January Reads

So in January I read 5 books, the most I have read in January since I started keeping count. Go me! This was definitely a month of good books for me as you can tell by my ratings. One new author for me this month (Carolyn Parkhurst) and 4 I have read before.

I read....

Aunt Dimity's Christmas by Nancy Atherton - 4 stars - I barely started this in December. It was a great book, not just as a Christmas book but as a mystery as well. It reminded me why I love this series so much. It had been a few years since I read it and I am so glad I got back into it.

Don't Drink the Water by Susan Rogers Cooper - 5 stars - So, so good! SRC is my favorite mystery writer and this was one of her best. I have tried to space out her books as there are only a few left in the series (she doesn't just churn them out like some authors) and I am down to two left now.

Lost and Found by Carolyn Parkhurst - 5 stars - I heard a recommendation for this book a few years ago and am so glad I listened. This book just sucked me in. It was funny, heart wrenching, thought provoking and an all around great read.

2nd Chance by James Patterson - 4 stars -I read the first in The Women's Murder Club series last year and was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked it. This one was very good too. For personal reasons there was a story line in this one I didn't care for but that's just me. It was a really good book, very entertaining and kept me guessing.

Aunt Dimity Beats The Devil by Nancy Atherton - 4 stars - I started and finished the month with Ms. Atherton. This was a wonderful book that made me laugh and also was quite emotional. I figured out some bits but others just threw me for a loop. Another great addition to the series.

Happy Birthday to me and here's my word.

Happy Birthday to me! Today's my birthday and I love it. I have had two days of early celebrations and today is the big day. It's been great so far.

So I still hadn't picked a word for this year. I kept thinking maybe it would be trust again. And then today I was thinking about how blessed I was and started looking for a quote to share. The quote I found made it clear to me what my word needed to be. First, the quote:

"Gratitude, like faith, is a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it grows, and the more power you have to use it on your behalf. If you do not practice gratefulness, its benefaction will go unnoticed, and your capacity to draw on its gifts will be diminished. To be grateful is to find blessings in everything, This is the most powerful attitude to adopt, for there are blessings in everything."

Alan Cohen

That hit so close to home for me. I think I'm a pretty grateful person. I try to look for the good in things but I do let things get to me more than they really should. I, like everyone else, have not had a perfect life. I have had struggles and dark times and suffered loss. But oh the joys I have had and continue to have. If I stop and think about it I truly feel amazed. And all those struggles and hardships got me to where I am. They molded me and shaped me. If I had a pretty uneventful life I don't think I would even halfway appreciate what I have today.

So this year my word is gratitude. I am going to work on being grateful, in looking for the blessing in everything, in not letting little things get to me so much. Because no matter what happens I have a life so full of love it takes my breath away.

My Reading Goals for the Year 2011 Recap and Reading Goals for 2012

So my goals in 2011 were:

1. Read 40 books - Surpassed it by reading 43 books

2. Read mostly from my 2011 box of books (Picked out ahead of time) - For the most part, yes.

3. Finish all books carried over (I actually already completed this so yae me!)

4. Try some new authors - Yep, I read book/stories by 12 new (to me) authors in 2011.

So going forward, my reading goals for 2012 are:

1. Read 45 books

2. Read mostly from my 2012 boxes of books (Picked out ahead of time)

3. Finish all books carried over (Down to one and that one may take awhile as it's a short story/essay book which I am taking my time with).

4. Read a lot from series I have already started.

5. Try some new authors I already have books by. I actually have authors & books picked out for this. They are:

Allison Brennan - The Prey

Wendy Corsi Staub - Don't Scream

Tami Hoag - Ashes to Ashes

Robyn Carr - Virgin River

Mariah Stewart - Dead Wrong

Kay Hooper - Touching Evil

Lisa Gardner - The Perfect Husband

Lisa Jackson - Hot Blooded

Elizabeth George - A Great Deliverance

Meg Cabot - Queen of Babble

Looking forward to the year of reading ahead!

I reached my goal!

Woohoo! I reached my goal of 40 books with time to spare. I have set this goal three years in a row and never reached it. Considering how this year started out with the move and all and me barely reading I didn't think I would get close. Honestly I would have been happy to get to 36 books the same as the past few years. But I have been on a bit of a consistent of role of reading since this summer and suddenly the goal didn't seem so impossible. I still have a few books I am reading I would like to finish off and I have a reading day planned with Richard and Nancy to finish the year off, but whatever I read now is gravy. :)

Words

I try to have a word of the year, something to focus on.

In 2009 it was embrace. I think that had a lot to do with losing My De the year before. I really

wanted to hold onto things, to fully take part in things, to embrace moments and experiences and really take them in.

In 2010 I think it was supposed to be balance but I don't feel I really ever got it, as the year turned out to be so crazy. With all the uncertainty with Richard's job and the possible move life was just a daily guessing game.

In 2011 I didn't choose the word, the word chose me. I would have chosen something like peace, tranquility, maybe try out balance once again. But instead the word that was thrust on me was trust (For the record, I hate the damn word. Look up trust issues in the dictionary and my picture will be there.) With all the chaos of the move and nothing of that going easily I had a choice of worrying so much I made myself sick or trusting that all the people I loved were doing the best they could and God would get us through to where we needed to be. It was a battle but I think I did better than I thought I would or even could do in the situation I was in. Did I pass with a gold star? Probably not. But I passed and sometimes that's enough.

2012's word will be....I'm not sure yet. I'll keep you posted.

End of Event Meme

Which hour was most daunting for you?

Hour 19 & 20..I was really fighting to read.

Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?

One for the Money for Janet Evanovich, MaryJanice Davidson's Queen Betsy series

Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

Nope

What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?

Everything...I especially enjoyed all the cheers and comments I received. For myself, reading a book at the same time as my best friend, Nancy was a lot of fun and encouraged me to finish it.

How many books did you read?

I finished three, two I had started before and one I started and finished during the read-a-thon. I also read a small amount in a fourth.

What were the names of the books you read?

Frill Kill by Laura Childs

Undead and Unappreciated by MaryJanice Davidson

The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich

Which book did you enjoy most?

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich - It was a hoot!

Which did you enjoy least?

None really. They were all really good books.

If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?

This was my first time cheering and I had so much fun doing it. The only suggestion I have is to somehow keep track of where you are on the list of readers when cheering, so you know where you have been, who you still need to cheer, ect. Enjoy it, it's fun!

How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?

Definitely! I will be reading again and cheering. I enjoyed both an awful lot.

End of Hour Twenty Two

I am calling this hour early and calling it a night. This hour was basically spent with some housekeeping (updating Goodreads, sorting out Nancy's Goodreads (hee hee)) and talking. I am way too tired to read anymore tonight, didn't do any more cheering which I thought I would (I was too busy finishing One for the Money) and actually stayed up much later than I thought I would. I'll do the wrap up meme tomorrow. This has been a great read-a-thon. Night all!

End of Hour Twenty One

This hour I read:

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich - 19 pages - Finished It!

I read for 50 minutes

Total pages read: 415

Total minutes read: 614

Books Finished - 3

One for the Money was so good! And Nancy and I finished it together...it was so much fun!

End of Hour Twenty

This hour I read:

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich - 17 pages

I read for 48 minutes

Total pages read: 396

Total minutes read: 614

Books Finished - 2

Oh I am struggling...but only 18 pages to go and I will be done with this book.

End of Hour Nineteen

This hour I read:

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich - 18 pages

I read for 39 minutes

Total pages read: 379

Total minutes read: 566

Books Finished - 2

Wow, I am really slowing down but keeping at it. Gonna stretch my legs a bit this hour.

Mini Challenge Hour 19 Pet Love

My cats love the read-a-thon! They love all the available laps as we read. Nilla, our dog loved the chance to snuggle on the couch. Mostly they haven't been too bad of a distraction but a few times I had three cats trying to get on my lap at once. Muzzy, my 19 year old foster kitty liked to attack my bookmark!

End of Hour Eighteen

This hour I read:

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich - 24 pages

I read for 50 minutes

Total pages read: 361

Total minutes read: 527

Books Finished - 2

Wow, this book has made me laugh and shocked me at times. I am definitely reading slower but still going....52 pages to go to finish this book.

End of Hour Seventeen

This hour I read:

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich - 19 pages

I read for 44 minutes

Total pages read: 361

Total minutes read: 477

Books Finished - 2

Slowing down but I'm still reading! We had a snack of carrots and ranch dip & some Kit Kats and I have my beloved sweet tea. Hopefully that will keep me going.

End of Hour Sixteen

This hour I read:

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich - 21 pages

I read for 35 minutes

Total pages read: 342

Total minutes read: 433

Books Finished - 2

This book is so good and just keeps getting better! I love it!

End of Hour Fifteen

This hour I read:

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich - 21 pages

I read for 30 minutes

Total pages read: 321

Total minutes read: 398

Books Finished - 2

Moved to Starbucks for a bit of reading and some caffeine.

End of Hour Fourteen

This hour I read:

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich - 30 pages

I read for 43 minutes

Total pages read: 300

Total minutes read: 378

Books Finished - 2

Ate dinner at Panera and read while eating

End of Hour Thirteen

Dinner

No Reading this hour

Mid-Event Survey

1. What are you reading right now?

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich

2. How many books have you read so far?

Completed two (that I had previously started), Read part of two others

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

Finishing One for the Money and maybe starting the next MaryJanice Davidson book.

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?

Nope

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

A few, nothing major really. I did have an hour off when we went out for lunch and an hour off for cheering.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?

That for me I am more focused on one book, where normally I am a bit scattered, reading from several different books.

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

Nope

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?

As a reader, nothing. As a cheerleader I might like to keep a list of who I cheered for.

9. Are you getting tired yet?

I was, at around hour nine. I'm better now but could definitely use some caffeine.

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?

I think planning to read One for the Money with Nancy worked really well, as we were both looking forward to it and have compared notes as we have read (though she passed me when I was cheering.)

End of Hour Twelve

This hour I read:

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich - 28 pages

I read for 46 minutes

Total pages read: 270

Total minutes read: 335

Books Finished - 2

End of Hour Eleven

I spent this hour cheering and made it around to quite a few blogs, though not all, in my assigned letters. I will try and get around to some more later on. I love seeing what everyone is reading.

End of Hour Ten

This hour I read:

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich - 27 pages

I read for 46 minutes

Total pages read: 242

Total minutes read: 335

Books Finished - 2

I'll be cheering this next hour so no reading for me.

Hour Five Mini Challenge

We had to tell our favorite way to share a book. This was my entry...

My favorite way to share my love of reading is to discuss book with my best friend. We shop for books together, try to find books the other needs and today for the first time will be reading the same book during the read-a-thon.

End of Hour Nine

This hour I read:

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich - 18 pages

I read for 25 minutes

Total pages read: 188

Total minutes read: 289

Books Finished - 2

I did a little cheering this hour. Trying to fight off the need for a nap...

End of Hour Eight

This hour I read:

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich - 40 pages

I read for 50 minutes

Total pages read: 170

Total minutes read: 264

Books Finished - 2

Read at Cici's Pizza...loving One for the Money...laughing all the way through it.

End of Hour Seven

Lunch Time

No Reading this hour

End of Hour Six

This hour I read:

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich - 44 pages

I read for 50 minutes

Total pages read: 130

Total minutes read: 214

Books Finished - 2

This is a pretty funny book!

End of Hour Five

This hour I read:

The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson - 11 pages

I read 11 pages this hour

I read for 24 minutes

Total pages read: 86

Total minutes read: 164

Books Finished - 2

Finished the first chapter in Blue Envelope. Now it's time for One for the Money....

End of Hour Four

This hour I read:

Undead and Unappreciated - 10 pages - Finished It!

The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson - 5 pages

I read 15 pages this hour

I read for 24 minutes

Total pages read: 75

Total minutes read: 133

Books Finished - 2

Spent some of the last hour taking care of Cafe World and then choosing a new book. I've finished both books I was reading before the read-a-thon started. Woohoo! I'll be reading Little Blue Envelope for this next hour and then once Nancy finishes her book we'll be starting One for the Money.

End of Hour Three

This hour I read:

Undead and Unappreciated by MaryJanice Davidson- 29 pages

I read for 53 minutes

Total pages read: 60

Total minutes read: 109

Books Finished - 1

I am so enjoying Undead and Unappreciated. I love MJD!

End of Hour Two

Breakfast time

No reading this hour.

Introduction Meme

1)Where are you reading from today?

My House in The Woodlands, TX Will be reading at various eating places in the area as well.

2)Three random facts about me…

1. I started out this year very slowly on the reading front due to a cross country move. I am happy to say over the last few months I have got back into the swing of things on the reading front.

2. I have over a 1000 books to read. Literally.

3. One of my favorite things to do is to shop for books, especially at used book stores and thrift shops. (Thus the 1000+ books.)

3)How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?

14

4)Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?

I want to finish the two books I had started before the read-a-thon (finished one in the first hour), give One for the Money a try and have a lot of fun.

5)If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?

I have taken part in all but the very first read-a-thon, so I a definitely a vet. The best advice I can give is to enjoy it! Don't force yourself to read more just because you think you should. If you need a break, take it. If you need a nap take that too. Enjoy the day and the read-a-thon and do it your way.

End of Hour One

This hour I read:

Frill Kill by Laura Childs - 25 pages - Finished It!

Undead and Unappreciated by MaryJanice Davidson- 6 pages

I Read 31 pages this Hour

I read for 56 minutes

Book Finished - 1

Good Morning

I'm up, not bright and shining (still in my jammies) but I'm up and ready to start reading. Let the read-a-thon begin!