2015 Reading Challenge Results

As I prepare to launch a new year's reading challenge, let's take a quick look at what I read in 2015.

Hugo & Rose by Bridget Foley
Queen Song by Victoria Aveyard (a novella prequel to Red Queen)
Who Do you Love by Jennifer Weiner (a book club pick)
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard (I CANNOT wait for the next book!!!!)
P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han
The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert (so cute)
The Someday Jar by Allison Morgan
The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty
Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl
What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion (this took me a little to get into, but I'm so glad I did)
The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion (the sequel)
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
The Sweetheart Deal by Polly Dugan
Still Alice by Lisa Genova (have Kleenex ready)
The Year We Fell Down by Sarina Bowen
The Look of Love by Sarah Jio
Delicious! by Ruth Reichl (one of my favorite books of the year...maybe ever)
The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
Read Bottom Up by Neel Shah and Skye Chatham
Fairest by Marissa Meyer
The One and Only by Emily Giffin
The Distance Between Us by Kasie West
The Fine Art of Pretending by Rachel Harris
Magnolia by Kristi Cook
Landline by Rainbow Rowell
A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall

Okay, so that wasn't so quick. Whatever.

This year I discovered Liane Moriarty and read a few of her books. I also finally read The Rosie Project which had been on my list for quite a while. I wondered if I also had early onset Alzheimer's after reading Still Alice. I fell in love with Ruth Reichl's writing as she combined food with beautiful imagery. Her descriptions were magnificent. Anne Frank made me think and feel. As I read her account of hiding, I kept thinking why didn't people stand up and do something. Little did I know that months later, I'd be watching my own country lose its mind and rational thinking. Fear is a powerful motivator and, unfortunately, some know how to use it against rational thinking. This is one of the reasons I love books so much. They teach us, expand our minds, help us to ask important questions. Last year had a reading list that had a little fluff, a little sadness, a little history, and lots of imagination. I can't wait to see what 2016 has in store. 


Happy Reading!

2016 Reading Goals

Good morning!

I don't any better way to start this new blog than to launch my 2016 reading goals. Last year I found a reading challenge thanks to Instagram. BringingUpBurns had 26 prompts for books and while I didn't complete all the categories, it kept me on task. I ended up reading 27 books in 2015!

My goal for 2016 is to do the BringingUpBurns challenge with a few added on to make it 30 books. I also want to read Harry Potter because, for the love, it's time to check that off my list. My goal is to read a bunch of books I own and have been holding onto, as well as, keep using my local library. Do you guys know you can check out ebooks through your library? For free. You guys, I have saved so much money this year by using my local library! Sometimes I get the physical book, but mostly I use an app called Overdrive to read on my iPad. You can also download the books to your Kindle. Check it out. All you need is a library card and to download the free app. Do it. Do it right now. And if you don't have a library card, go pick one up.
I love to read. I have loved books ever since I was a child. Ramona, The Babysitters Club, Sweet Valley High...those books are so strongly linked to my childhood. Life can get in the way and make it hard to sit down with a book, but when I do I'm instantly reminded why I love it so much. There is something magical about disappearing into new worlds. I truly believe books expand our minds, ideas, imaginations, and options in life.

The first book I tackled in 2016 was I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai. This was January's book club pick, so I had a deadline. I'm currently reading Wildflower by Drew Barrymore. Yup. She wrote a book. I heard her talking about it on Jimmy Fallon and thought I'd check it out. (It's also overdue to the library, so I have to hurry up and finish it!)

2016 Reading List
A book with water on the cover
A book set on a school campus
A book with a murder or mystery
A book about siblings
A book with a great first line
A book written in the decade you were born
A book with a number in the title
A book that will help you grow
A book from the library
A book about a vacation or road trip
A book with food in the title
A book based on a historical event
A book you've been meaning to read
A book that won an award
A book you read with a friend
An autobiography or memoir
A book with a one word title
A book with over 400 pages
A book set in the future
A book with magic in it
A book you learned about because of this challenge
A book based on a true story
A New York Times Bestseller
A book off ALA's Banned & Challenged Classics List
A book that will make you laugh
A favorite book from your childhood
A book based on a fairy tale
A book published in 2016
A book with a culture you're unfamiliar with
One free book

So grab a book and get started! Let's discover some great reads this year! And make sure to let me know about books you love, so I can add them to my list.

Happy Reading!