how the main story and the sub-plots are tied up and yet, I also am not quite ready for it to end. Most of my co-workers have already finished it and are ready to rehash it with me as soon as I'm done, but that won't be for at least another few days at the rate I'm going. And I'm kind of happy about that.