January:

18. Push by Sapphire.
19. Extras by Scott Westerfeld.
20. The Sign of Four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Push was an interesting novel. The stylized nature of it got to be annoying after awhile though because it made it much harder to read. Also there really wasn't an ending, it felt unfinished. Extras was a book that I could put down, unlike it's predecessors in the series. It was good but I didn't love it. I'm finding reading about Sherlock Holmes, at least the first two novels, is much drier than I remembered. I suppose I haven't read anything written like it (Jane Austen is one of my favorite authors, I need to do a reread) in awhile so I'm unused to the language. I've read that Sherlock didn't really become popular until after the serialized short stories, which I'm just beginning, so perhaps I will get more into them as I read on?

February:

21. The Amulet of Samarkand (Bartimaeus Trilogy #1) by Jonathan Stroud.
22. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger.
23. Step on a Crack by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge.

I loved the Amulet of Samarkand. I finished it in one night because I didn't want to stop reading. I've already requested the next two books in the trilogy from the library and am eagerly awaiting to finish it. Her Fearful Symmetry was a book that I could put down. It was well written but the story didn't grab me. In fact I didn't think I was invested in the characters at all until after I finished the book and felt a strange sense of sadness and melancholy.

When I'm driving I like listening to AudioBooks (if I don't have one I listen to Talk Radio) but I find listening to Fantasy or SciFi novels, my usual fare, is harder. If I read a thriller/mystery such as a lot of James Patterson's novels that I enjoy, it's much easier for me to jump into the story where it was left off. I don't have to pay as strict attention, instead using most of it on my driving. I spent quite a bit yesterday trying to find similar fare at the library since I needed a new Audio Book. I hate starting series in the middle so it was difficult but I found something! The first in that series of Alphabet murders (A is for A-something) and I also grabbed a Play-Away. Play-Away's are Audio-Books that come in their own little device, like an MP3 player. You can just plug in your headphones and hit play. I grabbed  The Camel Club by David Baldacci since he seems to be a popular author.

 

23 / 100 words. 23% done!

I need to find some new icons...I don't use most of the ones I have. But that's on a separate note!

15. Grave Secret by Charlaine Harris.
16. Coraline by Neil Gaiman.
17. A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

While I like the Harper Connelly series by Charlaine, the relationship in it is a little off-putting and weird for me. Even though cerebrally I understand that there is nothing wrong with the relationship my gut twinges a bit reading about it.

Coraline was a fast, dark read that reminded me of Spirited Away. I really want to see the movie now! It's the first Gaiman book I've read and I didn't love it, so I'm reserving judgment on the author until I've read more. Any suggestions for the next Gaiman book I should read?

Because of the recent Sherlock Holmes movie and because I loved the Holmes stories as a kid, I've decided to do a read of all of the canon stories. A Study in Scarlet is the first one and I plan on reading them as they were released.

 

17 / 100 books. 17% done!

Edit: For some reason at the end of 2009 I assumed (without checking) that my goal for the year had been to read 100 books and was thus disappointed when I only reached 67. However as I was checking old entries to pick my top 5 favorite books of 2009 I discovered I had only set a goal of 50. Which means I made it! Yay!

11. Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris.
12. In the Company of the Courtesan by Sarah Dunant.
13. Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris.
14. An Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris.

 

14 / 100 books. 14% done!

8. A Touch of Dead by Charlaine  Harris
9. Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor
10. Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris

The Sookie short stories were good, enough to keep me by until I got Dead Until Gone. Grave Sight also served this purpose.  I like the Harper series so far but not nearly as much as I do Sookie. I'm hoping the next book will be better. Lips Touch is a book of 3 short stories, it was only so so for me.

 

10 / 100 books. 10% done!

4. Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris
5. Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris
6. All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris
7. From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris

Call me officially addicted. I love these books! I read these in the past 2 days or some such. The last 3 within 24 - 36 hours. So much better than Twilight! Don't make think I don't still love Twilight though ;) However it is definitely not (and I've never believed it to be) the best vampire series ever. And I have to admit Eric is my fav vamp ever. Go Viking Vamps!

 

7 / 100 books. 7% done!

2. Club Dead by Charlaine Harris
3. Dead to the Word by Charlaine Harris

I quite enjoyed these books and I'm eagerly on to the next one. I like the old Eric but I also liked the Cursed Eric. Didn't see much of Bill lately so I'm wondering what's going to happen in that direction. So far so good though! I thought I would hate it if Sookie left Bill and went with Eric but it's actually not so bad.

 

3 / 100 books. 3% done!

My resolutions this year include:

1. Becoming healthier.
2. Reading 100 books and writing every day.
3. Figuring out what I want to do with my life and working on it, no more wishy washy. Life goals!

And now for the first book read of 2010 for my 100 Books Challenge!

1. Specials by Scott Westerfield

I liked the first two books better but I still enjoyed this third installment. Unlike the first two though I could set it down and pick it up much later. I finished it today waiting at the courthouse for my sister. If it weren't for that I'm sure it would've hung out for awhile on the kitchen table till I got to it again. I've been playing a lot of Dragon Age: Origins so far this year so my book reading has been non-existent. However I know I could have easily met my goal last year (Only made it to 66 or 67) if I'd read even a bit each day. I read the blurb for the 4th book and it was kind of confusing so I'm not sure if I'll like it or not.

I spent the last couple days updating my To-Read list so I have plenty of books to choose from. I'm debating about whether I should set up myself a semi-firm reading list or whether I should just wing it. At the moment I have 5 or so Sookie Stackhouse novels to read which should go by quick but after that I'm unsure what I want to read. I'll make a decision before my next post however!

 

1 / 100 books. 1% done!

Isn't it pretty? It was actually made for NaNoWriMo but it was easy to tweak "words" into "books" for my purpose. I love visuals!

Also, I think I'm going to look over my userpics and do some pruning and adding so I have more useful ones. Fun! :D

67. Specials by Scott Westerfield
68. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
69. Faeries of Dreamdark: Blackbringer

I'm not going to make it to 100 by the end of the year but I plan on it next year! I still read a good amount of books and I"m proud of myself. I definitely recommend reading Faeries of Dreamdark, it's a bit to get into at first but I really liked it.

On another note, saw Avatar in 3D today. OMG IT WAS FANTASTIC!!! Jumped up to #2 of my all time favorite movies. It was gorgeous. I loved it!!!

63-66: Wallflowers 1-4 by Lisa Kleypas

52. Green by Jay Lake
53. The Magicians by Lev Grossman
54. Codex by Lev Grossman
55. Uglies by Scott Westerfield
56. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
57. Alcatraz Versus The Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson
58. The Water Mirror by Kai Meyer
59. The Art and Craft of the Short Story by Rick Demarinis
60. Foundling by D.M. Cornish
61. The Gathering Storm by Brandon Sanderson
62. On Writing by Stephen King

I hope I didn't forget anything! These aren't in order, they're just in order of me remembering I read them! Hmmm...38 books in one month. I'll try my hardest!

47. Furies of Calderon (Book 1 of the Codex Alera) by Jim Butcher
48. Academ's Fury (Book 2 "                                      ") by Jim Butcher
49. Cursor's Fury (Book 3 "                                        ") by Jim Butcher
50. Captain's Fury (Book 4 "                                       ") by Jim Butcher
51. Princep's Fury (Book 5 "                                       ") by Jim Butcher

Fantastic series, definitely up in to my top 5 for Fantasy and now one of my favorite Authors (I've heard great things about the Dresden Files, plan on picking them up soon). I think I read this whole series in a week. :D And Book #6 (First Lord's Fury) comes out November 4th! Amazon is selling the hardback for $9, not sure why it's so cheap but I'm *not* complaining! Butcher has also been releasing the first few chapters online once a week so I got to read the Prologue and Chapters 1 & 2 last night when I finished Princep's Fury.

...is coming up. This year I am determined to at least write every day, if not make the 50,000 word count goal. In preperation I"m rereading two of the writing books I've read previously (On Writing and Write Away). I also plan on picking up Elements of Style. I want to give myself the tools to succeed! Even I have to write by hand. In fact I may try writing by hand this year, I seem to write better that way. I"m less likely to get distracted by different programs on my laptop...or the style of font...or what music to listen to...or, well, you get the drift.

Anyways, I bought a paperback On Writing by Stephen King. I borrowed it from the library the first time and I find it so valuable I wanted a copy I could mark up to my heart's content. I'm also looking over the NaNo forums looking for tips that would help me.

I'm excited! :D

45. Hero of Ages (Mistborn #3) by Brandon Sanderson - OMGWOWYAY ending! Like I"ve said, if I have a baby girl her name is going to be Vin, end of story!
46. Knife of Dreams (WoT #11) by Robert Jordan. Finally finished my reread! Can't wait for The Gathering Storm now! *squee*

At this rate I won't reach 100 by the end of the year unless I pick up some super short novels. We'll see!

For now I"m reading Feeling Good by David D. Burns and it's good so far. I'm definitely going to have my Mom read it, I think it would help her loads (and hopefully it will help me!). I wish I could get my sister to read it but that would never happen. I haven't decided on which fiction book I'm going to pick up next.

42. Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card
43. Book 2 Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
44. Mary Mary by James Patterson (I like Patterson, what can I say?)

Still working on book 11 and started the final book of the Mistborn series. Then I"ll do a reread of The Name of the Wind. Hopefully all by the time I go home!

I really need to start on my writing.

Me and My Boys! is hosting a giveaway for EcoUsable Water Bottles . I want one! So I'm pimping the giveaway on my blog. Be sure to check out EcoUsable as well!

Check it out: www.twelve-paws.com/index.php/2009/08/24/etsy-give-a-way/

She has lovely prints, I'd be so excited to win!

My favorite is "single strand" and it's the one I'm asking for if I win. Though I really loved Bridge as well. I liked how there was a cross in this print though.

<3 Lia

Yay! I usually wait until I can post at least a couple but then I worry I've forgotten some LOL anyways:

35. The Final Empire (Mistborn 1) by Brandon Sanderson
36 - 38: Books 7-9 of the Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan

Almost done with my WoT reread! Just started book 10 last night :D I'm also reading through the annotations and deleted scenes and such on Brandon's website while I reread the Mistborn series so that I can read the 3rd book. I bought the 3rd book in hardback when it first came out but I wanted to do a reread first and got distracted by other books and series so...didn't get to it till now!

I love this userpic :D

Anyways! Time to update my list :D

31. City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
32. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
33. Characters and Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card
34. Write Away by Elizabeth George

I loved the trilogy by Cassandra Clare, I'm glad it was the first paranormal YA that I picked up after Twilight :D The writing books were superb, they all go on my To Buy list. I got several references to other writing books in Write Away so I'll have to check them out too! Right now I'm working on my WoT reread and I started my Mistborn reread. Ironically, though I bought the 3rd Mistborn book as soon as it came out and in hardback...I still haven't read it yet. Mostly because I wanted to do a reread before I read the final book. I certainly need to give more time to my reading if I want to reach my 100 books in a year goal!bo