A List of 63 Books Read in 2012

By far, I read the most books I've ever read in 2012. I started the year with a goal of reading 50 books... and ended up reading 63! I read a great variety of books from memoirs (like The Education of a Wandering Man by Louis L'Amour) to science fiction (like Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card). I discovered new authors (like Ruta Septys' Between Shades of Grey) and classics (like Dickens' Oliver Twist). I read books written for the young (like books by Gloria Whelan) and for adults (like David McCullough's The Greater Journey). It was an amazing journey as I read book after book, laughed and cried, and learned about different times and places... even imaginary ones! I had a wonderful year of reading. Here's a list of those books from the first to the last...

1. The Greater Journey by David McCullough (mentioned here)
2. Matilda by Roald Dahl
3. Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse (review)
4. An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 by Jim Murphy (review)
5. Whale Song by Cheryl Kaye Tardif (review)
6. The Education of a Wandering Man by Louis L'Amour (review)
7. The Reading Promise by Alice Ozma (review)
8.  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J K Rowling
9. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J K Rowling
10. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys (review)
11. War Horse by Michael Morpurgo (review)
12. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J K Rowling
13. Waiting for Anya by Michael Morpurgo (review)
14. The Impossible Journey by Gloria Whelan (review)
15. Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Velchin (review)
16. The Wanigan: A Life on the River by Gloria Whelan (review)
17. Hidden by Helen Frost (review)
18. Miranda's Last Stand by Gloria Whelan (review)
19. Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan (review)
20. Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan
21. Chu Ju's House by Gloria Whelan (review)
22. Wulf the Saxon: A Story of the Norman Conquest by G A Henty (review)
23. The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond (review)
24. Matched by Ally Condie (review)
25. Crossed by Ally Condie (review)
26. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (review)
27. The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman (review)
28. Five Conversations You Must Have with Your Daughter by Vicki Courtney
29. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch (review)
30. The Autobiography of Mrs Tom Thumb: A Novel by Melanie Benjamin
31. In the Reign of Terror by G. A. Henty (review)
32. Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution by Michelle Moran (review)
33. Texas Angel by Judith Pella
34. Heaven's Road by Judith Pella
35. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J K Rowling
36. Edge of Apocalypse (The End Series) by Tim LaHaye & Craig Parshall
37. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
38. The Green Coat: A Tale from the Dust Bowl Years by Rosemary McDunn
39. The Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars
40. Dark Water Rising by Marian Hale
41. The False Prince: Book 1 of the Ascendance Trilogy by Jennifer A. Nielsen
42. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
43. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J K Rowling
44. Turn Right at Machu Picchu by Mark Adams
45. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J K Rowling
46. The Murder of the Century by Paul Collins
47. Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult (review)
48. The Story of Charlotte's Web: E. B. White's Eccentric Life in Nature and the Birth of an American Classic by Michael Sims
49. Moloka'i by Alan Brennert
50. Silent Night by Mary Higgins Clark
51. All Through the Night by Mary Higgins Clark
52. Defending Jacob by William Landay
53. The Swerve: How the World Became Modern by Stephen Greenblatt
54. The Summons by John Grisham
55. 11/22/63 by Stephen King (review)
56. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (review)
57. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens (review)
58. The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans (review)
59. Finding Noel by Richard Paul Evans (review)
60. Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran (review)
61. Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowat (review)
62. Airframe by Michael Crichton (review)
63. A Christmas Blizzard by Garrison Keillor (review)

P.S. I will try to review many of the books I didn't already review and add links ASAP!

Book Review: Airframe by Michael Crichton

I took this book off of my husband's bookshelf. He is a recreational pilot and enjoys reading books about airplanes. I enjoyed this book and felt like Crichton really tried to make it readable for those of us who don't know a lot about planes and flying. However, I still found it a little hard to follow at times. 

The book is a mystery about Flight 545 on a Norton N-22. During the flight 56 people were injured and 3 died. What went wrong? Casey Singleton, a vice-president of Norton Airlines, is given a week to solve the problem. If she doesn't, Norton will have some serious problems.

Can Casey figure out what happened in time? And, is the N-22 safe...or is it a Death Trap?

2013: A to Z Reading Challenge

My third, and probably last, reading challenge for 2013 is the longest and hardest. Basically, I'm attempting to read a book that starts with every letter of the alphabet! This one is hosted by Escape with Dolycas.  And, here's where I'll list my books:
A-
B- The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons
C-
D-
E-
F-
G-
H-
I-
J-
K-
L-
M-
N-
O-
P-
Q-
R-
S-
T- Tatiana and Alexander by Paullina Simons
U-
V-
W-
X-
Y-
Z-

2013: Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

This challenge is hosted at Historical Tapestry and consists of different levels. I'll be attempting to read 10 Historical Fiction books in 2013 to become a "Renaissance Reader." Let me know if you are joining me for this challenge!

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2013: What An Animal Challenge VI

I'll be taking part in several reading challenges for the first time in 2013. One of them will be all about animals! It is hosted by Socrates' Book Reviews Blog. The challenge is to read 6 books that have an animal in the title, on the cover, as a main character, or a character that turns into an animal. You can get specific details by following her link above.

 

Here's where I'll keep track of my 6 animal books in 2013:

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Rouen, Normandy in France

One of the main reasons we stopped in Rouen, Normandy (in France) was to see the place where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. But, my mother was in a lot of pain and needed to rest. So, we left her in the car and told her we'd only be gone for 1 hour. We hurried through the town looking for the memorial cross... but we never found it. We did, however, see several beautiful blocks of Rouen.

 

The first site we came across was this beautiful building - the Palais de Justice. This gothic building was built near the turn of the 16th century and was mostly destroyed during the Allied bombing of WWII. This, the western facade, is heavily pockmarked from WWII bullets.

 

 

A "close up" showing some of the bullet holes still left on the western facade of the Palais de Justice.

 

 

Half-timbered buildings lining a street in Rouen.

 

 

Close-up of a half-timbered building.

 

 

 We stopped and had a quick drink - this was one of Alex's favorite drinks on this trip. It is a soda/juice mix! And, we were pleased to find out we could buy it at one of our local grocery stores that carries lots of international foods!

 

 

This is an amazing clock that I wish we would have seen up close. I only took this photo as we quickly turned the corner! The "Great Clock" was created in the early 1400's and rebuilt in 1527-1529.

 

 

 

Above is a close up of the photo I took. The clock only has an hour hand (no minute hand, as I guess the hour was close enough) and it is a little after noon. Under the VI there is a a cut out which changes each day of the week and shows a god on a chariot that demonstrates which day it is - I believe this was a Monday. Above the clock face is a globe that indicates the phase of the moon - I believe the colors are blue & silver so, this being completely silver, I think it was a full moon.

 

I'll show "Monet's cathedral" as a separate post...

Book Review: Cleopatra's Daughter

Yesterday, while Alex was sick asleep in bed, I finished Cleopatra's Daughter. I was sad to finish it and have the story end, though I was thankful that there was an 'afterward' that told what happened to many of the main characters. This was my second book by Michelle Moran and, like Madame Tussaud, it was an amazing book!

This book of historical fiction follows the life of Cleopatra's daughter, Selene, starting on the dreadful day when Rome's Octavian conquers Egypt. Selene and her ten-year-old twin brother, Alexander, are taken away on her mother's own boat to be captives in Rome. The hope of both children is to one day return to Egypt as rulers.

 

The book gives an amazing glimpse into this time in Roman history a little over 2,000 years ago: customs, clothing, religion, architecture, and more! Although I've heard of the horrible acts that took place in the Colloseum, I was saddened and sickened to read of other atrocities. (And yet, the story also included hope and love.) We are planning our first trip to Italy this summer, and I will definitely look at it through different eyes then I would have before reading this book.

An Original DUCKumentary

This Weekend, my husband and I watched an incredible show about ducks. It was PBS's "An Original DUCKumentary." I was truly amazed at some of the amazing things ducks do - especially how a wood duck leaves it's nest. It's just something you have to see to believe!

 

 

 

I was able to watch it online at the PBS site (click here). And, using AppleTV, we were able to watch it on the big screen together! 

Book Review: Oliver Twist

Oliver Twist is an amazing story that most of us are probably familiar with. It is about a young orphan named Oliver who lives and works in a workhouse for boys. He dares to ask for more gruel with the famous words, "Please, sir, I want some more." And, is then sold as an apprentice to an undertaker. He later escapes to London where he joins up with the Artful Dodger who is part of a criminal ring that includes pickpocketing.

Frontispiece first edition "Oliver Twist"
from Wikipedia

I have twice seen this story as a musical, but it is very brief compared to this lengthy novel. And, many things are left out! I totally enjoyed this book and enjoyed reading it on my Kindle app where I could look up the definitions of many words! Dickens style of writing is humorous and a joy to read. And, the story is a wonderful story that tugs at your heart.

Mr Bumble, the Beadle, by Kyd (Joseph Clayton Clarke)
from Wikipedia

 

I started watching Oliver! which was filmed in 1968 and LOVE it! I've seen clips of it, but I've never seen the entire production. I love musicals, and am surprised I've never seen this one. I plan on watching the entire show with my family this weekend.

Book Review: And Then There Were None

Last night I finished And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. Alex read this last year and loved it and kept suggesting I read it. So, I finally did.

About halfway through the 300 page book I was not enjoying it, but I kept reading. The book is about a group of ten strangers who are lured to a small, isolated island. By the end of the night, one of them is dead. And, so they begin to die. But, who is killing them off? Is it someone hidden on the island? Or perhaps is it one of the ten?

What I didn't like about the book was the fact that I didn't really get to know the ten people and so I really didn't have feelings for them. So, as they started to die, it did not bother me! But, my feelings changed towards the end. I read straight through the last 100 pages - I just couldn't put it down as I needed to know who would survive and who was committing the murders! However, even then, I really didn't care much for the people and did not feel upset when someone died.

This was my first book to read by Agatha Christie. I didn't enjoy it very much, though I know she's a popular author. I'm glad Alex enjoyed it and I believe my sister has read quite a few of her books and enjoyed them. If you've read this book, or others by this aughter, let me know what you think!