My Favorite Books So Far in 2011

I love books. With our limited income, I borrow books. The library is my ever constant friend. I have only come across a couple of books that my friends have recommended that I have not been able to get from the library or inter-library loan. Sometimes I do have to wait to read books, but I find that it is worth the wait. I also borrow from friends and sometimes get surprise packages in the mail from them.

Here are my favorites books that I read (so far, there is still a month left!) in 2011:

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen -

Why it was a favorite: I fell in love with these characters and the interweaving of their lives. I was impressed with the care that the author gave to serious topics without making this a heavy, depressing book. I found it to be a very positive, happy book that also talked about serious things.

YA, I would not let my 13 year old read it.

Warning: Cutting (self mutilation), teen sex, teen pregnancy, teen suicide

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare -

Why it was a favorite: I have enjoyed all the Mortal Instruments books and this continues the story. I was completely engrossed in the characters lives again. The author keeps the action and relationships going.

YA, I would not let my 13 year old read it.

Warning: Heavy kissing, battle violence

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater -

Why it was a favorite: I love the imagery that Stiefvater brings to her Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy. I think she expresses the pain of life well and again, I'm invested in the characters.

YA, I would not let my 13 year old read it.

Warning: Hunting violence, mention of teen sex

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins -

Why it was a favorite: Just a fun love story.

YA, I would maybe let my 13 year old read it.

Warning: mention of teen sex

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins -

Why it was a favorite: It has a good love story, but it also had me thinking a lot about my own life and what is important to me. Parts of this story made me uncomfortable, I don't know if that is good or bad, but it made for some exploration within my own mind.

YA, I would not let my 13 year old read it.

Warning: teen sex, homosexuality, drugs

Entwined by Heather Dixon

Why it was a favorite: I love the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairy tale. I have read other versions as well. This one is a favorite because it has mystery, love, supernatural, and family all wrapped up in one exciting story.

YA, I would let my 13 year old read it.

Warning: none

Heist Society by Ally Carter

Why it was a favorite: It has an "Ocean's 11" feel to it. This is an odd group of characters coming together for a common cause. It was a quick, fun read, with great characters.

YA, my 13 year old has read it.

Warning: none

(These are not in any specific order)

New Poll

I've added a poll on the blog about what kinds of things you would like to be warned about before reading a book.

I do admit to taking a book back to the library when I was half way through, not because I didn't enjoy the story, but I couldn't get passed the swearing. Every other word seemed like it was a curse word and I thought, "I don't need this in my life." Many of my friends read this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. We all have different views on what we will permit in our minds and in our hearts. This is just one place to get an idea of what might be in a book so that we can make that decision for ourselves.

Resources

I love having resources for information. I currently use Shelfari and Goodreads to keep track of books I have read and want to read. I have also been blessed with friends who read. I like to see what they think of books and I get most of my book recommendations from looking at their "shelves".

I hope to share information about the books I have read, but also answer questions from readers about books I haven't read. If I haven't read it, perhaps one of my friends has. And if not, then let's read the book!

You can find me on

Shelfari http://www.shelfari.com/o1518179136

and on

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7012750-brooke (although I am just starting on this one)

My Vision

Today is Thanksgiving 2011. I have been thinking about this blog for a while and have finally decided to see if I can do it. So here it goes.

I like to read. I didn't used to, but somewhere in the last 10 years I discovered the joy of reading. I especially like reading fiction books because they take me into another world, even if it is somewhere within this world I live in.

With my daughters growing older, I have found that we read some of the same books. It hasn't happened often, but I figure it will be happening more as they continue to grow up. This brings up the question, "Do I want my children reading the book I just read?" Or even as I'm reading a book, "Should I put this book down, it is really not appropriate for me to read this?" Sometimes I wish someone would gently tell me before I start a book that it isn't worth my time.

My vision for this blog is to inform anyone who happens to read it what books I'm reading and what type of content it might have, especially whether there is sex, violence, abuse, etc. Each of us has to decide for ourselves what we want to read. This may guide you in your book choices.