12 Days of Christmas Day 12: My Book of 2010

Merry Christmas!!

I hope this Christmas morning finds you surrounded by loved ones and a pile of good books!! 

Today is the last day of my 12 Days of Christmas post. Once again, huge thanks go to Carly for not only coming up with the idea but allowing me to jump on her band wagon. I've had a great time.

So, drum roll please!!

My book of 2010 is

She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb

I'd love to give you some deep analysis of why I chose it, but all I can say is it felt right. For some reason this book had an impact on me and it will be one I measure all of Wally Lamb's stuff against.

12 Days of Christmas Day 11: 2 Best Book Group Books of 2010

I love my Book Group. It's a wonderful group of ladies who love to get together to discuss books and wider events. We have read so many wonderful books this year, but these are my two favourites.

 Every Secret Thing by Marie Munkara

This was way back at the beginning of the year. It was our January book. It looks at an aboriginal mission in the 60's. Told with a lot of humour, it didn't fail to get across how horrifically some white Australians treated our indigenous population.

The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

I've said a few times that this book is the best fantasy I have read in along time and I'm willing to say it again. If you have become disillusioned with fantasy fiction, give this a go, it may just change your mind.

12 Days of Chistmas Day 10: 3 Challenges I plan to take part in 2011

Day 10!! OMG!!! 2 more sleeps until Christmas! Last night I wrapped all of the presents, husband will take the kids today and do the last of the shopping while I work and we will be set. I've never been this organised before.

This year I only took part in one challenge, which was the 100+ reading challenge over at Home Girl's. It was fun and an easy one to keep track of. This year I am spreading my wings a bit further!

The TwentyEleven Challenge

Hosted by Bart over at Bart's Bookshelf this challenge gets you to read 1-2 books from 11 different categories. Looking forward to this forcing me to stretch my reading horizons!

The A to Z Challenge

Hosted by Becky who has a few blogs (see the side bar on the right on her A to Z Challenge Page), this challenge has three levels. Alphabetically by author - 26 books, alphabetically by title - 26 books or alphabetically by author and title - 52 books. I've taken the 52 challenge!

Aussie YA Reading Challenge 2011

Hosted by Nic over at Irresistible Reads, this one is pure self indulgence for me. I love YA and I love Aussie YA authors! Must be the teacher librarian in me! I'm going for 12, but am sure I will go way beyond that. I plan to start my list with the Children's Book Council 2010 shortlist for Young Adults 2010 . When the 2011 short list is released I'll add those.

I'm also thinking of joining a library challenge, but don't want to sign up for too much. What challenges are you taking on in 2011?

Don't forget to check out Carly's 12 Days of Christmas at Writing From the Thumb  and Keris Stainton at Della Says: OMG!

12 Days of Christmas Day 9: 4 Books I Struggled With

Good morning! Do you like my new blog design and name? I named it, IT expert husband designed it. I looooooooooove my husband! :)
Anyways, day 9. There were a few books I struggled with this year for one reason or another. Most I put down, but these few I continued with and am glad I did.

The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb

I think I struggled with this because it wasn't about what I thought it was about. I thought it was about 9/11, but it was so much more! Once I got over that, I really started to enjoy it. I'm glad I did, because it lead to me reading She's Come Undone and add Wally Lamb to my list of authors to read more of.






The Posionwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

This was read for book group and while I enjoyed it, I did struggle with it. I think the issue was it was the third Book Group book in a row that dealt with colonisation and the not so good parts. I'd like to read it again sometime.

 Push by Sapphire

The bad grammar and spelling (both absolutely necessary) in this book made it hard going to start with. The content, the horrible situation of Precious' life made it even more difficult. Well worth the effort though.

At Home by Bill Bryson

I still have about 30-40 pages of this to go which I will read tonight so I can return it tomorrow so the poor person next on the list has half a chance of getting it before the break! While quite interesting, I lost momentum half way through and had to take a break. I'm now powering towards the end!




Don't forget to check out Carly's 12 Days of Christmas at Writing From the Thumb  and Keris Stainton at Della Says: OMG!

12 Days of Christmas Day 8: 5 Authors I want to read more of.

Today I'm going to look at 5 authors I would like to read more of. Apart from Phillipa Gregory, I read books by all these authors this year which has only whet my appetite for more!

Kazou Ishigaru

This year I read Never Let Me Go and thoroughly enjoyed it. Ishigaru's writing was gorgeous and the story he told absorbing. I'm looking at recommending one of his others for my book group.

Wally Lamb

This year I read The Hour I First Believed and She's Come Undone. I enjoyed both but found the first half to 3/4 of The Hour I First Believed hard going. She's Come Undone sung to me and is the reason I will read more of his stuff.


Tim Winton

Anyone who has read this blog will know that Tim Winton is a firm favourite of mine. His writing is so beautiful. I will often pick up one of his books and just read a paragraph or two. This year I read or listened to Shallows, Scission and Minimum of Two. I aim to read the rest in 2011.



Sonya Hartnett

Sonya Hartnett is best known as a young adult author although she has also written for adults. This year I read Sleeping Dogs and Of a Boy. Of a Boy is the first of her adult writing I have read. I didn't enjoy it as much as her YA stuff. Looking forward to exploring her work further.

Phillipa Gregory

This is the only author on my list that I haven't read any of in 2010. I have previously read The Other Boleyn Girl and enjoyed it.

So are there any authors you're going to check out in 2011? Let me know who, I may need to add them to my list!

Also don't forget to check out Carly's 12 Days of Christmas at Writing From the Thumb  and Keris Stainton at Della Says: OMG!

12 Days of Christmas Day 7: 6 Blogs I discovered in 2010

Hey day 7 before I missed a post! That's pretty good for me. Just means you get double to joy today.

Carly over at Writing From the Tub, did 6 new authors for her day 7. I decided to do 6 new blogs.

 Eating YA Books 

This blog is written by Jan and I credit it with reinvigorating my love of YA books. I love the reviews, competitions - everything!

Look at my Happy Rainbow

In a former life I was a teacher. In fact, I love teaching, but moving states as proved a harder transition in terms of my career than I thought it would be. Mr H over at Look at my Happy Rainbow is that rare creature - the male kindergarten teacher. And he is fantastic at it - evident if by nothing else than the amount of hugs he gets. I would move to America if I could guarantee my child would have Mr H as her teacher!

 Dooce


Heather Armstrong is hilarious. She writes about everything - husband, kids, dogs, family, friends. Nothing is sacred. Be prepared for poop, farts, vomit, cooking, renovations, child melt downs, adult melt downs, post natal depression, joys of parenthood - everything!

Bedtime is for Suckers

My introduction to this blog was this post - Why I Think all Mommy Blogs are Bullshit - that was it, I was hooked! I read a fair few mummy blogs and I love them. But this one, is fantastic. Well worth a read for a laugh and those moments you know you aren't the one in control in your house!

  Vodkamom

Another kindergarten teacher who writes about her kids. (just so you know, teachers do call your kids their kids as well for a year. The good ones love and care for them almost as much as you do and we invest a lot in them for that year!) She also writes about her own kids Sassy and Bitchy and a boy whose nickname I can't remember!

PostSecret

In November 2004 Frank Warren invited 3000 people to share a secret and post it to him. The original 3000 were on post cards printed by Warren. After a few weeks, he stopped distributing the cards, but the secrets kept coming. Now every Sunday, Frank posts a selection of secrets on PostSecret. He also gives talks and presentations around America where the audience is invited to share secrets if they wish. Sometimes this site makes me cry, sometimes it makes me laugh. It always makes me think

Don't forget to pop over to Writing From the Thumb to check out Carly's 12 Days of Christmas. Keris Stainton at Della Says: OMG! has a version too! Check them out!

12 Days of Christmas Day 6: 7 Series' I Read in 2010

So I'm being a bit liberal here and listing 7 series I read or read part of in 2010. I do plan to read the complete series with each of these, so I figure that counts, right?

 The Elm Creek Quilt Series by Jennifer Chiaverini

 I read this whole series in 2010. Number 17 comes out next year - I can't wait!

The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series by Alexander McCall Smith

I read the 2 most recent of these in 2010. I love this series. Mma Ramotswe is one of the world's great detective characters!

Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson

I read the first of these in 2010 and have started the second. One of the most original fantasy fictions I have read in a long time. Looking forward to finishing it in 2011.

Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

I was a late comer to this series but once I got there I became a true convert. I've read all three this year and can see me doing so again next year! Better buy my own copies then!

The Complete Peanuts by Charles M Schulz

Everyone loves Peanuts! I read the first of these this year and have the next two borrowed from the library for the holidays. This series has 14 volumes in total. 14 books of Peanuts - Good grief, Charlie Brown!

Rangers Apprentice by John Flanagan

I've been aware of this series for awhile. I even bought the first few for the school library when I was a teacher librarian. I've read the first one of these and found it incredibly enjoyable. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series in 2011.

The Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy by Maggie Steifvater

Another fantastic series I came to late in the year. I've read Shiver, am waiting for linger to come into the library. Forever will be released next year. I'm fairly sure I will end up buying this series as well.

Oh and please leave a comment. Those montages took me ages and I'd love to know someone else has seen them! Thanks. :)

Don't forget to pop over to Writing From the Thumb to check out Carly's 12 Days of Christmas. Keris Stainton at Della Says: OMG! has a version too! Check them out!

12 Days of Christmas Day 5: 8 Favourite covers

I've had a huge day with my 8 and 5 year old at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary so todays 12 Days of Christmas - 8 favourite covers is going to be done wordless weekend style. Pics, no comments. Click on the titles for a link to my reviews of each book.

 

 The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer

 The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

 Love is the Higher Law by David Levithan

 Left Shoe and the Foundling by Annie O'Dowd

 The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

 

 Mr Rosenblum's List by Natasha Solomons

 Shallows by Tim Winton

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Make sure you check out Carly over at Writing From the Thumb and Keris at  Della Says: OMG! to see where they are at with their 12 days of Christmas.

12 Days of Christmas Day 4: 9 Books I missed in 2010

This one was easy! All I had to do was check my list of Books from Other Blogs list! So here is my picks from that list.

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater.

OK, so this one isn't on my list, but I did miss out on it! I came to the whole Maggie Stiefvater thing late in the year. I'm on the request list for this at the library, but I there are too many people in front of me to even contemplate getting it before new years.

Room by Emma Donoghue

I first saw this on Book Journey. The whole idea sounds intriguing to me. 

Disrupting Grace: A Story of Relinquishment and Healing by Kristen Richburg

Life in the Thumb's six sentence review of this tore at my heart. I can only imagine the anguish that goes with a decision such as this. It's a must read for me in 2011.

The Elephant Keeper by Christopher Nicholson

I love elephants! This recommendation came from All Booked Up.

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

 

I loved The Time Traveler's Wife. This is one of the first books I put on my list. It's on my Kindle ready to go. Next year I promise!

I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

A recommendation from the brains behind the twelve days of Christmas - Carly at Writing From the Thumb!

Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu

I know people who have hording tendancies - nothing this bad though. I do dread cleaning out my in laws house when the die. My mother in law hates throwing anything out! This came from So Many Books, So Little Time. (never a truer word typed I feel!)

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

I consider myself fortunate to never have been in a position where I thought things were so bad suicide was the way out. Unfortunately like most people, I have lost family and friends who did get to that point. I also get the feeling that this book deals with the whole issue of peer pressure and bullying in the electronic world - something my children will have to learn to deal with and so will I. This review came via Bippity Boppity Book.

Spider Bones by Kathy Reichs

I don't remember reading a review of this during the year, but I love Kathy Reichs. This is another on my Kindle ready to go!

Don't forget to pop over to Writing From the Thumb to check out Carly's 12 Days of Christmas. Keris Stainton at Della Says: OMG! has a version too! Check them out!

12 Days of Christmas - Day 3: 10 Most Anticipated Books of 2011

Carly over at Writing at the Tub set a hard task for day three. I don't tend to keep track of what is coming out. A bit of searching through Fantastic Fiction and publisher sites and this is what I came up with.

Union of Quilters by Jennifer Chiaverini

This is one I knew about. I'm already on the request list (in fact I'm first!) at the library. Throughout 2010 I read all of the Elm Creek Novels so am looking forward to this, the 12th book.

Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult

I've always been a sucker for a Jodi Picoult novel and this one looks like a doozy!

From Picoult's website:

SING YOU HOME explores what it means to be gay in today’s world, and how reproductive science has outstripped the legal system. Are embryos people or property? What challenges do same-sex couples face when it comes to marriage and adoption? What happens when religion and sexual orientation – two issues that are supposed to be justice-blind – enter the courtroom? And most importantly, what constitutes a “traditional family” in today’s day and age?

Flash and Bones by Kathy Reichs.

Other than the fact that this is due out in 2011, I could find nothing! But I love the Temperance Brennan novels so I'm sure it will be good!

 Various Charlie and Lola books by Lauren Child

My daughter loves Charlie and Lola and any new book is cause for celebration as I can just about recite all the ones we currently have by heart!

I have this little sister called Lola. She is small and very funny.

 This is the way every Charlie and Lola book starts. Charlie is right, Lola is very funny!

Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks

Geraldine Brooks is one of my favourite Australian authors. This description comes from Fishpond.

Caleb Cheeshateaumauk was the first native American to graduate from Harvard College back in 1665. 'Caleb's Crossing' gives voice to his little known story. Caleb, a Wampanoag from the island of Martha's Vineyard, seven miles off the coast of Massachusetts, comes of age just as the first generation of Indians come into contact with English settlers, who have fled there, desperate to escape the brutal and doctrinaire Puritanism of the Massachusetts Bay colony. The story is told through the eyes of Bethia, daughter of the English minister who educates Caleb in the Latin and Greek he needs in order to enter the college. As Caleb makes the crossing into white culture, Bethia, 14 years old at the novel's opening, finds herself pulled in the opposite direction. Trapped by the narrow strictures of her faith and her gender, she seeks connections with Caleb's world that will challenge her beliefs and set her at odds with her community.

 The Emperor of Nihon by John Flanagan.

I read the first of the Ranger's Apprentice books earlier this year. This is the 10th and last book in the series due out next year. Hopefully by the time it rolls around I will have read numbers 2 - 8.






The Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak.

Zusak is the Australian author of The Book Thief and The Messenger, both brilliant books. The Bridge of Clay is his new one to be released in 2011. Goodreads keeps it simple:

It's about a boy.
His name is Clay.
He's building a bridge.
And he wants that bridge to be something truly great and miraculous.

 

The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party by Alexander McCall-Smith

The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series is my all time favourite series. Can't wait for number 12! I always love a wedding!





The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory. 

I've read a few of Philippa Gregory's books and really enjoy them. She is one of the authors whose backlist I plan to read next year so this has to be on the list!

Unknown by Sharon Kay Penman

All I know is that Sharon Kay Penman is due to release another book soon! I only hope it's in 2011.

Tomorrow - 8 books I've missed out on!

12 Days of Christmas - Day Two: 11 Favourite Characters

So day 2 of the Bookish 12 Days of Christmas brings us to favourite characters. My favourite characters of 2010 are:

Paul Carter from Don't Tell Mum I Work on the Rigs, She Thinks I'm a Piano Player in a Whorehouse.
Apart from the fact that I love the title of this book, Paul Carter brings his life as an oil rig worker to life with such humour you couldn't help but like the guy. I've since listened to a few interviews with him and he seems like the kind of guy you could sit down and have a beer with.

Will from The Ruins of Gorlan
A hero in a fantasy novel not racked with guilt, self doubt or trying to avoid being the hero. Will hasn't had the easiest of lives, but his willingness to learn and genuine niceness make me want to read more of this series.

Olive Martin from The Sculptress
Gotta love a good villain, especially when your not sure she is a villain! Olive Martin is so well written by Walters you are in turn repulsed and pity her. And in the end, you not sure if you've been played by her or not. Brilliant!


Mr Rosenblum's Wife from Mr Rosenblum's List
How embarrassing is it that  she is one of my favourites but I can't remember her name! She stood by and watched as her husband did things she did not understand with resignation. But in the end she saw the man it was making him. A true example of behind every great man stands a great woman.

Mma Ramotswe from Tea Time For The Traditionally Built
Mma Ramotswe has long been one of my favourite characters. Her lovely serene, calm, no nonsense, traditional approach to solving the mysteries that come into the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency puts her up there with the likes of Miss Marple, Sherlock Holmes and Poirot.


Scout from To Kill A Mockingbird
Scout's view of her world and the summer described in this book are incredibly moving. Lee's portrayal of Scout truly bought her to life for me. An amazing read.

Vedran Smailović from The Cellist of Sarajevo
A very minor character, and the only one in the book based on a true person. Smailović was a cellist with the Sarajevo orchestra. A mortar shell outside his building one day killed 22 people waiting in line for bread. For the next 22 days, he took his cello down to the crater and played Albinoni’s Adagio in G Minor. For me the fact that someone would honor the dead in this way is beautiful. It shows the best of humanity amongst the worst of it.

Edward Tullane from the Miraculous Journey of Edward Tullane
Edward's realisations about what is truly important through his journey in this book made a real impact on me. Told so beautifully from the point of view of a toy rabbit, Edward Tullane could teach us all something.


Precious from Push
A character who dares you to not like her, not cheer for her, not feel for her. Precious comes from a situation so horrible you wouldn't hold it against her if she raged against the world. Instead she realises the only way out is education. A better life for her will mean a better life for her children and that alone makes her an excellent mother.


Dolores from She's Come Undone
Lamb made Dolores so real to me I felt like calling her up and telling her to get a grip at times! Another character who realised she could be so much more than her circumstances suggested. Another who I cheered for as often as I despaired for her.

Offred from The Handmaid's Tale
Offred's appeal for me is in the fact she can remember life before it became controlled. She is aware of how things use to be, how they became what they are now, she's just not sure how to get back to it. For me a cautionary tale about being told what is good for you and not questioning decisions that affect your life.

Once again, thanks to Carly from Writing From the Tub for this brilliant idea! Tomorrow, the 10 most anticipated books of 2011. (Hmm, will have to do some research for that tonight!)

12 Days of Christmas - Day One: 12 Favourite Books 2010

Carly over at Writing from the Tub had this fabulous idea to do a bookish 12 Days of Christmas. I love the idea so much I've decided to have a go too!

The first is 12 books from 2010. I think Carly may have chosen ones published in 2010, mine come from anything I have read in 2010.

Every Secret Thing by Marie Munkara

 A book that made me laugh and cry, often within the same sentence. Munkara tells the story of an Aboriginal mission in the Northern Territory, it shows how white ideals and Aboriginal culture clashed so badly. How one side was willing to accept another's beliefs, but the other side couldn't consider the ideas of someone different.


Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Some loved it, others didn't get. I loved it! Gilbert got to do what I would love to do and take a year to do whatever I wanted! Bliss!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Ann Barrows

Written entirely as letters between a group of people, this book made me long for a pen pal. Pity I know I am so bad at writing letters!

Push by Sapphire

What can you say about a book that made you feel like you'd been clobbered over the head with a lump of wood? An incredibly moving and powerful read about the power of the written word and valuing yourself.


The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

A gorgeous children's book about a toy rabbit over stuffed with his own self importance and the journey he goes on to discover the truly important things in life. Beautifully written and beautifully illustrated, if this does not become a classic there is something seriously wrong!


The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

For me a rather scary look at an alternative future where woman are once again seen as possessions to be controlled and dictated to. What struck me most about this book is the narrator's memories of what life use to be like and how quickly and easily the freedom of women was lost.

The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

  The best fantasy fiction I have read in a long time. Original, exciting, strong characters who weren't stereotypical. I'm not surprised to read rumours of a movie being made of this book, it would be perfect. Just hope they don't stuff it up!

What's Happening to Our Boys? and What's Happening to Our Girls by Maggie Hamilton

Two books that have become my bibles as I move towards a world where I parent tweens and teens. Hamilton gives a very clear run down on the vastly different world my children are experiencing and how I can help them navigate their way through it with out alienating them. Essential parental reading.

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

So embarrassed that it has taken me so long to read this book. Easy to see why it's a classic. One I plan to reread and often.


She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb

After struggling a bit with The Hour I First Believed, I was a little reluctant to try another Wally Lamb. By oh my goodness! I plan to read his backlist in 2011.

Mr Rosenblum's List - Natasha Solomons

  Just a beautiful read from beginning to end. Books don't get much better than this!

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

 In my opinion the best of the Hunger Games series. Having borrowed all three from the library I am planning to purchase my own copies as I know I will want to read these again.

So there is my 12 for 2010. Next on the list are 11 favourite characters!