Bookmarks Magazine–Jul/Aug 2010

Today, I took advantage of the winter storm hitting Minnesota (AGAIN) and spent some time looking through the July/August issue of Bookmarks Magazine. Luckily, I had reserved a few back copies of the magazine from the library. My favorite thing next to curling up with a good book, is curling up with my favorite magazine about books. Our new frugal lifestyle prohibits me from buying the magazine, so I depend on the library copies these days. So today I added a few more books to my “To Be Read” list. Below you can find 10 titles that looked interesting to me, which are linked to the reviews in Bookmarks magazine.

I would love to hear you readers out there!! How do you keep track of all the titles you want to possibly read in the future? I read many book reviews and have a hard time recording all the titles that look interesting to me. I am hoping that maybe by blogging about the books that look interesting to me, I will remember to reserve the titles at the library.

What have you added to your “To Be Read“ list lately?? Hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend. If you are in the Midwest I hope you are safely at home and avoiding the next big winter storm that has found it’s way to our door again.

It is a great excuse to curl up with a good book!!

Happy Reading!!

Jen C

Books Read in 2010

January

The Duggars: 20 Kids and Counting - Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar (4/5)

February

The Accidental Mother - Rowan Coleman (3.5/5)

The Help - Kathryn Stockett (4.5/5)

March

The Murderer's Daughters (3.5/5)

Sarah's Key - Tatiana de Rosnay (4.5/5)
Great book! Any book that has me giving up sleep and sitting in the driveway to listen just a bit more is a winner for me! Tough read as is any book about the Holocaust. I shed a tear or two! I was unaware of Frances involvement in the round up of the French Jews. Be it a story about the holocaust, slavery, child abuse or Jim Crow Laws I can never understand how one human could have such disregard for another human.

The Wrong Mother - Sophie Hannah (3/5)
This book had so much potential. There were parts that were a real page turner, but other parts dragged on. One thing that really stuck out to me was I didn't really have the feeling of knowing the characters. I think the character development was lacking. Way too many detectives with names that start with a S. ... I still don't know how the detectives figured out the crime based on what they really knew. Seemed like a bit of a reach. But I finished the book......and thought it was an average read.

The Promised World - Lisa Tucker (4/5)

Good book, story of a set of twins who had a difficult childhood. (why do I keep reading about child abuse?)

April

The Solace of Leaving Early - Haven Kimmel (3/5)

The Blue Notebook - James A Levine (DID NOT FINISH)
About homeless children in Mumbai and their lives as child prostitutes. I just could not read about the neglect and abuse of these children. I had to stop reading when I was half done with the book.

Pieces of Happily Every After - Irene Zytell (3/5)

The House Rules - Jodi Picoult (4/5)

The Wednesday Letters - Jason F Wright (4/5)

May

Gone With the Wind - Margaret Mitchell (5/5)

Run - Ann Patchett (4/5)

May Day - Jess Lourey (3/5)

June

The Reliable Wife - Robert Goolrick - (4/5)

June Bug - Less Lourey (3/5)

Alphabet Sisters - 3/5

July

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - 4/5

The Girl Who Plays with Fire - 4/5

Day After Night - Anita Diamant - 4/5

Stalking Susan - Julie Kramer - 4/5

The Good Wife - Stewart O'Nan - 3.5/5

August

Look Again - Lisa Scottsline - 4/5

The Florist's Daughter (Did Not Finish)

September

This Side of Heaven - Karen Kingsbury - 3.5/5

Still Alice - Lisa Genova - 3.5/5

Still Missing - Chevy Stevens - 4/5

October

November

Honolulu - Alan Brennert - 3/5

December

Little Bee -Chris Cleave - 4/5

Nineteen Minutes - Jodi Picoult - 4/5

The Room - Emma Donoghue - 5/5

Best Books of 2010……

I am going to share this here as well as on my blog, Jen’s World.  It has been another slow year of reading for me.   Life and work have gotten in the way of my sitting around and reading into the wee hours of the night.  I am trying to make up for that on Christmas vacation I have been reading many hours each day.   Alas, I have only read 31 books in 2009, but some very good ones!!  You can check out the entire list of books I have read in 2010 on my website.   (which sure needs a overhaul!)

 

Jen's Best Books of 2010

1. Gone With the Wind - Margaret Mitchell (5/5)

2. The Room - Emma Donoghue - 5/5

3. The Help - Kathryn Stockett  (4.5/5)

4. Sarah's Key - Tatiana de Rosnay  (4.5/5)

5. The Promised World - Lisa Tucker  (4/5)

6. The House Rules - Jodi Picoult (4/5)

7. The Reliable Wife - Robert Goolrick - (4/5)
8. The Girl Who Plays with Fire - 4/5
9. Look Again - Lisa Scottsline - 4/5

10. Still Missing - Chevy Stevens - 4/5

I had a very hard time getting this list down to the to top 10 Books of 2010.  I had many more books that I also rated 4/5 - Recommend/Good

BookPage, recently posted their Top 40 Books of 2010, so I have added many to my reading list for 2011.  What was your favorite book of 2010??? 

I love making my list of best books each year.  I forget about all the great books I read in the beginning of the year!  Next, I will enjoy reading other book bloggers lists which will certainly make my "To Be Read" list even longer!

Happy Reading!!!

Library Loot: December 28th, 2010

Library Loot Event is a weekly event hosted by Marg at The Adventures of a Intrepid Reader and Claire from The Captive Reader.  This weekly event encourages bloggers to share the books they have checked out from the library. I always find many new books to add to my reserve list!

I am on vacation and finally had some time to read a book.  I have been in a terrible slump with my reading lately.   So I was excited to browse at the library today.   My son was not as excited for a long browse. 

I need to go to the book store and get some more new books added to my list of “To Read”.  

The following book found their way home with me from our local Library:

Fictional Finds:

What did you find at the library this week????  Stop by and share your Library Loot !!   Hope everyone is enjoying their long weekend!!

Happy Reading!

Library Loot: September 4, 2010

September 4, 2010

Library Loot Event is a weekly event hosted by Marg at The Adventures of a Intrepid Reader and Claire from The Captive Reader.  This weekly event encourages bloggers to share the books they have checked out from the library. I always find many new books to add to my reserve list!

I recently purchased a Kindle, but am still going to the library weekly to supplement my reading material.  This week I almost felt guilty walking out of the library.  We found so many book we wanted to read that we had our bag overflowing.   It is a long weekend so hopefully we can a return a few things on Monday!   I love a long weekend and a very successful day at the library.  :-)

After the library we headed to Barnes and Noble and I have an even longer list of books to reserve at the library.  What a nice day!

The following book found their way home with me from our local Library:

Fictional Finds:
Non-Fictional Finds:
Tommy’s Loot:
Tommy’s Movies:

What did you find at the library this week????  Hope everyone is enjoying their long weekend!!

Happy Reading!

Library Loot: August 14, 2010

August 14, 2010

Library Loot Event is a weekly event hosted by Eva at A Striped Armchair and Claire from The Captive Reader.  This weekly event encourages bloggers to share the books they have checked out from the library. I always find many new books to add to my reserve list!

I recently purchased a Kindle, but am still going to the library weekly to supplement my reading material. 

The following book found their way home with me from our local Library:

	The Florist’s Daughter – Patricia Hampl
	The Lonely Polygamist – Brady Udall
	The Piano Teacher – Janice Y. K. Lee
	Annie’s Ghost – Steve Luxenberg

Finished and Returned to the Library this week:

	Look Again – Lisa Scottoline
	Twelve Rooms with a View – Theresa Rebeck (read the first 100 pages and just wasn’t into the story – did not finish)

Happy Reading!!

Jen C

Library Loot: July 31, 2010

  July 31, 2010

Library Loot Event is a weekly event hosted by Eva at A Striped Armchair and Claire from The Captive Reader.  This weekly event encourages bloggers to share the books they have checked out from the library. I always find many new books to add to my reserve list!

I recently purchased a Kindle, but am still going to the library weekly to supplement my reading material. 

The following book found their way home with me from our local Library:

	The Privileges – Jonathan Dee
	Not Ready for Mom Jeans – Maureen Lipinski
	Grill It – Chris Schlensinger and John Willoughby
	The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook – Erin Chase (blooger at www.5dollardinners.com – I have read for years)
	Blue Nude – Elizabeth Rosner
	Look Again – Lisa Scottoline
	Twelve Rooms with a View – Theresa Rebeck

Downloaded from Audible.com

Monkeewrench – P J Tracy

Finished and Returned to the Library this week:

The Good Wife – Stewart O’Nan

Day after Night  - Anita Diamant

Happy Reading!!

Jen C