Booking Through Thursday

Yeah! It's time for Booking Through Thursday!

It’s a week or two later than you’d expect, and it may be almost a trite question, but … what were your favorite books from 2008?

(It’s an oldie but a goodie question for a reason, after all … because, who can’t use good book suggestions from time to time?)

It's quite handy that just yesterday I listed all the books I read in 2008. This way my old brain doesn't have to work so hard.

I read the Twilight Series in 2008. I'd read Twilight in 2007 but re-read it. They were favorites of mine just because they were so unique and I enjoy getting caught up in all the hype.

Three Cups of Tea changed my views on a lot of things and I got so caught up in the man's journey, so that one is a favorite.

The Time Traveler's Wife is another favorite. I really enjoyed that book. I liked how hard it made me think. I had to keep going back to check on dates to try to keep some semblance of a timeline. It challenged my way of thinking which is what books should do. I highly recommend it!

Books Read in 2008

I saw on another blog that she had a handy little list of books that she'd read in 2008. I like that. I'm going to do that as well. It might be more for my own benefit but so is this blog!

January:

1. Four to Score by Janet Evanovich
2. Wife for Hire by Janet Evanovich
3. A Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis
4. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

February:

5. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
6. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
7. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (re-read)
8. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

March:

9. Remember Me by Sophie Kinsella
10. Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson
11. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

April:

12. 3rd Degree by James Patterson
13. Naughty Neighbor by Janet Evanovich
14. Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis
15. The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory

May:

16. Something Borrowed by Emily Giffen
17. The Hollow by Nora Roberts
18. 1st to Die by James Patterson

June:

19. High Noon by Nora Roberts

July:

20. The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
21. Queen of Babble in the Big City by Meg Cabot
22. Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson
23. Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster
24. Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster
25. Candy Girl by Diablo Cody

August:

26. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
27. On Writing by Stephen King
28. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audry Niffinegger

September:

29. Sisterchicks Go Brit by Robin Jones Gunn
30. The Last Summer (of You and Me) by Ann Brashares
31. The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry
32. High Five by Janet Evanovich

October:

33. Something Blue by Emily Giffen
34. When Lightening Strikes by Meg Cabot
35. 2nd Chance by James Patterson
36. Bright Lights Big Ass by Jen Lancaster
37. The Shack by William P. Young
38. Maximum Ride The Final Warning by James Patterson

November:

39. Back to the Bedroom by Janet Evanovich
40. The Lord of the Rings the Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien
41. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
42. Thanksgiving by Janet Evanovich
43. Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortinson and David Oliver Relin
44. Manhunt by Janet Evanovich
45. Love overboard by Janet Evanovich

December:

46. The Pagan Stone by Nora Roberts
47. Smitten by Janet Evanovich
48. The Cinderella Pact by Sarah Strohmeyer
49. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
50. The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore

Challenges

Since I've officially signed up for three challenges, I feel very compelled to finish them. You'd think I wouldn't be worried about this here on January 7th. I'm not worried about finishing, I'm just worried about how to go about finishing them. I've noticed that some of the participants in the A to Z challenge aren't reading their books in order. I suppose that wasn't a rule but somehow that's how I took it.

Now I'm jealous.

There are books on my list farther down the alphabet that I'm itching to read but yet I'm also aware that I'd put off reading some of these books until the end and that's not cool either. So, I'm sticking with alphabetical order.

I did make one change to my own mental rules. . . I went ahead and started my "B" book even though I'm not done with "A". I like to have two books going, one by my bed and one to drag around with me everywhere else. I figure that I'll finish Animal Dreams in the next few days and that way I'll already have a jump on Baby Proof. I'll just switch it out. Once I start dragging Baby Proof around with me, The Constant Princess will go by my bed. Sounds like a good plan to me.

I feel much better already!

Teaser Tuesday

I'm finally reading my "A" book which is Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver. I'm not terribly far into it (what happened to all my reading time???) but am liking it so far. It's about a woman who goes back to her hometown because her father isn't well. She's dealing with old hurts and old ghosts all while missing her sister who is in Nicaragua.

From page 210:

The canyon walls rose straight up on either side of us, ranging from sunset orange to deep rust, mottled with purple. The sandstone had been carved by ice ages and polished by desert eons of sandpaper winds.

The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog by Dave Barry

Another Christmas book finished. . . and just a week after Christmas. It's all right though since I bought the book on Christmas Eve.

Any Dave Barry fans? If you are, you'll enjoy this one. It's not one of his normal humor books. It is a sweet story that will make you laugh and maybe cry just a little. This little book, coming in at just over one hundred pages, is filled with pictures of Christmases past and old memories. It takes place in the 60's in a small town where things seem idyllic to most of us.

Doug is the narrator and I'm guessing he's around thirteen or fourteen. He's got the role of Shepherd in the church Christmas pageant. The story revolves around his family and one Christmas that stood out among others. It's such a short book that if I tell you anything much I'll be giving it away. Just take my advice, put it on your "to be read" list and look for it. It would be cute to read to your kids too - just leave out the part about the bras!

The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore

Well, The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore is quite a ride. I remember way back when I read Fluke I made the comment "that was the oddest book I've ever read." Well, it might now be tied with The Stupidest Angel. It was a good book and a lot of fun. It's Christmasy in a kind of messed up kind of way.

The story begins with introductions to all the various characters. We meet Lena, a divorced realtor with a very stressed relationship with her ex, and we meet the ex, Dale, a not-very-well-liked drunk. We are introduced to Tucker and his pet fruit bat Roberto, Theo the constable with a marijuana habit, and Molly a former "B" movie star who slips into her character "Kendra the Warrior Woman" when she's off her meds.

I don't want to give the plot away but let me just mention that it involves an accidentally dead "Santa", a boy who has a Christmas wish, an angel who wants to grant that wish (and eat marshmallows), a crazy woman, and a bunch of brain eating zombies who crash a Christmas party. Yet it's still heartwarming. Go figure!

The only complaint I have is the "bonus chapter". The version of the book I picked up was the 2.0 version and there was an extra chapter in the back involving a serial killer. It wasn't necessary at all.

I enjoyed the book, it just made me shake my head a bit. It also made me laugh, which is what counts. I knew it would be funny and it was. I'm guessing that if I were to pick up another Christopher Moore book I would again make the comment "that was the oddest book I've ever read."

Booking Through Thursday -New Years Resolutions

Today's Booking through Thursday is quite on topic!

Happy New Year, everyone!

So … any Reading Resolutions? Say, specific books you plan to read? A plan to read more ____? Anything at all?

Name me at least ONE thing you’re looking forward to reading this year!

I suppose my reading resolutions would involve the three challenges that I've signed up for. I get to start the A to Z Challenge today which will come first in order of challenge importance. I'll work on the New Author Challenge as it comes up as well as the Casual Classics, focusing on them as the year goes on.

As for the one book I'm most looking forward to reading. . . Probably The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I've heard so much about it -good and bad - that I'm excited to see what my own opinions are. It will also be interesting to read something of hers that isn't part of the Twilight series. I have to get through A - G first.