75 Books...More or Less! discussion

Andrea - Is this the first David Sedaris you've read? I tried one a while back and just couldn't get into it.

Also, what are Determination books?

Wow! You're flying :)

I think that was my first Sedaris, it was okay. It seemed like a children's book with aduly themes using animals as the characters. Innovative but a bit weird...lol

Determinations books is where I wanted to put a list of 10 books that I've had a couple of years but keep pushing to the bottom on the pile. I have to pick those out and I may chop it down to 6 so I'm getting through one every other month. I started thinking 10 might be too much...lol

I read When You Are Engulfed in Flames and just couldn't connect to it at all. It felt very self indulgent and though it was funny at times, I couldn't connect to his narcissism.

Good idea with the determination books. I made a goal of reading at least 30 of the books I owned at the beginning of the year in an attempt to clean out the bookshelf. But I'm with you, it might be too much. I just keep ordering and ordering and ordering. LOL.

Ya know! I just keep adding and then only subtracting now and then. It's really crazy though! If I ever move I would have to get rid of most of my collection so I really want to read them!

I like your idea of tackling children's books too. There are SO many good ones out there...

Jillian, I wasn't sure I was going to like it, but I'm mostly reading the books I read as a child and so far I love it.

Andrea... how goes the Hobbit?

Not so well...heheh

Shall I tell you my little secret about Tolkien's books? I absolutely adore them... now. But it took me about multiple tries- and a number of years- to make it through them (I kept putting them down and having to start over at a later date). And I love epic/high fantasy (and did before ever reading any Tolkien)!

Reading time is too precious to spend it on things that bring you no joy. I think it's completely acceptable to say "Well, I've given it a fair shake, and can appreciate many aspects of it (because you just have to throw us rabid fans a bone, LOL!) but it's just not for me." If you are interested in a scholarly, but not boring (keep in mind that I'm a bit of a nerd!), analysis of the Fantasy genre I really liked Rings, Swords, and Monsters: Exploring Fantasy Literature (eAudiobook) (which is available on Audible and possibly through the library)

Stacie, I really get what you mean and appreciate your input. I think that I want to like these bookss much more than the will to give up on them and that is why I will keep trying. I just love the writing, I just wish the story was more interesting to me....lol I don't want to be a boring reader who just reads what I'm comfortable with.

In that case, I'll just do a happy dance for you when you conquer it :)

You and me both!!!

I just saw that you finished The Hobbit. WOOT!
Milestone passed \\O.O// (those are 'victory arms' btw, LOL). Great, big, exuberant happy dances!

I'm happy that you got at least enough enjoyment out of aspects of it to rate it 3 stars :)

Stacie wrote: "I just saw that you finished The Hobbit. WOOT!
Milestone passed \\O.O// (those are 'victory arms' btw, LOL). Great, big, exuberant happy dances!

I'm happy that you got at least enough enjoymen..."

lol Love the victory dance. :)

Hahaha...thanks ladies! It was a huge struggle for me but I don't regret sticking with it :)

WOW, Finished The Hobbit!! Congrats Andrea :)

Awww :) Thanks!

It's no secret that I live near Cape Cod and I'm a huge beach bum. Living in the New England area and working full time we're lucky to get a dozen perfect beach (weekend) days. After months of bitter cold, snow, rain, and more bitter cold, sunny days can feel like a rare gift. That being said, I cherish the few times I get to pack up my car and make the couple of mile trek to get an ice coffee and sit on the beach reading a good book. I'm like a child preparing for a great adventure. It takes careful consideration to make all the selections for drinks and snacks, then taking time to pick just the right book. It's just one of those things where I smile to myself and feel like I'm just so happy I could bust. With beach season right around the bend I wanted to share a link for the LA Times Summer Reads List. I read it twice and I will be reading it again and requesting books from the library. Looks like a lot of new books from authors already well known. I'm also excited to read the Nikki Sixx book...hahah I was a huge Motley Crue fan back in the day. My mom will be racing to the store to pick up the new Elin Hilderbran as that is her fav author! Anything look super interesting to you? I would love to hear what you think.

http://www.latimes.com/features/books...

There are a couple on there that look particularly interesting: The Map of Time and The Midnight Palace are the two that jumped out at me first... but The Big Book of Adventure Stories and Shock Value: How a Few Eccentric Outsiders Gave Us Nightmares, Conquered Hollywood, and Invented Modern Horror might also be calling my name ;) As if my TBR list isn't long enough!

Only one of those (the Steve Berry) is actually on my TBR, though I've heard that Go the F*** to Sleep is pretty funny. I don't have kids though; I imagine it will be a bit more relatable once I do.

Adult Book Challenge



1. Secret Fantasy - Carly Phillips ***
2. A Good Woman *audio* Danielle Steel *****
3. Hungy Girl Happy Hour - Lisa Lillien ***
4. Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk - David Sedaris ***
5. The 6 Reasons You'll Get the Job - Debra MacDougall ****
6. Evening Class *audio* - Maeve Binchy ***
7. Playing the Game - Barbara Taylor Bradford ***
8. The Half Life - Jennifer Weiner **
9. The Cleveland Clinic Guide to Diabetes - Sethu Reddy ****
10. Lose Weight WITHOUT Dieting - David Nordmark **
11. A Visit from the Goon Squad - Jennifer Egan ****
12. Secrets of a Shoe Addict *audio* - Beth Harbison ****
13. The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald *****
14. Noah's Compass - Anne Tyler ***
15. Mystic River - Dennis Lehane *****
16. The River Knows *audio* - Amanda Quick ****
17. The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins *****
18. Teacher Man - Frank McCourt **
19. Think Twice *audio* - Lisa Scottoline ****
20. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet - Jamie Ford *****
21. Of Mice & Men - John Steinbeck ****
22. Nina Garcia's Look Book - Nina Garcia ****
23. Scavenger Reef - Laurence Shames ****
24. Last Kiss *audio* - Luanne Rice ****
25. The Happiness Project - Gretchen Rubin ****
26. Wishin' and Hopin'- Wally Lamb ***
27. Second Chance *audio* - Danielle Steel ***
28. The Professional - Robert B. Parker ****
29. My Nest Isn't Empty, It Just Has More Closet Space - Lisa Scottoline *****
30. The Undomestic Goddess - Sophie Kinsella ****
31. London Is the Best City in America *audio* - Laura Dave ***
32. The Girl Who Chased the Moon - Sarah Addison Allen ****
33. Brava, Valentine - Adriana Trigiani ****
34. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Brontë *****
35. The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag - Alan Bradley ****
36. Season of the Machete - James Patterson ***
37. Believe It, Be It - Ali Vincent ****
38. Breath of Scandal *audio* - Sandra Brown ****
39. Good Things I Wish You - A. Manette Ansay ***
40. The Marriage Game *audio* - Fern Michaels ***
41. Stieg Larsson, My Friend - Kurdo Baksi ***
42. Painted Ladies - Robert B. Parker ****
43. Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky ****
44. A Secret Kept - de Rosnay, Tatiana ****
45. Return to Sender *audio* Michaels, Fern ***
46. The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien ***
47. Citizen Girl *audio*- Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus **
48. Swim Back to Me - Ann Packer ****
49. Strip Tease - Carl Hiaasen ****
50. Demon Rumm *audio* - Sandra Brown **
51. The Uncoupling - Meg Wolitzer **
52. Along for the Ride *audio* - Sarah Dessen ****
53. A Red Herring Without Mustard - Alan Bradley ****
54. Sexy Women Eat - Divya Gugnani **
55. The Dark Side of Innocence - Terri Cheney ****
56. Point Blank *audio* - Catherine Coulter ***
57. Such A Pretty Face - Cathy Lamb ****
58. The Wrong Woman - Linda Warren ****
59. Split Second *audio* - David Baldacci ****
60. Ape House - Sara Gruen ****
61. My Fair Lazy - Jen Lancaster ***
62. Biggest Loser: Flavors of the World - Devin Alexander ***
63. Morrie: In His Own Words - Morrie Schwartz ***
64. Tough Customer *audio* - Sandra Brown ***
65. The Good Daughters - Joyce Maynard ***
66. Invisible River - Helena McEwen ***
67. Moonlight Mile - Dennis Lehane ****
68. In Zanesville - Jo Ann Beard ****
69. Hour Game *audio* - David Baldacci ***
70. Sharp Objects *audio* Gillian Flynn ***
71. Angry Fat Girls - Frances Kuffel ***
72. The Red Garden - Alice Hoffman ***
73. The Manhattan Hunt Club *audio* - John Saul ****
74. The Secret History - Donna Tartt ***
75. Deadly Deals *audio* - Fern Michaels ***
76. Thin Is the New Happy - Valerie Frankel ***
77. This Is Why You're Fat - Jackie Warner *****
78. The Peach Keeper - Sarah Addison Allen ****
79. The Lace Reader *audio* - Brunonia Barry ***
80. 703 - Nancy Makin ***
81. Skinny: A Novel - Diana Spechler ***
82. She Walks in Beauty - Caroline Kennedy ****
83. Vision in White - Nora Roberts ****
84. Echoes *audio* - Danielle Steel *****
85. The Now Eat This! Diet - Rocco DiSpirito ***
86. Roses *audio* - Leila Meacham ****
87. The Year We Left Home - Jean Thompson ***
88. The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook - Dinah Bucholz ****
89. Before you Know Kindness - Chris Bohjalian ***
90. There Are Things I Want You to Know - Eva Gabrielsson ****
91. Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer ****
92. Pawleys Island *audio* - Dorothea Benton Frank ****
93. Soft Focus - Jayne Ann Krentz ***
94. Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray ***
95.
96.
97.
99.
100.







Children's Book Challenge

1. Edenville Owls - Robert B. Parker ***
2. Beezus and Ramona - Beverly Cleary ****
3. Bridge to Terabithia - Katherine Paterson *****
4. Dear Mr. Henshaw - Beverly Cleary ****
5. Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective - Donald J. Sobol ****
6. Ivy and Bean - Annie Barrows ****
7. Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself - Judy Blume ****
8. Uglies - Scott Westerfeld ****
9. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret - Judy Blume ****
10. The Bad Beginning - Lemony Snicket ****
11. The Reptile Room - Lemony Snicket ****
12. Mockingbird - Kathryn Erskine *****
13. Great Gilly Hopkins - Katherine Paterson *****
14. Happily Ever Emma - Sally Warner ***
15. The Wide Window - Lemony Snicket ****
16. The Great Wall Of Lucy Wu - Wendy Wan-Long Shang ****
17. Soupy Saturdays with the Pain and the Great One -
Judy Blume ***
18. Freckle Juice - Judy Blume ****
19. Superfudge - Judy Blume ***
20. Double Fudge - Judy Blume ****
21. The Yggyssey - Daniel Manus Pinkwater ***
22. The Dump Man's Treasures - Lynne Plourde ****
23. Pinkalicious - Victoria Kann ***
24. The Little Prince - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry ****
25. The Hundred Dresses - Eleanor Estes ****
26. Ella The Elegant Elephant - Carmela D'amico ****
27. Blueberries for Sal - Robert McCloskey ****
28. Johnny Swanson - Eleanor Updale *****
29. Mary Mae and the Gospel Truth - Sandra Dutton **
30. Where the Sidewalk Ends - Shel Silverstein ****
31. Glitter Girls and the Great Fake Out - Meg Cabot ***
32. The Miserable Mill - Lemony Snicket ***
33. The Talented Clementine - Sara Pennypacker ****
34. Josie to the Rescue - Marilyn Singer ***
35. Out of My Mind - Sharon M. Draper *****
36. The Luck of the Buttons - Anne Ylvisaker ***
37. Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography -Lemony Snicket ***
38. Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library - Eth Clifford ***
39. Big Brother - Marianne Richmond ***
40. Fancy Nancy: Tea Parties - Jane O'Connor ***
41. Hey World, Here I Am! - Jean Little ****
42. The Little Gentleman - Philippa Pearce ***
43. The Night Fairy - Laura Amy Schlitz ****
44. The Star Maker - Laurence Yep ***
45. The Mysterious Benedict Society - Trenton Lee Stewart ****
46. Gooney Bird Is So Absurd - Lois Lowry ****
47. Gossamer - Lois Lowry ****
48. Amber Brown Goes Fourth - Paula Danziger ***
49. Lafcadio, The Lion Who Shot Back - Shel Silverstein ****
50. The Higher Power of Lucky - Susan Patron ****
51. The Fabled Fourth Graders of Aesop Elementary School - Candace Fleming ****
52. Bless This Mouse - Lois Lowry ****
53. Edward's Eyes - Patricia MacLachlan ***
54. Judy Moody - Megan McDonald ****
55. The Watcher - James Howe ****
56. Heaven - Angela Johnson ***
57. Kahonua Island - Todd Kelsey ***
58. Luke's cubby House - Mark Stewart **
59. The Do-Nothing Day - Joleene Naylor ****
60. The Elephant's Child - Rudyard Kipling ****
61. Richard Scarry's Colors - Richard Scarry ****
62. The Name of this Book Is Secret - Pseudonymous Bosch ****
63. Quack-A-Doodle-Baa - Michelle de Villiers ***
64. The Clever Detective - Linsey Lanier *
65. The Sunflower That Roared - Michelle de Villiers*
66. Horton Halfpott - Tom Angleberger ****
67. Just Grace and the Double Surprise - Charise Mericle Harper ****
68. Invisible Inkling - Emily Jenkins ****
69. Junonia - Kevin Henkes *****
70. The Dream Keeper and Other Poems - Langston Hughes ****
71. Just Grace and the Snack Attack - Charise Mericle Harper ****
72.
73.
74.
75.

Andrea wrote: "Adult Book Challenge



1. Secret Fantasy - Carly Phillips ***
2. A Good Woman *audio* Danielle Steel *****
3. Hungy Girl Happy Hour - Lisa Lillien ***
4. Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk - David Sed..."

I just bought Ape House right before we moved and I hope to get to it soon! I loved Water for elephants! didn't she have another recently released one too?

I'm not sure, but I really like her! I thought Ape House was great even though other people I know didn't like it. I think part of the problem is people compare it to WFE and it is a very different book.

Andrea wrote: "I'm not sure, but I really like her! I thought Ape House was great even though other people I know didn't like it. I think part of the problem is people compare it to WFE and it is a very different..."

I will keep that in mind when I pick it up! =)

I was one who DID NOT like "Ape House". But not because it was SO different than WFE. I like when an author writes differently. One of the reasons I adore Charlaine Harris is because she can write multiple characters and you never confuse them.
I didn't like "Ape House" because I felt it was a poorly written book. Mind you, this is just my opinion and I KNOW that it differs from many. But I really felt this book was sub-par for her. She is a GREAT writer and I love her stuff. JUST not this one. I was really disappointed as well. I really had hyped myself up for this book for quite awhile and it was horrible to be so let down by a story.

THAT said, I LOVED "Split Second"!! I am ordering the newest one in this series called The 6th Man. I CANNOT wait. I just love Michelle and Sean. WAIT until you get to "First Family". OH MY GOSH!!! I am also getting ready to read the newest Flavia book. I just love her too. Got my mom hooked on her as well! LOL
Looks like you are getting the reading done! WHOOT! You go girl!

Dawn Michelle, I can see where you are coming from and can meet you in the middle. I don't think it was as well written at WFE. I was talking about people from work and friends who were just not liking the book/story/topic.

I'm so glad that I have Michelle and Sean in my life!...lol

It's good to see you posting too! :) I've been missing you :)

I LOVED the idea of the book. I guess that is why I too can meet you in the middle. :-) At least no one was turning into a chair!!! ;-)

I am slowly getting back into things. Life seems to be worth living again if you know what I mean. :-)

I know what you mean hun, just hang in there :)

Wow, you are doing really great Andrea! Looks like you've read quite a few good ones.

Thanks Christy! I have to say I'm having a really good reading year. This may come to an abrupt hault as I may be starting an MBA program within a couple of weeks. Kind of exciting but also a bit scary :)

ANDREA!!!! I thought you were taking time OFF from school???
Congrats if you go. You are a better and smarter apparently person than I!!! :-)

I know, I know, this was not my plan! My loan payments are $600 a month! I can't afford that with my current job and I'm still waiting for a promotion at work. So my best option is to re-enroll in classes defer my payments and then pay whatever I can each month while I wait for a better job. I'm stuck and I have about 1 week to figure this all out and this might be my best option right now. Trust me I would much rather enjoy reading, working out, and having free time...hahah

HOLY BOLOGNA!!!!! Thats a LOT of MOOLA to be shelling out!!! I can see why going back and deferring payments is a huge option for you!!! Keep us informed. We are here to support and uplift you no matter what!!!!

Awwww thanks hunny :) I think it will all be okay, it's a sacrafice to give up the time off I was looking forward to, but given my other options it's a small price..hahah

Woa!!! That is an insane amount for a monthly college loan pay back, and I thought mine was bad ( a lil' over 200 a month!) Good luck with your new life endeavors!!

I know right! Thanks Joy :)

Look at you FLYING through the stacks!! Holy Mother of the Universe!! That is just insane!!! 141 books?!?!?!? Wow!! I am so impressed! I think next year is gonna be the year of tiny books for me! I have read WAY too many chunksters this year!! (700+ pages!) Way to go Andrea!!

Joy, I LOVE the idea of tiny books!!! It just made me snicker away!!!!

Andrea darling!!! 141?? YOU ARE AMAZING!!!!!!

Dawn Michelle wrote: "Joy, I LOVE the idea of tiny books!!! It just made me snicker away!!!!

Andrea darling!!! 141?? YOU ARE AMAZING!!!!!!"

If it has over 500 pages? Next year, I'm not even gonna look at it!! LOL

Joy, I am doing pretty good this year. Keep in mind though, I also read 50 something children's books which is included in that 141 so that really boosted my number...lol

A couple more to go!

Adult Book Challenge

1. Secret Fantasy - Carly Phillips ***
2. A Good Woman *audio* Danielle Steel *****
3. Hungy Girl Happy Hour - Lisa Lillien ***
4. Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk - David Sedaris ***
5. The 6 Reasons You'll Get the Job - Debra MacDougall ****
6. Evening Class *audio* - Maeve Binchy ***
7. Playing the Game - Barbara Taylor Bradford ***
8. The Half Life - Jennifer Weiner **
9. The Cleveland Clinic Guide to Diabetes - Sethu Reddy ****
10. Lose Weight WITHOUT Dieting - David Nordmark **
11. A Visit from the Goon Squad - Jennifer Egan ****
12. Secrets of a Shoe Addict *audio* - Beth Harbison ****
13. The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald *****
14. Noah's Compass - Anne Tyler ***
15. Mystic River - Dennis Lehane *****
16. The River Knows *audio* - Amanda Quick ****
17. The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins *****
18. Teacher Man - Frank McCourt **
19. Think Twice *audio* - Lisa Scottoline ****
20. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet - Jamie Ford *****
21. Of Mice & Men - John Steinbeck ****
22. Nina Garcia's Look Book - Nina Garcia ****
23. Scavenger Reef - Laurence Shames ****
24. Last Kiss *audio* - Luanne Rice ****
25. The Happiness Project - Gretchen Rubin ****
26. Wishin' and Hopin'- Wally Lamb ***
27. Second Chance *audio* - Danielle Steel ***
28. The Professional - Robert B. Parker ****
29. My Nest Isn't Empty, It Just Has More Closet Space - Lisa Scottoline *****
30. The Undomestic Goddess - Sophie Kinsella ****
31. London Is the Best City in America *audio* - Laura Dave ***
32. The Girl Who Chased the Moon - Sarah Addison Allen ****
33. Brava, Valentine - Adriana Trigiani ****
34. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Brontë *****
35. The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag - Alan Bradley ****
36. Season of the Machete - James Patterson ***
37. Believe It, Be It - Ali Vincent ****
38. Breath of Scandal *audio* - Sandra Brown ****
39. Good Things I Wish You - A. Manette Ansay ***
40. The Marriage Game *audio* - Fern Michaels ***
41. Stieg Larsson, My Friend - Kurdo Baksi ***
42. Painted Ladies - Robert B. Parker ****
43. Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky ****
44. A Secret Kept - de Rosnay, Tatiana ****
45. Return to Sender *audio* Michaels, Fern ***
46. The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien ***
47. Citizen Girl *audio*- Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus **
48. Swim Back to Me - Ann Packer ****
49. Strip Tease - Carl Hiaasen ****
50. Demon Rumm *audio* - Sandra Brown **
51. The Uncoupling - Meg Wolitzer **
52. Along for the Ride *audio* - Sarah Dessen ****
53. A Red Herring Without Mustard - Alan Bradley ****
54. Sexy Women Eat - Divya Gugnani **
55. The Dark Side of Innocence - Terri Cheney ****
56. Point Blank *audio* - Catherine Coulter ***
57. Such A Pretty Face - Cathy Lamb ****
58. The Wrong Woman - Linda Warren ****
59. Split Second *audio* - David Baldacci ****
60. Ape House - Sara Gruen ****
61. My Fair Lazy - Jen Lancaster ***
62. Biggest Loser: Flavors of the World - Devin Alexander ***
63. Morrie: In His Own Words - Morrie Schwartz ***
64. Tough Customer *audio* - Sandra Brown ***
65. The Good Daughters - Joyce Maynard ***
66. Invisible River - Helena McEwen ***
67. Moonlight Mile - Dennis Lehane ****
68. In Zanesville - Jo Ann Beard ****
69. Hour Game *audio* - David Baldacci ***
70. Sharp Objects *audio* Gillian Flynn ***
71. Angry Fat Girls - Frances Kuffel ***
72. The Red Garden - Alice Hoffman ***
73. The Manhattan Hunt Club *audio* - John Saul ****
74. The Secret History - Donna Tartt ***
75. Deadly Deals *audio* - Fern Michaels ***
76. Thin Is the New Happy - Valerie Frankel ***
77. This Is Why You're Fat - Jackie Warner *****
78. The Peach Keeper - Sarah Addison Allen ****
79. The Lace Reader *audio* - Brunonia Barry ***
80. 703 - Nancy Makin ***
81. Skinny: A Novel - Diana Spechler ***
82. She Walks in Beauty - Caroline Kennedy ****
83. Vision in White - Nora Roberts ****
84. Echoes *audio* - Danielle Steel *****
85. The Now Eat This! Diet - Rocco DiSpirito ***
86. Roses *audio* - Leila Meacham ****
87. The Year We Left Home - Jean Thompson ***
88. The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook - Dinah Bucholz ****
89. Before you Know Kindness - Chris Bohjalian ***
90. There Are Things I Want You to Know - Eva Gabrielsson ****
91. Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer ****
92. Pawleys Island *audio* - Dorothea Benton Frank ****
93. Soft Focus - Jayne Ann Krentz ***
94. Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray ***
95. Wildly Affordable Organic - Linda Watson ***
96. Secrets *audio* Jude Deveraux ****
97.
99.
100.


Children's Book Challenge

1. Edenville Owls - Robert B. Parker ***
2. Beezus and Ramona - Beverly Cleary ****
3. Bridge to Terabithia - Katherine Paterson *****
4. Dear Mr. Henshaw - Beverly Cleary ****
5. Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective - Donald J. Sobol ****
6. Ivy and Bean - Annie Barrows ****
7. Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself - Judy Blume ****
8. Uglies - Scott Westerfeld ****
9. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret - Judy Blume ****
10. The Bad Beginning - Lemony Snicket ****
11. The Reptile Room - Lemony Snicket ****
12. Mockingbird - Kathryn Erskine *****
13. Great Gilly Hopkins - Katherine Paterson *****
14. Happily Ever Emma - Sally Warner ***
15. The Wide Window - Lemony Snicket ****
16. The Great Wall Of Lucy Wu - Wendy Wan-Long Shang ****
17. Soupy Saturdays with the Pain and the Great One -
Judy Blume ***
18. Freckle Juice - Judy Blume ****
19. Superfudge - Judy Blume ***
20. Double Fudge - Judy Blume ****
21. The Yggyssey - Daniel Manus Pinkwater ***
22. The Dump Man's Treasures - Lynne Plourde ****
23. Pinkalicious - Victoria Kann ***
24. The Little Prince - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry ****
25. The Hundred Dresses - Eleanor Estes ****
26. Ella The Elegant Elephant - Carmela D'amico ****
27. Blueberries for Sal - Robert McCloskey ****
28. Johnny Swanson - Eleanor Updale *****
29. Mary Mae and the Gospel Truth - Sandra Dutton **
30. Where the Sidewalk Ends - Shel Silverstein ****
31. Glitter Girls and the Great Fake Out - Meg Cabot ***
32. The Miserable Mill - Lemony Snicket ***
33. The Talented Clementine - Sara Pennypacker ****
34. Josie to the Rescue - Marilyn Singer ***
35. Out of My Mind - Sharon M. Draper *****
36. The Luck of the Buttons - Anne Ylvisaker ***
37. Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography -Lemony Snicket ***
38. Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library - Eth Clifford ***
39. Big Brother - Marianne Richmond ***
40. Fancy Nancy: Tea Parties - Jane O'Connor ***
41. Hey World, Here I Am! - Jean Little ****
42. The Little Gentleman - Philippa Pearce ***
43. The Night Fairy - Laura Amy Schlitz ****
44. The Star Maker - Laurence Yep ***
45. The Mysterious Benedict Society - Trenton Lee Stewart ****
46. Gooney Bird Is So Absurd - Lois Lowry ****
47. Gossamer - Lois Lowry ****
48. Amber Brown Goes Fourth - Paula Danziger ***
49. Lafcadio, The Lion Who Shot Back - Shel Silverstein ****
50. The Higher Power of Lucky - Susan Patron ****
51. The Fabled Fourth Graders of Aesop Elementary School - Candace Fleming ****
52. Bless This Mouse - Lois Lowry ****
53. Edward's Eyes - Patricia MacLachlan ***
54. Judy Moody - Megan McDonald ****
55. The Watcher - James Howe ****
56. Heaven - Angela Johnson ***
57. Kahonua Island - Todd Kelsey ***
58. Luke's cubby House - Mark Stewart **
59. The Do-Nothing Day - Joleene Naylor ****
60. The Elephant's Child - Rudyard Kipling ****
61. Richard Scarry's Colors - Richard Scarry ****
62. The Name of this Book Is Secret - Pseudonymous Bosch ****
63. Quack-A-Doodle-Baa - Michelle de Villiers ***
64. The Clever Detective - Linsey Lanier *
65. The Sunflower That Roared - Michelle de Villiers*
66. Horton Halfpott - Tom Angleberger ****
67. Just Grace and the Double Surprise - Charise Mericle Harper ****
68. Invisible Inkling - Emily Jenkins ****
69. Junonia - Kevin Henkes *****
70. The Dream Keeper and Other Poems - Langston Hughes ****
71. Just Grace and the Snack Attack - Charise Mericle Harper ****
72. The Fingertips of Duncan Dorfman - Meg Wolitzer ****
73. Minn and Jake's Almost Terrible Summer - Janet S. Wong ***
74. Ninth Ward - Jewell Parker Rhodes *****
75. From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler - E.L. Konigsburg

I have The Woman in White on my Kindle. I think that is going to be one of the first ones I read in 2012! I STILL love Alan Bradley. I have the new Flavia book and its just calling my name!!
You liked Ape House? Really?
You have read a LOT of really good looking books this year!!! Congrats!!!

Dawn Michelle, I loved the Woman in White! I really hope you enjoy it. I can't wait to read the next Flavia book, I just adore her.

I liked Ape House a lot. Most people I talked to thought it was just ok, I think compared to her first book it was so different that it might be a bit of a letdown. I looked at it as a different kind of book and that made it enjoyable.

I read some really good books this year and had fun participating in the children's/YA challenge.

Maybe it was because I thought so highly of LWFE that made me NOT like Ape House. There was just something about it that rubbed me the wrong way. I dunno. Glad you liked it though. I know its highly popular!!!

I think I will read Woman in White first for 2012 just by your recommendation. You have pretty awesome insight ya know!!!

#2, 3 and 5 are TOTALLY awesome!!!
Cannot WAIT to read The Uglies. I have had it for 2 years and have never read it. Maybe book 2 of 2012??
#9 and 13 are two of my absolute fav's!!!!
ANY Judy Blume is pretty much a winner in my book ( I am thinking I need to revisit those this next year too!)!
Read the Lemony Snicket books and got really bored after awhile. I read them all, but the last book REALLY fell flat for me. Sigh....
OMG!!! The Mysterious Benedict Society!!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE that series!!!!!! They just get better with each book!!!!
May I recommend (if you have not read them)The Penderwick series? LOVELY YA books. Really, some of my *new* favorites!!!!