2015 Book List

As you know, reading is one of my foremost hobbies. I am always reading something, fiction, non-fiction, chick-lit, sci-fi fantasy. For my own record so that I know what I've read, I decided to put together a list of all books read in the past year. Sort of a year end recap, but mainly a list I can refer to if I forget what I've read. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about the books, and be sure to check out some of my "From My Bookshelf" series where I recap a lot of good reads through out the year.

1) Shrinkage: Bryan Bishop
2) I Alone Survived: Lauren Elder
3) Big Little Lies: Liane Moriaty
4) Station Eleven: Emily St. John Mandel
5) Paper Towns: John Green
6) Looking for Alaska: John Green
7) Us: David Nicholls
8) Anne of Green Gables: Lucy Maud Montgomery
9) The Last Anniversary: Liane Moriaty
10) How to Build a Girl: Caitlin Moran
11) What Alice Forgot: Liane Moriaty
12) Flat-Out Celeste: Jessica Park
13) Every Fifteen Minutes: Lisa Scottoline
14) A Three Dog Life:  Abigail Thomas
14) A Watershed Year:  Susan Schoneberger
15) Changing Lanes: Kathleen Long
16) Festive in Death: J.D. Robb
17) Fear Nothing: Lisa Gardner
18) The Engagements: J. Courtney Sullivan
19) The Firm: Duff McDonald
20) The Myth of You and Me: Leah Stewart
21) An Abundance of Katherines: John Green
22) The Girl on the Train: Paula Hawkins
23) Just One Day: Gayle Forman 
24) Gone Again: Doug Johnstone

from my bookshelf: paper towns

John Green - a legend in his own right for telling some great young adult stories. If you didn't read Fault in Our Stars, you've probably cried your eyes out over the movie. I recently decided to read a few more books by John since sometimes a little young adult literature is just about what I need in my life.  First up on my list was Paper Towns, which is also going to be a movie in the near future (my one rule in life, is to always read the book - even if you see the movie, the book its just amazing). Next door neighbors, where the young man loved the young lady from a far, have a great night of mischief and revenge on classmates, when the next morning she disappears. Told from the point of view of Quentin as he looks for clues about the disappearance of his friend Margo. The question that begs to be asked, is can everyone be found?

All and all I enjoyed this book, definitely a mystery, as well as a story of can you ever truly bring someone back home, who may not want to be found. I will definitely see the movie as I am curious how this will be brought to life.

from my bookshelf

Ever wonder what it would be like to live in a world without electricity, no internet, pretty much the brink of survival? Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel takes a look at life in the United States and Canada after a world wide pandemic takes out 99% of the world population in a matter of days.  Told with both flashbacks, present day, and multiple characters the author really makes you think about the world as we know it no longer existing. Imagine the impact on those who lived with advances all of a sudden living in a world where you can no longer grocery shop. Also think about those born in a world where things like cars and airplanes seem like made up stories. I highly recommend this book as one for anyone who loves to unplug from being connected, and those really thinking about what happens if our modern day living all goes away.

from my bookshelf

Cancer... its a really scary word. I think everyone gets a little cringy when you hear the word cancer. Someone close to me recently has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, given months to live, even with aggressive treatments. To say life is different now as I switch from work mode, to caretaker mode, doctor appointment attender, etc. is an understatement. However, I do believe that knowledge is power, and the best thing one can do is to become a bit more informed, and feel a little less helpless. A friend, who knows I am a reader, suggested that I pick up Bryan Bishop's Shrinkage about his own brain cancer, was pretty smart. I devoured this book, knowing that not everyone's experiences are the same, but feeling like I had a viewpoint on what the next few months of life will be like while this is tackled for my close someone.  I am sure I'll dive in more once the sting of the news wears off more, and  decide I want to share.

Bryan tackles the tough stuff, while including some humorous thoughts. I definitely found myself going between laughing and crying, but feeling like I know what radiation will be like. I was able to ask about the radiation mask (don't google that, it's really weird and sort of scary), and be informed all because I read.  I am sure the doctors love me and my questions, but this poised me to ask some of the questions that I wouldn't have known to ask.

lately

My little space of the internet, I'll say it now - even with the best of intentions I think I am going to suffer through 2015 and admit now that I'll never hit a good blogging schedule. It's not that I don't want to blog, there are just a few other things out in the world that require more of my time and energy.

Anyway a little lately post to keep the creative juices flowing:

Listening: Louisa Wendorff and Devin Dawson's mash up of Taylor Swift's Style and Blank Space - it's so good. I could listen to this all day long. Rumor is Taylor is a fan of this too. It's amazing, do yourself a favor and favorite this now.

Baking: Birthday cupcakes for Mom's birthday. Probably the best looking cupcakes I've ever made, and surprising as I totally had to scrape all the mix out of the cupcake liners back into the bowl because I forgot the water the first round. Truth to paying attention when you are baking, or well...

Reading: Shrinkage by Bryan Bishop. Informative and funny - sometimes you need a little non-fiction in your reading list.

Getting warm fuzzies: from the extra special birthday lunch I had in Connecticut last weekend. I got a nice surprise from some very special friends. Sometimes you feel the love.

Looking forward to: to a weekend in my old stomping grounds, including a concert by my music crush Matt Wertz. As soon as I saw that he was going on tour at one of my favorite small venues, some emails were sent and tickets purchased.

Not minding: 6 AM spin class once in a while during the week. It's refreshing to bang out exercise first thing in the morning and then be free in clear of that the rest of the day.

Keep me up to date on what's going on with you. Also would love some book recommendations for when I finish my current book.

from my bookshelf: this is where i leave you

So, I found out that Tina Fey and Jason Bateman are going to be a movie together which is based off the book, This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper. The movie trailer looks so funny, and the cast list is amazing - Connie Britton, Adam Driver, Jane Fonda and more (honestly, like could I go to dinner with you all?).  I am a firm believer in book before movie, because I’ll never read a book if I know what’s going to happen.  A quick synopsis is the patriarch of a family passes away and a provision of the will is that the whole family sit Shiva for one week in the family house. Adult children are put in childhood bedrooms (some not their own) and the whole family gets a lot of togetherness. I loved the all family dysfunction (all our families are dysfunctional ), but deep down you could see how much the adult children truly still cared about one another.  There are some definite oh my god, did that just happen? I would highly recommend reading this one before you see the movie, because I know everyone will see this movie.

(photo found on Refinery29, originally from EW)

from my bookshelf

I had doing a good job avoiding starting book five of the Game of Thrones - I read quite a few books before I started into the final published book - it was a good little break. I've been so invested in GoT since the beginning of the year, it was refreshing to read something with new characters.  Here's some new recommendations for books I've enjoyed recently.

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson. A teenaged girl returns to the family summer time home as her father battles his final months with cancer. A coming of age book, as the main character has to redeem herself with the summer friends she hurt years ago, as well as deal with a major family tragedy. I laughed, I cried, I cried some more.

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty. A book that takes place in Australia, and all the husbands have a secret or two up their sleeves, but the all the characters are very interestingly intertwined. My heart broke for several of the characters, but there was also redemption. Moral of the story, everyone has a secret, but hopefully people are good deep down.

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes. A return to an author who touched my soul on the last book I read by her. Another interesting twist here, some of the book takes place during World War I in France, and the other part in modern day London. Involving a piece of art, the two stories are woven together in a unique way.

What have your read lately? Any series I should go for once I finish the final Game of Thrones?

from my bookself

I am currently on a Game of Thrones hiatus, I only have one published book left in the series and well,  I am trying to hold out (write faster George, please). If you like fantasy novels, I highly recommend reading the books. I’ve not seen the show, but I cannot wait until I have time to start watching it – I feel very invested in the characters.

I recently read Come Home by Lisa Scottoline. She’s one of my go to authors when I am trying to pick out a book I am certain I’ll enjoy, I tend to look at what I haven’t read. This book was interesting, good plot lines about former spouses and what happens when one is potentially murdered. I did find it odd that the main character’s name was Jill, and her good friend was Katie. One of my close colleagues is Katie, so at times I kept picturing us in the roles and that made this a bit more fun for me. I recommend this for anyone who likes a good mystery – with an ending you aren’t going to figure out until closer to the end.

Have you read anything worth sharing? Anything I should add to my must read list?

from my bookshelf

I probably read more than the average person, typically in a year I read about a book a week. It’s certainly not completely evenly spread- when  I am working and only reading on my commutes and before bed I am reading at a slower pace, and vacations I tend to pick up and read a lot more.  It’s truly my favorite hobby- there’s nothing better to me than falling into a book and not being able to put it down. I thought I’d share some recent great reads in case you’re hankering for a recommendation.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. If you like twisted tales of who’s really the guilty party, this is a page turner. Just when you start to think one thing, you realize another character is even crazier than the last. Added bonus with this one is that it’s going to be a movie this fall staring Mr. Ben Affleck.

A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. The first installment of The Game of Thrones – not just a geeky fantasy book, but one with all sorts of tales. I particularly enjoy the different  viewpoints as each chapter switches characters. I am very fond of young Bran Stark- who’s only eight years old in this first book.

The Hit by David Baldacci. I have always enjoyed crime thrillers and this one was definitely had some interesting plots. When I discovered David Baldacci a few years ago, I was impressed by the topical subject matter, that really makes you wonder what the leaders of any government are up to – even our own. It feels like there’s so much going on behind the scenes, and this novel really makes you think about that. 

I'd love any recommendations for next reads if you have one.

(photo via pinterest)

holiday homework

I am actually officially on vacation the entire Christmas week, which I usually don’t do – that’s what I get for not taking more days earlier in the year (2014 – will I take the two weeks of vacation back to back?). I know it’s nothing to complain about having a real school like vacation week here at the end of the year, but I’ll probably still check emails and keep a few things moving along, but for the most part, I am going to enjoy a little R&R.

I did, however, end up with some homework for the week – yes, ten years after college, I have homework over the break. Two friends asked me to complete two things while I plan on hanging around with the family. I wish someone told me the plan was just to play with Norbs the whole week. Anyway, I am supposed to watch all of Downton Abbey before the next season starts, which I have never watched but apparently this is a must watch show (I am usually late to the party, except when it comes to The Blacklist, that’s one I started the week it started), and I am to read the first book of Game of Thrones.  So, in a week that’s supposed to be 24 episodes of television and an 800 page novel…  somehow my vacation feels like exam prep. Game of Thrones though is amazing, as I started this a few weeks ago since it’s so long and I read every day on the train and before bed (book nerd here), so I am feeling like I might be ready for book two before the end of the year. 

Do you have any holiday week homework?

much loved

This coffee table book looks so cute to me  - I think everyone needs a lovey and it’s great to see some truly loved bears and animals.  Much Loved by Mark Nixon is a collection of teddy bear portraits of some of the most loved of their kind. I still have my pink bear – Snuff, who’s been loved since 1988, making him 25 years young. Snuff now sits above my bed most nights watching me sleep (little creeper). Lately, I have been trying to track down Dolly – my lovey from birth, whom my mother painstakingly replaced her back regularly since I would wear it out, and eventually had to do reconstructive facial surgery when I wore through that too. I think Dolly must be at my parents’ house somewhere in a hidden spot as I cannot find her in mine – I really do hope I can find her as she was so loved for so long.

Did you have a lovey or two?