Winter Reading Program

Our local library has an adult reading program in the winter. 8 books in 8 weeks. Last year I read 8 books in 4 weeks before the baby came so the baby wouldn't bog me down. As the year progress the baby really did bog me down, but no time like the present to get back into gear.
I started the program late because I was worried I would fail.

The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun by Gretchen Rubin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I wanted to enjoy this book more than I did. I'm not quite sure what my complaint about it was. In a way I thought it was too wordy, which is thick coming from me. Sometimes I wondered if I didn't like it because her personality seemed to have too much in common with me. I probably would have quit half way through if it wasn't for reading it for the library reading program. I wanted to prove to myself I could read something that wasn't overly entertaining. I didn't like the way she quoted/referenced things. At the same time the book definitely made me think about my actions. I definitely considered what my passions in life where. How I sound to strangers and my children. Am I more concerned with talking myself or listening? It was very thought provoking. I am an obsessive goal setter and always trying to improve different aspects of life, and over analysis my actions. I would probably recommend it to a friend, but with caveats. I'm a little hesitant to write this review because in the end of the book she talks about how for whatever reason our culture views negative reviews as more profound than positive. Lastly, I couldn't stand reading about her marriage. They both seemed selfish and it bothered me to constantly read about it.

Swindle by Gordon Korman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a fun book about a bunch of 6 graders, but I'd hardly say I loved it. My 9 year old very much enjoyed reading it and is now continuing in the series. I love heist stories so I was hoping I would enjoy more than I did. I might read more books in the series to bond with my 9 year old. But then again, I might not make time. Definitely a kid a book.

Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. It was definitely fast and an easy read. I found the book surprisingly unpredictable. This book is the best one in the series so far. I guess since Cammie is getting older and the plot and storyline is becoming more complex.

Persuasion by Jane Austen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I reread this book for book group. I love this story. I think 6 years later I had a different perspective, since the first time I read it I was in my early twenties. Almost the same gap between the beginning of Anne and Wentworth's love story and most of the book. I love that they are still in love with each other almost a decade later. I love Jane Austen's works, and this one is one of my favorites. I was a little shocked, the ladies at book group said the movies were better the books, because she was such a wordy author. Emma is definitely a wordy book, but other than that I don't Austen was wordy, just a different time period. I guess everyone is entitled to their own opinions but it definitely a ignorant sounding opinion.

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I can't tell if I liked this book better or the first. I thought it was better written but I enjoyed the plot of the first better. I felt like the ending of this one was much more abrupt then the last. I guess I hope that one day we come back to Zach because Carter left us hanging. Her mom is starting to get on my nerves, is that suppose to happen? I guess Carter is getting in my mind to think like a 15 year old.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I was in Middle School I liked this book better than Huck Finn, but rereading this time was different. Probably the difference of being an adult and a child. The beginning of the book it said, Huck Finn is a Great American story, while Tom Sawyer was the Great American Children's story. I kind of felt like too much time had past for me to love this book anymore. At the same time this book made me pity modern children, they miss so much with the screens, video games, and code of conduct for not allowing children to be alone/free.

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My biggest complaint with this book is in the plot the main character Cammie says their uniform skirt is down to their knees, but the picture on the cover is a girl in a mini skirt. This was a cute book, but not overally amazing. It is very clean and would be great for a 12 year old or so to read, but I honestly was surprised it was in the teenfic part of the library because it was so simple. (I'm not sure simple is the right word.) It was cute though. I'll pick up book 2 from the library. 

Waistcoats & Weaponry by Gail Carriger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book. The first in the series I was luke warm about but this I loved, when I finished I wanted to start all over again. The series isn't finished but it seems to be starting the Disney fairytale ending, I sure hope at least, because lets being honest Carriger is writing Soap to be so dreamy. I honestly don't follow all the sci-fi nuances in the book, but the espionage part of the plot is enough I can ignore some of the sci-fi knowledge I'm lacking. I'm also enjoying the development of Sophronia and Dimity's best-friendship. I wished there was more explanation on Soap's arrival

I did not read this book for the reading program. I read it last summer.
The One by Kiera Cass
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I know I read this book, but I don't have a review. I can remember the ending. I can remember all the plot being a little anti-climatic. A little too dramatic for nothing happening. A little too teen fiction. A good teen fiction in this 30 year old's opinion is one that makes being a teen sound fun and relate-able. Not a one that reminds you how stupid teenagers can be. Now that I think about it, that was part of my complain with The Match series. I don't want to listen to whiny teens, I would rather read/re-experience that feeling of the whole world is waiting, and I can do anything I want. Now at 30 I know I won't do anything, because there is a whole lot I don't like to do. But at 17 you think you can, America did not capture that. She instead captured the "but I like so and so why did you talk to him? He is mine. Blah Blah Blah," annoying teen age girl drama. But I did feel heavily invested in the plot after the first two books. I did enjoy the first two.


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