Cal's Journal

Not had quite as much time for reading in March, so it's only a short list this time. The Fault in Our Stars and Phantom (though very different) were both outstanding reads. :)

Books Read in March:

15. Hunting Kat - Kelley Armstrong (Novella)
16. The Fault in Our Stars - John Green (recommended by green_maia and shadowkat67)
17. Phantom - Jo Nesbo (Harry Hole Series)
18. The Cold Season - Alison Littlewood

Off to a good start with the 50 book challenge this year. Let's see if I can keep this pace up for the rest of the year. :)

Books Read in January

1. American Vampire (Vampire for Hire #3) - J.R. Rain
2. Moon Child (Vampire for Hire #4) - J.R. Rain
3. Christmas Moon (Vampire for Hire Novella) - J.R. Rain
4. The Auschwitz Violin - Maria Angels Anglada
5. Midwinter Sacrifice - Mons Kallentoft
6. Hidden - Kelley Armstrong (Women of the Otherworld Novella)
7. Me Before You - Jojo Moyes

I'm disappointed not to have made it to my 50 book goal in 2011, but considering the year I had I can't say I'm surprised. Let's hope I do better in 2012! :)

Books Read in 2011:

1. Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins (second book in The Hunger Games trilogy)
2. Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins (final book in The Hunger Games trilogy. Highly recommended series)
3. Room - Emma Donoghue
4. The Long Song - Andrea Levin
5. Angelic - Kelley Armstrong
6. Counterfeit Magic - Kelley Armstrong
7. The Leopard - Jo Nesbo
( Read more... )

So, a grand total of 42 books read in 2011.

I don't think I can narrow it down to just one favourite read, but I do have several that stood out for me: "Catching Fire" and "Mockingjay" from way back in January, and "11/22/63", the very first Stephen King novel I've ever read, which will now go on my list of favourite time-travel books. "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" also stood out for me (in spite of the out of the blue cliffhanger ending), as did "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks", which was a fascinating and moving read.

But the book that stood out for me the most (and therefore must be my favourite read of 2011, yes?) was "Grace Williams Says It Loud".

From Amazon: This isn't an ordinary love story. But then Grace isn't an ordinary girl. 'Disgusting,' said the nurse. And when no more could be done, the Doctors advised her parents to put her away, aged eleven. On her first day at the Briar Mental Institute, Grace meets Daniel. He sees a different Grace: someone to share secrets and canoodle with, someone to fight for. Debonair Daniel, who can type with his feet, fills Grace's head with tales from Paris and the world beyond. This is Grace's story: her life, its betrayals and triumphs, disappointment and loss, the taste of freedom; roses, music and tiny scraps of paper. Most of all, it is about the love of a lifetime.

( Praise for Grace Williams Says It Loud by Emma Henderson )

This book moved me like no other. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it even made me shout out in anger at times, but most of all it gave me hope. It's a difficult subject, set in a time when people with disabilities were treated appallingly (and to be honest, although times have improved, we still have a long, long way to go), but is told in such a way that you can't help but feel uplifted by it.

( Read more... )

So yes, in the end there is no doubt that my favourite book of 2011 is "Grace Williams Says It Loud", a book that continues to stay with me several months after reading it, and one that is likely to stay with me for a long time to come.

Only two this month. RL decided to take over for a while, as it does from time to time. Hopefully, October will be better. :)

33. Florence and Giles - John Harding
34. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Ransom Riggs

And so far for October:

35. Before I Go To Sleep - S J Watson
36. Bellwether - Connie Willis

All very different books, but all equally as enjoyable. "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" was particularly wonderful read on my iPad, as the included photographs really helped bring the story alive.

My Kindle (which I adore) would usually be my e-reader of choice, but in this case the iPad was a no-brainer. A book like this deserves to be read on a device capable of showing it off to its full advantage. :)

Books Read in May

18. Let the Right One In - John Ajvide Lindqvist
19. 13 Little Blue Envelopes - Maureen Johnson
20. Trespass - Rose Tremain
21. When God Was a Rabbit - Sarah Winman
22. The Confession of Katherine Howard - Suzannah Dunn

Posted to my other LJ, livingbooks:

My Hunger Games Trilogy review

Warning: contains spoilers

February

8. The Postmistress - Sarah Blake
9. The News Where You Are - Catherine O'Flynn
10. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Rebecca Skloot
11. Bleed For Me - Michael Robotham

Interesting book meme, snagged from next_to_normal over on DW. :)

1. Favorite childhood book?

I'm not sure I have just one favourite childhood book. I was an avid reader as a child, so I have a long and varied list to choose from. The What Katy Did series of books were huge favourites that were read time and time again, so they would definitely be up there.

( Read more... )

I've just started Part III: The Enemy, and all I can say is wow. I'm devouring these books like there's no tomorrow, they're that good. Exciting, heartbreaking and incredibly powerful storytelling.

I'm so glad there were so many of you on my flist who loved these books and recommended them. I've bookmarked some of your reviews to read after I've finished the complete trilogy.

Back to reading...

Well, I've read 42/50 books so far this year. A few of them were 800 plus pages, so it feels as though I've read more books than I actually have. *g*

Do you think I'll make it to my 50 book goal? Or have I left it too late? 8 books in a month. Hmm, I'll give it a go, but it's going to be close! :)

So today is comicwank day. Oh dear. And that's all I have to say about that. Thank goodness S8 is almost over!

It's still freezing cold outside, but the snow seems to have stopped (thank goodness). K's college (which is based at her old school) was open, but she decided not to go in anyway, as the roads were treacherous this morning and it takes her a good hour on the school bus to get there. She's also got a severe muscle strain in her shoulder that she should be resting, which is easier said than done when you're a wheelchair user and rely on your arms to get around! And in this weather getting around is a nightmare. *sigh*

Hope it's not too cold where you are! :)