Books I've Read This Year

So, I've read an awful lot this year. When I was pregnant with Nicole, I lost my desire to read. I didn't have the mental concentration to read a book, so I only read a few (twilight, harry potter). I just barely got back the urge to read and I can't seem to find enough books to read. Here are a few of the books that I have read this year and I really liked them.

Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan

This is a series of 5 childrens books. I emphasize that they are for children because the characters are very immature! But, it is very interesting. This series is fantasy set in present day. All the greek myths and legends are TRUE and hidden from us humans of the real world. Perceus Jackson finds that he is a demi god, son of Poseidon and goes through many adventures in the greek god world. I loved it and sailed through all five books in a week, but it is an immature read.

Wild Magic series by Tamara Pierce

I've read a lot of the books by Tamara, but this was a new one for me. It is a set of three books for Juvenile readers. It follows the story of Daine, who talk with animals and can even shape shift. It is set in Tortall, a high fantasy world from a Tamara's previous series' Lady Knight, Page, and Trickster (which I had previously read). Though not as good as interesting as the other series (because these books are for a younger audience) I found it to be very interesting to read. I liked how she made up a new kind of magic that involved animals. I definitely reccommend these books.



Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

This is an incomplete series. So far there are four books but another is set to come out soon. These are fantasy books set in present day. A secret race of vampire and dhampirs (half human half vampire) live among us. Dhampirs dedicate their lives to protecting vampires. The books are set at an academy where vampires and dhampirs train for the real world. The first book was really hard for me to get into because there is a LOT of back story that is not revealed until the end of the book. But, the second book I read in a day and loved it! If you like doomed romances and vampires, definitely read these books. (I'm talking to you Jenni).

Graceline, Fire by Kristin Cashore

This is two seperate books set in the same world. Graceling, the first book, is set in a fantasy world where some people are born with a gift (and two different colored eyes) and are therefore "graced." The main character struggles to defeat the bad guy and better understand her grace. It is very intriguing and contains a romance. This is NOT for a younger audience though it is in the young adult section.
Fire, the second book, is in the same world, but set in the past before the first book's time. It is like an origins story of the bad guy from the first book, but doesn't revolve around that character. It is difficult to explain, but I loved the book as much as the first one though it took me a little longer to get into because the author hides the back story until the middle (I hate when they do that). Also, not a childrens book, this is definitely for adults as it has sexual content.

Goose Girl, Enna Burning, River Secrets, Princess Academy, and The Book or A Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

I just have to say right now, I love this author. Though her books are in the Juvinile section, the characters are not childish and are very relatable. The first three books are known as the Books of Bayern because they involve the same characters and are set in the same world. I loved Goose Girl the most and the other two books just give a better depth of subcharacters from the first book.

Princess Academy is a book that follows a young girl in the mountains who is chosen to train to become a princess (along with a lot of other girls from her village). It is a nice quick read and a very pleasant story.

The Book of a Thousand Days I just read yesterday (yep I read a 300 page book in a day. Maybe Dr. Phil was right about mothers having tons of free time.) It was very good! It is about a maid who is locked in a tower with her mistress for 7 years. It is written in journal form as the maid keeps a record of all the happenings since being locked in the tower.

Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer

I read the first book in this series three years ago and bought the second and third book at that time but did not read them until this year. It is definitely a children's series as the writing is juvenile. The author definitely didn't know what he was doing in the first book as he often switches pov mid chapter and mid paragraph. It is about an 11 year old super genius boy who is trying to hack into to the world of fairies and steal their intelligence and their gold. The 11 year old character is annoying and unrealistic as no child is that smart, independent, and void of emotion. That is why it took me three years to read the next books. The second and third books are a little better than the first, but still the writing is not that great. I don't know why these books are popular and I don't reccommend them. There were more books in the series, but I decided not to read past the third book.

If you are keeping count, that is 21 new books that I have read this year so far (or the onese that I remember at least. I know I read other books, I just can't rememberr them all.). I also reread some books that I had read before and here they are: Work and the Glory books 1-7 (why did I stop at 7? Because I got bored and I've read them all twice before), Lady Knight series by Tamara Pierce (I thought I should read these again as I was delving back into that world), Wheel of Time book 12 (this one was actually new for me as it was a new book, but I reread the whole series last year in preperation for this book. These books are my favorite series). That is all I can think of that I read this year, but I feel like there were more.

That brings my grand total to....32 books that I have read this year. Tadah! I used to read between 50-80 books a year while I was in school but slowed down to 30 when I started working full time. Now that I have figured out this Mom thing to an extent and Nicole plays by herself occasionally, I have more time for reading. I am right on track to reach about 70 books this year. We shall see how I do. I run out of ideas for books to read all the time and I know I will just start pulling random books off the shelf at the library.

Right now I am reading Chalice by Robin McKinley, we shall see if it is any good as I just started it. I am on hold at the library for Hunger Games. I need more book ideas. Feel free to chime in.