Goal: 20 | Actual Read: 39
List of Books Read in 2012:
- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Easy read, and I never lost interest, but it was a little too predictable for me. Many of the characters who were meant to be quirky and cute were just caricatures instead of flesh. - No One Belongs Here More Than You by Miranda July
I still can't decide what I thought of this collection of short stories. It was sometimes beautiful, sometimes jarring, and sometimes thought-provoking. Which is, I think, exactly as the author meant it to be. - Conservatize Me:
How I Tried to Become a Righty with the Help of Richard Nixon, Sean Hannity, Toby Keith, and Beef Jerky by John Moe
I was disappointed: This book could have been really good and thoughtful as well as hilarious, along the lines of The Year of Biblical Thinking, but it really only provided a few laughs and nothing more to think on. - One Amazing Thing by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
I enjoyed the personal stories told by the multiple characters and how they revealed that people who are so different still have the human experience in common, but the main storyline seemed too forced, too much of a plot device. - The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
I really liked this. I could frighteningly relate to a lot of what the main character felt, but was then relieved when she took turns and thought thoughts that I never did. Without knowing what happened to the author, it might even have been a happy ending... unfortunately the true ending was not happy. - The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror by Christopher Moore
I didn't start off liking this one, thanks to the multitude of viewpoints and the sometimes predictable humor, but I was stuck with it on a six hour car ride and I ended up enjoying all of the characters and even laughing out loud. - The Secret History by Donna Tartt
I got caught up in this book. I enjoyed the atmosphere of dread and the complex manifestations of guilt, fear, justice and fate. But most of all I felt immersed in the story and when I was done, felt like I would miss these people I'd grown to know. - Much Ado About You by Eloisa James
This Regency romance novel didn't disappoint, meaning it followed perfectly the formula of easy read, beautiful heroine, rakish hero, and personal drama but not much action except of the bedroom variety. - Making Rounds With Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat by David Dosa MD
A quick read, and not unpleasant, despite its subject matter -- the elderly and dementia. I thought this book would be more about the cat Oscar than it actually turned out to be. Also it read like a story in the Reader's Digest. But I did enjoy it and it made me think about the implications of aging and the role of health care. - Undress Me In the Temple of Heaven by Susan Jane Gilman
Idealistic and somewhat conceited college girls go backpacking in China. This book is less the travelogue I expected and more the story of how the two girls unravel in ways mostly unrelated to China. I still liked it. - Generosity: An Enhancement by Richard Powers
The premise of this book promised much; the execution was more experimental and contemporary than I would have liked. The writing style, to me, only muddied up what would have been a good story with too much "meta." - Still Life With Woodpecker by Tom Robbins
I did enjoy the clever wordplay the author employed, but aside from that, this book was just not my style. I didn't like the characters (even though they were redheaded), the narration, nor did I like the endless self-congratulatory philosophizing. - The Good Good Pig: The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood by Sy Montgomery
Touching story of how a pig enriched the lives of the humans around him. Full of humorous anecdotes, interesting facts, and surprising lessons. I liked it a lot even though, as with most animal stories, I was crying at the end. - How To Be An American Housewife by Margaret Dilloway
This sounded like it would be a good story, but it just didn't come through. The writing was dull and didn't sparkle or engage. The main conflict wasn't really a conflict at all, and the characters were flat. - Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Short, easy YA (young adult) read. A little more allegorical than real -- I can see how it would be relatable to some teens but its quirkiness could turn others off even as the message is about the value of quirkiness. - Row 22, Seats A & B by Frederick Waterman
Enjoyable collection of short stories, each involving somehow an airline flight, these two seats, and a big twist or surprise. I liked every one of them, and some very much. - Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
Atmospheric and engrossing. This was a great story from the dark underside of Victorian England involving thieves, heiresses, lunatics, murderers, and enough double-crossing to keep the characters guessing. - Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
I appreciated this YA fantasy story starring an atypical spunky heroine, and its frank and level-headed treatment of gender and gender roles. I wish it had had a little more life to the writing, though. I felt like I was reading an abridged version and missing all the meat and heart of the story. - Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
Second time reading this book. It may not be great literature, but I can't deny it is fun to read. Bridget and her dysfunctional friends, family and coworkers make me laugh out loud. - As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised as a Girl by John Colapinto
A horrifying enough true tale of a normal baby boy whose family was counseled to turn him into a girl after a circumcision accident (as if a penis is the only thing that separates boys and girls?). But there are other stories here -- egomaniacal doctors, guilt-ridden parents, the science of gender and sexuality, and ultimately a child who rebelled against everything she/he had known since birth to follow the truth of self. - The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
This classic sat on my shelf for a while before I felt determined enough to tackle it, but I needn't have been afraid of it. The story was good, but better were the characters, and the old-fashioned writing enriched the experience. This book definitely kept me up late reading. - The Many Sins of Lord Cameron by Jennifer Ashley
The third in a series of four romance novels, each focusing on a different Scottish brother. I like the non-pushover heroines in the series and the unpolished brothers. - Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
This supernatural high school romance, obviously inspired by Twilight, was an easy read but there was no payoff. The romance was improbable, there was no real conflict, and the unlikeable characters just sniped at each other through the whole book. - The Uncoupling by Meg Wolitzer
Interesting story in which the women of a town all lose interest in sex. It's a realistic exploration of many different kinds of relationships and how they are and are not affected by lack of intimacy. I liked it. - Bossypants by Tina Fey
Laugh out loud funny, of course! - Everything Is Going To Kill Everybody by Robert Brockway
This should have been a long article in a magazine or online, rather than a book. You can easily see where the author is just jabbering in order to pad the word count. The underlying list of ways the world could be wiped out is very interesting, but was way overwritten. - Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl by Stacy O'Brien
Fascinating story of a barn owl who bonded with a biologist. Written by said biologist soon after the owl's death, the book was obviously a loving tribute and therapy at the same time. - The Ghost Writer by John Harwood
I'm torn on this one, because I really did enjoy it until it got nearer the end, when I realized it just wasn't going to live up to all the potential it had to be truly complex and scary. - Secrets Of Eden by Chris Bohjalian
This book surprised me when it changed narrators after the first section, and I was at first annoyed, and then really enjoyed the opportunity to see events from a different perspective. The multiple narrators highlighted each person's view of reality and the things they were hiding from even themselves. - Miss Hargreaves by Frank Baker
A truly unique idea for a plot. This book wasn't full of a lot of adventure or suspense, and dragged a bit in spots, but I enjoyed it. Good for bedtime reading. - Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion by Sara Miles
The author's message of love, acceptance, and salvation through serving others is noble but I felt she almost contradicted herself with her obvious belief that she and her unlikely band of helpers have found The Only Truth, and her disdain for anyone practicing their religion differently. - Emergence: Labeled Autistic by Temple Grandin
Very interesting insider look at someone who experiences the world so differently than most. - The Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings
This book was definitely engrossing because of its interesting plot, but I found it to be depressing reading about the dysfunctional family. - Girl In Translation by Jean Kwok
This was a good "overcoming incredible obstacles" story, but I was left unsatisfied at the end and wished it had turned out differently. I suppose that was part of the point. - The Pirate Next Door by Jennifer Ashley
I've enjoyed other romances by this author, but this one was pretty badly written. Too many side characters, confusing plot, and cringe/laugh -worthy romance scenes. - Memento Mori by Muriel Spark
I expected something a little more sinister going into this book. Instead it was an unusual look at aging, from the perspective of the aging. An interesting read but a rather draggy one. - The Forty Rules of Love: A Novel of Rumi by Elif Safak
This novel was really two stories running parallel though separated by centuries. I didn't care for the main characters in either one, and thought both of their stories contained too much hand-wringing. - The House At Riverton by Kate Morton
I enjoyed this Gothic tale of family secrets in both upper and lower classes. My take, though, is that in the last quarter of the book, when the pace finally picked up, the quality of writing dropped accordingly. - A Very Long Engagement by Sebastien Japrisot
This was a rare occasion where I saw the movie first and then read the book. (It's been a while since I saw the movie so I didn't remember much.) I enjoyed very much the heroine of this story and her relentless sleuthing.
Started but didn't finish: What Should I Do With My Life? by Po Bronson; Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Friend by Christopher Moore
See my previous years' book lists:
34 books in 2011
27 books in 2010
13 books in 2009
6 books in 2008
57 books in 2007
34 books in 2006
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