2011 Wrap Up Post & Happy New Year Wishes!

So...how did I do this year??  

I've read:

58 Books

3 Short Stories 

7 Childrens Books

I started Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf mid August (& joined Twitter, Goodreads etc.):

24 Book Reviews Posted

156 Posts in Total

26,716 Page Views

588 Followers via GFC

509 Followers via Twitter

359 Friends on Goodreads

Posts with the most Pageviews: 

 Christmas Cat Thursday!

&

 2012 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge

I attended the Brooklyn Book Festival and had a blast!

I participated in two Readathons and loved every minute!

I joined three regular challenges and completed two of them!  For the third I am 1/4 of a book short :(  See the details HERE.  I also joined and completed two Holiday Challenges...see details HERE.

And I started by own Challenge for next year:  2012 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge

On the whole I am pretty happy!  I've read at least one book a week...which I think is pretty good for someone who works full time, and balances family and other activities!  

Some of my resolutions for next year?

Write more reviews (a short and sweet review is better than none at all)

Keep more detailed stats about what I'm reading

Read more for pleasure

Network more and get to know fellow bloggers:) 

Try to comment more and reply to comments more

Try to start and participate in more discussions

Go to more Bookish events

Request less NetGalley Titles

Have more fun!!

Last but not least:

Wrapping up 2011 Readathon Conclusion

Wrapping up 2011 Readathon over at Remarkable Reads!

Despite the busy Holiday season, I think I did pretty well to finish out the year!  

I finished The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

An O'Brien Family Christmas by Sherryl Woods

 Delerium by Lauren Oliver on audio:

And I started:

The Yoga Club - Cooper Lawrence

&

Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins (Audio)

Thanks so much to Jessie for hosting!!

2011 Reading Challenges Wrap up Post

I joined three challenges and completed two of them!  For the third I am 1/4 of a book short :(  See the details below!

Hosted By:   The Book Vixen

Level:  Getting my heart rate up~~Read 1-5 more books than 2010 (4)
Progress: Completed!!

57/24 booksFor complete list see My Reads

 

Hosted By:   Books And Movies
Level:  Luck o’ the Irish ~~ Read 4 books

Progress:  Completed!!

4/4 books1. Irish Fling – Valerie Douglas
2. The Celtic Twilight: Myth, Fantasy, & Lore – William Butler Yeats
3. An Irish Country Doctor – Patrick Taylor
4. The Dubliners – Joyce James

 

Hosted By:   Books And Movies

Level:  Dangling your toes ~~ Read 2 books

Progress:  Not Completed

1.75/2 books1. Hannah Coulter – Wendell Berry
2.  The Art of the Commonplace: The Agrarian Essays of Wendell Berry – Wendell Berry (3/4 Finished)

2011 Holiday Reading Challenge Wrap up!

Well...I attempted two challenges this holiday season and I easy succeeded in completing both of them!! I love, love love Christmas and Christmas stories!  See my challenges and progress below:)

Hosted By: The True Book Addict @ The Christmas Spirit Blog
Book Level: Mistletoe: Read 2-4 books
Progress:  Completed!!

3/3 books

1. Wish Upon A Star - Sarah Morgan
2. Sweet Inspiration - Penny Watson
3.  An O'Brien Family Christmas - Sherryl Woods 

Fa La La La Films Level: Watch a bunch or a few Christmas movies
Progress: 
1.  Ice Age:  A Mammoth Christmas
2.  The Good Witch's Wedding
3.  The Greatest Gift (Warehouse 13 Christmas Special)

Hosted by: Book Lovers Inc

Level:  Serial Mistletoe-er - read 4-6 holiday themed books

Progress: Completed!!

4/4 books

1. A Very Holly Christmas - Sheila Roberts

2. Wish Upon A Star - Sarah Morgan

3. Sweet Inspiration - Penny Watson

4.  An O'Brien Family Christmas - Sherryl Woods 

Book Review: An O'Brien Family Christmas by Sherryl Woods

Title:  An O'Brien Family Christmas        
Author:  Sherryl Woods          
Reading level:  Adult
Genre:  Romance/Holiday      
Size: E-book, 288 pages
Release Date:   September  2011 
Publisher:  Harlequin/Mira Books
Stand Alone or Series: Chesapeake Shores #8        
Source: NetGalley

First Line:   "She'd lost the job of a lifetime because of a man!"

Summary (from GoodReads):

Dating Matthew O’Brien-a playboy and a younger man-cost Laila Riley her career and her parents’ respect. A high price, even for love-and when Laila decides it was just a fling, she breaks it off, despite Matthew’s objections.

It’s a great time to get away from it all, but Laila has reservations about joining the O’Briens for a Dublin holiday. Matthew’s bound to be there, and she’s far from immune. What if she can’t resist temptation?

Meanwhile, the O’Briens are in an uproar over matriarch Nell’s unexpected romance with an old flame. Will she follow her heart despite the risks? And will Laila discover that some risks are actually once-in-a-lifetime opportunities?

Favorite Quote:


"The light of the Christmas star to you. The warmth of home and hearth to you. The cheer and goodwill of friends to you. The hope of a child-like heart to you. The joy of a thousand angels to you. The love of the Son and God's peace to you."

My Thoughts:

This was a very entertaining holiday read.  I loved the fact that there was an important family element and adored the setting.  What could be better than a trip to Dublin, Ireland for the holidays??


The characters were all incredibly likable if not terribly well developed.  I fear that reading a book in this series out of order may have been a disservice to the author as there are so many characters who very obviously have been previously introduced and developed.  I admit that I had a bit of a hard time keeping track of who was who...but it barely detracted from the story at hand.


The main story line with Laila & Matthew developed nicely and kept me rooting for the couple until the end and the secondary story lines (especially that of the grandmother Nell)provided sufficient information about the other characters to tempt me to pick up another in this series.  I'd definitely advise reading them in order however.


All in all, a fun easy holiday read with a wonderful setting!

Was it worth my Time? 

TGIF - 12/30/11

Hosted by GReads:)

This Friday's Question:

First & Last: What was the first book you read in 2011 

and the last you finished in 2011? How do you feel about these books? 

Would you recommend them to other readers?

1st Book read in 2011:


Dark Rivers of the Heart - Dean Koontz


Summary: A man and a woman meet by chance in a bar. Suddenly they are fleeing the long arm of a clandestine and increasingly powerful renegade government agency -- the woman hunted for the information she possesses, the man mistaken as her comrade in a burgeoning resistance movement.
The architect of the chase is a man of uncommon madness and cruelty -- ruthless, possibly psychotic, and equipped with a vast technological arsenal. He is the brazen face of an insidiously fascistic future. And he is virtually unstoppable. But he has never before come up against the likes of his current quarry. Both of them are survivors of singularly horrific pasts. Both have long been emboldened by their experiences to fight with reckless courage for their own freedom. Now they are plunged into a struggle for the freedom of their country, and for the sanctity of their own lives.
Dark Rivers of the Heart is an electrifying thriller that steers us along the razor edge of a familiar, terrifying reality.


My Thoughts:  Koontz never fails to deliver.  His books are always a wonderful thrill ride combines with supernatural elements and an inspirational message.

Last Book read in 2011 (so far-I hope to finish the two I am in the middle of before year's end):




Delerium - Lauren Oliver



Summary: Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy. 
But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.



My Thoughts:  This was one of my favorite reads of 2011.  Great premise. Wonderful Imagery.  I can't wait for Pandemonium!

This week at Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf

Weekly Features:  

Special Christmas edition of In My Mailbox where I show off my very diverse reading habits 

My Teaser Tuesdays featuring An O'Brien Family Christmas by Sherryl Woods

A Wishlist Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday in which I drool over Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
And a Cat Thursday where I share a cozy picture of Milo & Piper


Reviews:
The Purrfect Puppy by Kelly Hashway


Giveaway:
Happy New Year 2012 Giveaway!


Other:
Wrapping Up 2011 Readathon! Update
I joined the 2012 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge
I started the all new 2012 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge!   Join me!!

Happy New Year 2012 Giveaway!

The hosts for this hop are Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer &  Babs from Babs Book Bistro .  The dates: December 30th through January 3rd. There are lots of blogs participating and each has their own entry rules and geographic limits, so be sure to read the rules for each one.

Up for grabs at this stop is a brand  copy of 

Polly Shulman's The Grimm Legacy:

Summary from Goodreads:

Elizabeth has just started working as a page at the New York Circulating Material Repository - a lending library of objects, contemporary and historical, common and obscure. And secret, too - for in the repository's basement lies the Grimm Collection, a room of magical items straight from the Grimm Brother's fairy tales. But the magic mirrors and seven-league boots and other items are starting to disappear. And before she knows it, she and her fellow pages - handsome Marc, perfect Anjali, and brooding Aaron - are suddenly caught up in an exciting, and dangerous, magical adventure.

How to win:

• How to enter:
  1. You must use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter this giveaway.
  2. You must follow via GFC for the initial entry.  Additional options may be chosen for extra entries. You may choose one option or all options of the extra options. Each option is worth one entry into the giveaway.
  3. For each option you choose to enter with, click on “CLICK FOR INSTRUCTIONS” FIRST, follow the instructions, then click on “I DID THIS” and fill out the required information.
  4. The giveaway ends on Jan 3th at 11:59pm EST.
  5. At the conclusion of the giveaway, I will verify all entries.
  6. Once the verification process is complete, I will use the Rafflecopter widget to select the winner and contact her/him.
  7. The winner will have 48 hours from the notification email to respond with her/his full name and mailing address. If I do not receive a response, the prize will be forfeited and another winner will be selected. Please be sure to check your spam filters!
  8.  This Contest is for US addresses only!

 Please make sure that you have read my Giveaway and Privacy Policies Here

2012 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge

Hosted by: Reading with Tequila

From the host's site:

The Rules:

• Challenge will run January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Participants can join anytime throughout the challenge.

• Create an intro post, linking back to this post. 

• Sign up with the MckLinky below. Please link to your challenge intro post, not your blog home page. 

• Chose your own books from the list. You can decide to read books only on the Top 25 list or from the entire recommendation list. You do not have to make a list of books before the challenge begins.

• All forms of books acceptable (audiobooks, eBooks, etc.)

• Rereads do not count towards the completion of the challenge. The challenge is about discovering books that are new to you.

• You don't need a blog to participate.

• Reviews, while always appreciated, are not mandatory.

The Levels:


Level I - Read 5 books from the 2011 Book Blogger Recommendation List


Level II - Read 10 books


Level III - Read 15 books


Level IV - Read 20 books


Level V - Read 20+ books

I am going to join at Level II!  I've narrowed the 2011 Book Blogger Recommendation List down to the following which I will be choosing from :

Divergent by Veroncia Roth
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins 
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon 
The Last Unicorn by Peter Beagle
Enclave by Ann Aguirre
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Jellicoe Road by Marlina Marchetta 
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern 
Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher
A Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl 
Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi 
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Cat Thursday (11)

Welcome to the weekly meme that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s) and then link up at the host's site: The True Book Addict.  It's all for the love of cats! Enjoy!

Two for the price of one! Milo and Piper:)

Wednesday Wishing & Waiting - Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Title:  Pandemonium

Author:  Lauren Oliver

Series:  Delerium #2

Publisher:  HarperTeen

Release Date: February 28th 2012

Summary from GoodReads:

Lauren Oliver captivated readers with Delirium, the first book in a thrilling dystopian trilogy in which Lena Haloway dared to fall in love with Alex and escape the cure, the government-mandated procedure that renders a person immune to the disease of love. Lena and Alex staked their lives on leaving their oppressive society, but only Lena broke free. 

Pandemonium continues Lena’s gripping story. After escaping from Portland, Maine, Lena makes it to the Wilds and becomes part of an Invalid community, where she transforms herself into a warrior for the resistance. A future without Alex is unimaginable, but Lena pushes forward and fights, both for him and for a world in which love is no longer considered a disease. Swept up in a volatile mix of revolutionaries and counterinsurgents, Lena struggles to survive—and wonders if she may be falling in love again. 

Full of danger, forbidden romance, and exquisite writing, Lauren Oliver’s sequel to Delirium races forward at a breathtaking pace and is sure to appeal to fans who crave the high-stakes action of The Hunger Games and the bittersweet love story of Romeo & Juliet.

My Thoughts:

I finally read Delerium and finished it today!! I need to know what happens!! Delerium was one of the most evocative novels I've read this year and I don't expect any less of Pandemonium!!

Wishlist Wednesday is a book blog hop hosted by Pen to Paper where we will post about one book per week that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added (it's entirely up to you), that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our wonderful shelves.

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City. It's where we list all the books we desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.