Joanie's 2012 Reading List-50 Done!

[Joanie]

How is it already February and I haven't started my list?!?! What has happened to me?!!? Without further delay this is what I've read so far.

January
1. The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman

I liked this more than I was expecting. It's more of an collection of related short stories than a novel but it works.

2. Junie B. Jones First Grader Aloha ha ha by Barbara Park

Read with my 5 year old son. Had us both laughing out loud.

3. Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus by Barbara Park

First book in the Junie B. series.

4. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Awesome. I don't know why I waited so long to read this.

5. Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffen

Chick lit with a bit more substance. I really liked this one.

6. Ice Mummy by Cathy East Duboski

This book was gross and of course, my son loved it.

7. Snow Day From the Black Lagoon by Mike Tahler

Silly story about a boy who hates snow storms until he has a great snow day.

8. House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski

It took me a month to read this one but I'm so glad I finally completed it.

February

9. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Pretty good but not my favorite

10. My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler

Perfect light read, total guilty pleasure.

11. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

This book broke my heart but in the best possible way. Really well done.

12. Dune Road by Jane Green

Ugh, not good, even for chick lit.

13. The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain

This totally sucked me in, couldn't put it down.

[Joanie]

14. Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen

Meh, not great. Thought it would be funnier.

[Joanie]

15. Crooked Letter Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin

Really enjoyed this book.

[Joanie]

16. Left Neglected by Lisa Genova

This totally sucked me in. It's the story of a working mom who suffers a traumatic brain injury. Really makes you think about what's important.

[Joanie]

March

17. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

I chickened out on this book several times before finally finishing it this time. Capote creates such a sense of tension and foreboding I almost couldn't take it. This book is brutal but so well done.

18. Blue Nights by Joan Didion

Totally heartbreaking but definitely worth it.

[Joanie]

I feel really bad that my Goodreads reading challenge has made this list sort of obsolete. I used to really enjoy looking to see what others have read and getting ideas of what else to add to TBR mountain. In that spirit I am updating my list!

March:
17: In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

18: Blue Nights by Joan Didion

19: Faith by Jennifer Haigh

20: Still Missing by Chevy Stevens

21:A Grown Up Kind of Pretty by Joshilyn Jackson

22:Seductive Poison by Deborah Layton

23:Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult

24:I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

April:
25:Every Last One by Anna Quindlen

26:Before You Know Kindness by Chris Bohjalian

27:My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares

28:Rabbit Run by John Updike

29:11 22 63 by Stephen King

[Joanie]

May:

30:Bossypants by Tina Fey

Loved this! The audiobook was read by Tina and totally hilarious!

31:Everything In This Country Must by Collum McCann

A novella and two short stories by the author of Let the Great World Spin-so, so good.

32:An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Didn't like this as much as The Fault in Our Stars, a little too gimmicky for me.

33:Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

Sort of more short story collection than novel but it worked really well.

34:Second Time Around by Beth Kendrick

Read this for chick lit book club. A group of friends are left money by their other friend who dies with the stipulation that they use the money to live out their dreams. Not bad, good beach read.

35:A Corner of the Universe by Ann M. Martin

This was a children's novel about a girl who, at 12, learns she has an uncle who has been institutionalized since he was a young boy.

36:Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum

Really good but really heavy.

37:Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan

Enjoyable read about 3 generations of women spending time at their summer home in Maine.

June:

38:Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

I was annoyed during most of this book but then I decided I had to read the second one-ugh!

39:The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown

This wasn't as good as I was hoping. It's the story of 3 sisters who all end up living at home after their mother is diagnosed with cancer.

40:Precious Sons by George Furth

This was a live audio performance of a play that I downloaded from the library. It was entertaining enough but nothing great.

41:Heat Wave by Nancy Thayer

Great beach read about a young widow who turns her Nantucket home into a B & B. There was one part that was kind of ridiculous but overall it was a quick, fun read.

42:Swamplandia by Karen Russell

This was a lot heavier than what I was expecting. Not the quirky, fun read I was hoping for but not bad.

43:The Sookie Stackhouse Companion by Charlaine Harris

Fun recap of all the Sookie books and short stories as well as a new novella and some interviews etc.

July:

44:Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen by Susan Gregg Gilmore

Sort of reminded me of Fannie Flagg-liked but didn't love it.

45:Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews

Another good beach read. Sort of ridiculous with the bit of intrigue but enjoyable over all.

46:Madness:A Bipolar Life by Marya Hornbacher

Exhausting memoir about living with Bipolar disorder.

47:When Madeline Was Young by Jane Hamilton

Yet another 3 star book. Not bad, not great.

48: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

#49 My Reading Life by Pat Conroy

#50 You'll Never Know Vol. 1: A Good and Decent Man by C. Tyler

#51 Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson

[Joanie]

#49 My Reading Life by Pat Conroy

Only one more to go!

[╟ ♫ Tima ♪ ╣ ♥]

Joanie wrote: "16. Left Neglected by Lisa Genova

This totally sucked me in. It's the story of a working mom who suffers a traumatic brain injury. Really makes you think about what's important."

I really like Lisa Genova's book Still Alice and have been thinking of picking up Left Neglected this year, I've heard a few different people talk about it being good

[Joanie]

I really liked them both Tiffani. Left Neglected is a bit less gut wrenching than Still Alice and it definitely makes you stop and take notice of what's important.

[Joanie]

#50 .You'll Never Know, Vol. 1: A Good and Decent Manby C. Tyler

Meh, not bad but not great. A graphic novel about a woman learning about her father's time in WWII. Hard not to compare it to Maus.

And my 50 is done!!!!


#51Before I Go to Sleep by S. J. Watson

Fun page turner. Not so rooted in reality but enjoyable just the same

[Joanie]

#52 The Host by Stephenie Meyer.

This was way longer than it needed to be.