2012 reading update.

Happy New Year! We're already nine days into the new year, and I know, I know, I haven't posted the obligatory post about new years resolutions and Christmas and the end of 2012. That's all still coming. I didn't make any formal resolutions for 2013, but I've been trying to adopt some life guidelines that I'll be sharing in the next few weeks. Still trying to articulate to myself what I'm aiming to get out of this. More to come.

But in the meantime, I've realized that I haven't published a book update since May! Whoops. For someone who absolutely loves to read, I can't believe I let it go this long. So for right now, I'm sharing some of my 2012 book highlights (since May).

"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak: This was recommended to me by a friend, and I kept putting off reading it. From the jacket, it didn't sound like the kind of book I'd like to read, but after seeing it appear week after week on the NYT book list, I knew I had to give it a shot. And I really liked it! I wouldn't say it's my favorite book that I read in 2012, and it probably took me nearly 2 months to read it because it became my "metro book" for reading on my commute to work. The story was unusual and sad and sometimes hard to follow. I still don't know who the narrator was. But I think that's part of the intrigue of this book. I'd certainly recommend it as a great piece of historical fiction.

"Wild" by Cheryl Strayed: I read this book in July, and it was just the perfect summer memoir for me. I found this on Oprah's book club (love her), and knew instantly that it was the next book I'd read. I'm a sucker for memoirs, and a story about a divorced, drug-addicted, confused, lonely woman looking for a brighter path is just something I can't pass up! And, of course, I loved it. I think the most frequent feeling I had during this book was astonishment. I just can't imagine physically taking on this kind of journey, especially with so many emotions to reckon with. But it was beautiful and honest and true and gave me much perspective on challenges in my life.

"Bloom" by Kelle Hamption: Another memoir. This was recommended on a blog site, and as I said, I'm a sucker for a sad story. Initially, I thought I would love this. Special needs has always had a special place in my heart, and reading the firsthand account of this mother's experience seemed like it would be full of perspective and grace. And it was, but something just rubbed me the wrong way from the beginning. I could totally understand her sadness and feelings of loss, but I just couldn't comprehend how she also didn't feel unbridled joy...and that kind of lost me. There were certainly moments in the book that I absolutely loved, but as a whole, it wasn't exactly what I was hoping for. I think that's part of the problem with me and memoirs. You always want the story to end the way you envision it. A lot of fiction works out that way. But in reality, our lives are messy and unfocused and sometimes just end in a lot of dissary that doesn't make any more sense than when we began. I need to remember that that's the beauty of it...not the happy ending.

"The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin: I picked up this book in a bookstore several months ago and immediately passed it over. I'm into self-help books, but I read the first few pages, and it wasn't pulling me in. I also wasn't in a "happy" state at that time in my life, so I think the book just felt too optimisitic for my current situation. However, this time, I bought the book on audiobook for my final drive from DC to Pittsburgh. M and his friend were driving the U-Haul, and I was following in my CR-V. I always listen to audiobooks in the car, and somehow I just felt like this new beginning needed to start on a happier note. So "The Happiness Project" it was. And gosh, did I love it. By now you've probably read my previous post on the book, but I can update you that I've been repeating several of these mantras to myself over the past month, and I'm a completely believer. When I'm annoyed or frustrated I think, "act the way I want to feel." And it really works! I loved this book so much, that I've actually listened to the full audiobook twice, and I just downloaded her second book on my Kindle. Highly, highly recommend the audiobook for this one. Somehow, listening to Gretchen read about her journey made it so much more real and enjoyable.

"Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn: In a weird coincidence, I downloaded this book the night before my book club decided to read it as their December book. This was another one that had been on the NYT list for ages, but I somehow never picked up. Words can't explain how much I loved this book. I'm not really a mystery novel gal, but the suspense, alternating narrators and sheer craziness about the plot line really pulled me in. I think I read the entire second half of the book in about 12 hours on the way back from our holiday trip to Philadelphia. I don't want to tell you too much because basically the entire plot is a surprise, and I want everyone to read it immediately...just not before bed.

So those were my favorites from the second half of 2012. Don't be fooled...I also read a lot of Elin Hilderbrant that I loved, loved, loved, too.

Right now, I'm reading "Happier at Home," which is Rubin's follow up novel on happiness. I initially bought this on audiobook, but I couldn't handle it 5 minutes in. It was read by a different narrator who whispered like a crazy psychologist, and I felt like I was laying on a couch. Much different than the upbeat and cheerful tone of Rubin narrating her own first book. So I bought it on my Kindle and I'm reading it with her voice in mind.

Wishing all of you a 2013 full of books. Please send me your favorites!

To flipping the pages,

Lia