2 2011 Reading Challenge

Whew! I finished my goal of 50 books this year! It's such a good feeling to finish a year long goal. I'm thinking of ideas for next year's reading challenge and I don't think it's going to be quite as much. Any suggestions? What are your reading goals?

We're heading home tomorrow from our 10 day vacation in Oregon. It's been the best, but I have to admit I'm having crochet withdrawls!

Oh and Happy New Years!!

0 Lemony Snicket: A Series of Unfortunate Events

I finished The End last night. It only took me about 2 1/2 months to finish all 13 books in this series. I love young adult fiction and this series is so great. It's funny, it's random, it's educational, and it's very unfortunate. Snicket tells of the sad lives of the Baudelaire orphans. Each book they are placed in a new home and face a new unfortunate event. Violet is an inventor, Klaus is a reader, and Sunny is a biter. The books are somewhat repetitive, but hilarious. Here is a quote from the last book (it won't give anything away)

Chapter 9

"The phrase "in the dark," as I'm sure you know, can refer not only to one's shadowy surroundings, but       also to the shadowy secrets of which one might be unaware. Every day, the sun goes down over all these secrets, and so everyone is in the dark in one way or another. If you are sunbathing in a park for instance, but you do not know that a locked cabinet is buried fifty feet beneath you blanket, then you are in the dark even though you are not actually in the dark, whereas if you are on a midnight hike, knowing full well that several ballerinas are following close behind you, then you are not in the dark even if you are in fact in the dark. Of course, it is quite possible to be in the dark in the dark, as well as to be not in the dark not in the dark, but there are so many secrets in the world that it is likely that you are always in the dark about one thing or another, whether you are in the dark in the dark or in the dark not in the dark, although the sun can go down so quickly that you may be in the dark about being in the dark in the dark, but in the dark in the dark nonetheless, not only because of the dark, but because of the ballerinas in the dark, who are not in the dark about the dark, but also not in the dark about the locked cabinet, and you may be in the dark about the ballerinas digging up the locked cabinet in the dark, even though you are no longer in the dark about being in the dark, and so you are in fact in the dark about being in the dark, even though you are not in the dark about being in the dark, and so you may fall into the hole that the ballerinas have dug, which is dark, in the dark, and in the park."

So you see, the books are funny and you should read them. They're going on my Christmas wish list. And if you're not already following me on goodreads you should.

0 Book Link

My Book Link at the top of the page is finally up and running. 

And I've added my reading goal on the side bar. 

And I need more book recommendations!

1 Motivating Entertainment

Soul Surfer

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This is the best movie I have seen in a long time. I remember hearing about this girl's story when I was younger, and I'm so glad they made a movie about her. It's stories like hers that make you want to be better and to make a difference. It is an uplifting family film that teaches you about compassion, strength, and God. This is going on my top 5 movie list. And if you do go see it, bring tissues. Believe me, you'll need them.

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I can't decide if I love or hate this book. Probably both. 

It is a heart wrenching story of two boys that grew up together in Afghanistan. It is an eye opener into the lifestyle and treatment of Afghanistan citizens when the Taliban came in and took over. The story has a lot of drama and it doesn't exactly end happy either. But It makes you realize how blessed you are. It makes you want to do something. It makes you want to contribute, to serve, to pray for people that are in awful situations and can't do anything about it. 

(Warning: The book does have some language and graphic material).

I'll be reading A Thousand Splendid Suns next. 

I'd love to hear any recommendations of feel good movies/books.

Thanks!

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I've been reading a lot lately. But it's hard to know what kind of book you'll be reading without actually reading it. I've always thought, they have ratings on Movies and CD's so why not books? Well here is the answer: http://www.novelbookratings.com/index.php.

Maybe one day they'll get smart and just put the rating on the back cover of books.

0 Should Have Known.

The book is always better. 

Don't go see the movie. 

2 Mr. Popper's Penguins

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For our date on Friday Nick and I read this book. I read it when I was in elementary school, but since seeing the previews for the movie I've been wanting to reread it. It only took us an hour or so and it was so cute! It made me want a penguin real bad. The book is hilarious too. But I'm not sure the author meant it to be funny. It's worth reading just for the ending. I won't give it away, but if you read it please tell me your thoughts on the ending. Or if you thought it was funny at all. Maybe it's just me.

Can't wait to see the movie!

Other books on my Summer Reading List

Lemony Snicket and the Series of Unfortunate Events 1-13

Percy Jackson and the Olympians 1-5

Harry Potter 6 & 7

The Kite Runner

A Thousand Splendid Suns

The Goose Girl

To the Rescue

The Help

Any other suggestions?

0 Summer Reading

I've been reading a lot of children's books lately and just finished Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the sequel Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator. The first a lot better than the second. But so good. It brings back childhood memories and makes you believe in the impossible.

"A little nonsense now and then, is cherished by the wisest men."

"And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it."

Put these on your summer reading list and then watch the old 70's movie.

1 Dragon, Draaagon. I don't do that tongue thing.

Do you remember this cute little dragon

Well if you thought the movie was good you should read the book series!

It is amazing. I am currently on book 6 and I love them. They're full of humor, adventure, friendship, and dragons! I fell in love with the movie over the summer so I started reading the books. (They are nothing like the movie, so much better). Hiccup is an unusual hero and somehow manages to get out of very sticky situations. He is clever and loyal. And did I mention he is also a viking! All the more reason to read these books. They are an easy read to, it takes me an hour or two to read one and the illustrations are comical. If you have little boys these books are a must on their summer reading list!

And to go along with your new books...

This tree bookshelf is all kinds of amazing.