2016 Reading Round-Up

Yes, I realize we're more than half way into January now, and I also realize that I already missed my goal of blogging at least once a week by missing last week altogether... but that's because my dang MacBook is out of commission AGAIN. We're waiting on a new hard drive to arrive (thank goodness that was under warranty still!), so I've only had access to Dan's laptop during the work day since he needs it in the evenings to study.

Anyway...

I set a goal to read 16 books in 2016, and I met that goal (and exceeded it by a couple - yay!) I use Goodreads to organize the books I have read, am currently reading, and want to read. Are you on there? If so, we should be friends - find me here! :) And if you'd like to see my post about my favorite 15 books ever that I am always recommending to people, please check out this post - but I feel like I need to make an updated version soon!

What I Read in 2016

1. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr - If you enjoy WWII novels, this one is for you. It's about a blind girl living in France during WWII, and it alternates between her and the story of a German boy at the same time and how they're both just trying to make it through. It's great.

2. The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin - I read this one for book club. While it was a great story, I almost wish I hadn't read it because my perspective of, and thus my opinion of, Charles Lindbergh has forever been tainted. But I guess it's better to know certain things than to live in ignorance. It WAS a good book. The story was engaging, and I enjoyed learning about an American couple that I didn't know much about. 

3. Zlata's Diary by Zlata Filipovic - This should be a mandatory book in school. It's quick, and it is literally a diary, so it reads fast. And the topic is so, so important. Similar to Anne Frank's diary, Zlata's diary is also set during war-time, but instead it is during the Bosnian war of the 1990's. 

4. A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy by Sue Klebold - I have always been fascinated with the Columbine shooting from 1999, so as soon as I saw Sue Klebold speak in an interview early last year and learned she had a book coming out, I was all over it. This book did not disappoint. It was interesting reading about the tragedy from one of the shooter's mother's perspective - it's difficult to not have empathy for her. 

5. Sacred Space by Corie Weathers - Military spouses, rejoice! This one is for you. Corie Weathers, a military spouse, had the unique opportunity to travel with Secretary of Defense Carter in 2015 after winning Military Spouse of the Year, and this book reflects her thoughts on how it is for the spouses waiting at home AND for the servicemembers who are deployed - and the dichotomy of the two. I was lucky enough to be on the launch team for this book and was able to read it and discuss it in an online group before it hit shelves. 

6. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - This one kind of bored me, I'm not going to lie. I read it because I feel like so many people have, and it's so often talked about. The subject matter was good, and I don't think it was the book. I think I was in a reading funk when I read this one, so I won't blame the book. 

7. Columbine by Dave Cullen - After reading Sue Klebold's book, I was browsing reviews online and came across this one and decided to read it as well. It's a very factual based book that follows the events chronologically, which I enjoyed. It was objective and written after years of research, and I appreciated being able to read about the tragedy from yet another viewpoint.

8. The Happiest Toddler on the Block by Harvey Karp, MD - Annabelle is a toddler now, so I read a couple parenting books... this is one of them. I'm not going to review a parenting book. 

9. What to Expect the Toddler Years by Heidi Murkoff - Annabelle is a toddler now, so I read a couple parenting books... this is one of them. I'm not going to review a parenting book. 

10. Shine by Jodi Picoult - This is a short story by Picoult that comes before her newest novel, Small Great Things. It was a quick read and got me VERY excited to read the full novel! 

11. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins - If you're looking for a fast-paced mystery, this is it! I enjoyed trying to figure out who the "bad guy" was all along, and there wasn't a slow spot in this book. 

12. Push by Sapphire - If you aren't comfortable with "bad" language, then sit this one out because there is a LOT of it, and some is far worse than anything I've ever read in a typical novel. That said, this book was eye-opening to me about the lives of some young women who live in places that aren't as well-off as what we picture in our heads. Physical, emotional, verbal abuse... neglect... sexual assault... these are all big themes in this book, but it's worth reading to see the triumph that takes place. 

13. Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult - This is by far the best book I read in 2016, and it will for sure be added to my favorite books of all time list when I get around to updating it. It's about a black nurse who is forced to be alone with a white baby after the extremely racist parents have made it clear she should never be around him... and of course something goes wrong. The book chronicles the trial and is told from several different perspectives. It's an eye-opener for sure. 

14. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah - Another WWII novel set in France, this one is also great. It tells the stories of two sisters who are very different and how each of them lives day to day throughout the war. I've heard it's being made into a movie, and if so, I'll happily go see it! 

15. I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai - This one had been on my to-read list forever. It's written by the girl who was shot in the head by the Taliban in Pakistan and lived through it and her family's journey (from way before the shooting took place) of trying to make sure girls in Pakistan could receive an education as well. Malala is a hero in many regards. 

16. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne - Okay, where do I even start? This is the worst book I read in 2016, and maybe it's just because I am very well-educated when it comes to the Holocaust and Auschwitz (which I visited in 2015, something I had wanted to do for YEARS), but there are so many factual errors, and it just makes me cringe. And don't even get me started on the ended. That said, it is a best-seller for a reason, so others definitely enjoy it. There's a movie as well, and I may watch it just to see if it's any better done than the book. Note: Auschwitz is never ACTUALLY mentioned in the book, but duh, we all know what the author is referring to here.

17. My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares - This is a quick read about two people who keep meeting up in their new lives after they both die, but only one of them can remember everything. It chronicles several different lives and is fascinating. My only complaint is that there was supposed to be a sequel, but this book is several years old now, and it never came about. 

18. Rena's Promise: A Story of Sisters in Auschwitz by Heather Dune Macadam - Another Holocaust book... are you sensing a trend? This one is a gem. I firmly believe everyone should read every Holocaust account they can because all of these stories are worthy of being read over and over and over. What Rena and her sister went through at Auschwitz (like everyone else) is despicable, and we need to know the truth so it doesn't happen again. 

Note: My husband challenged me to go a year without reading a WWII book, but how can I when The Zookeeper's Wife movie comes out this spring? I can't - I'll have to read it right before. 

... and that's a wrap!

Did you read any good books in 2016? 
What's next on your to-read list?

A Pilot's Daughter {sort of} Reviews 'Daddy Flies' Book

Okay, so I only said SORT OF in the title of this post because Annabelle is only (almost) three months old, so she can't even express her own opinions yet, let alone review a book.

However, I can, and 'Daddy Flies' by Brye Stevens is excellent! The author is a military spouse whose husband is a pilot, and the book tells the story of young Katie, who learns that her daddy flies and is trying to figure out how.

I received a complimentary copy of the book 'Daddy Flies' by Brye Steeves in exchange for a review. All thoughts are my own. The adorable airplane bib is from SEWandCompany on Etsy.

*My husband (and Annabelle's daddy), Lieutenant Lovemuffin, has been flying for 11 years now - and he FINALLY heads to Air Force pilot training this coming spring after putting it on hold to pursue his Master's degree in Physics.*

'Daddy Flies' rhymes, which makes it fun for me to read to Annabelle, and she will surely get a kick out of that as she gets a bit older.

The book shows lots of adorable pictures of the dad in the book in his flight suit, and I am so glad that as Annabelle gets older, she will have a special book to read when trying to figure out what her dad is doing all the time in that silly green onesie!

We give this book 5 stars - it's cute, fun, and will be totally applicable to our life in a couple years, and I just know it will come in handy in explaining Daddy's job to Annabelle.

Annabelle was SUPER excited to add 'Daddy Flies' to her growing collection of books about airplanes / flying - just look at that sweet smile! Little does she know that she gets to go on her FIRST FLIGHT this month! I think her daddy is most excited... I just hope for his sake that Annabelle enjoys flying more than I do!

Be sure to follow 'Daddy Flies' on Facebook - and get your copy of the adorable book on Amazon!


    

Book Review: Birthmarked Trilogy

I currently have several book reviews on my old blog. I want to get rid of completely (since it's been nearly two years since I've used it), but many of my links are still to that blog. To transition completely away, I am going to be re-sharing some of my book reviews here once or twice a week. If you love reading, this is for you! If not... I'm sorry, and I promise to keep the words "book review" in all of the titles so you know!

Today's review features Birthmarked, Prized, and Promised by Caragh M. O'Brien.

Birthmarked is yet another trilogy set in a dystopian future (are you surprised?), yet it has many differences from the others that are popular right now. 16 year old Gaia Stone is a midwife in her community outside the wall of the Enclave. It is Gaia's duty (as well as her mother's) to advance a certain quota of babies born each month into the Enclave so that more suitable parents may raise them and they will have a better life. 

Gaia's family, never ones to cause problems and always ones to agree with everything the Enclave demands, is arrested while Gaia is not home, so when she returns, she has to inquire from a family friend about what happened to her parents. Gaia, determined to get her parents out alive, heads into the Enclave to rescue them, and that is where the fun begins. She sees things she does not want to, and she becomes a pawn in the life going on inside the Enclave. 

Gaia befriends one of the guards from the Enclave, and together, they must escape to save themselves when they don't think anyone else can be saved. Gaia is a strong female character, and she challenges the beliefs of others.

THE REST OF THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS FROM THE FIRST BOOK, BIRTHMARKED.

When Gaia escapes from the Enclave without Leon, she doesn't know what to do. She has her baby sister, Maya, with her, and together they make it most of the way through the Wasteland. One day, when they probably wouldn't have made it much farther on their own, a man on a horse helps them reach their unknown destination, a place he calls home. That home is known as Sylum, and the rules are strict. Gaia must submit to the authorities, which she finds difficult. There is no hugging/kissing because it is a crime unless you are married to that person. 

Gaia finds the entire place to be a struggle, and then she finds out that Leon has made the trek as well. What does Gaia need to do in order to make things go her way? It turns out that everyone else recognizes her as a strong leader, and they want her to be the Matriarch of the society. Does Gaia want it, though? What happens when she is forced into something she doesn't know if she is ready for? Are her feelings for Leon strong enough, or will she waver and fall for someone else? 

Overall, these books were fun to read. I read them while I was still teaching 8th grade, and that made it easier to read so many dystopian novels. I needed to be "caught up" so I could talk about them. I'm kind of over the dystopian scene now... at least for a while. I need some fresh air! 

• Have you read these books?
• Do you like dystopian fiction?
• What's your favorite book right now?

Book Review: Between the Lines

I currently have several book reviews on my old blog. I want to get rid of completely (since it's been nearly two years since I've used it), but many of my links are still to that blog. To transition completely away, I am going to be re-sharing some of my book reviews here once or twice a week. If you love reading, this is for you! If not... I'm sorry, and I promise to keep the words "book review" in all of the titles so you know!

Today's review features Between the Lines by Jodi Picout.

A couple years ago, I heard that my favorite author, Jodi Picoult, would be writing a book with her teenage daughter, Samantha. When I read about it, I was ecstatic. In true Janelle fashion, I bought the book (the actual book, not the e-book, as I have all of Picoult's books in hardcover, taking up nearly an entire shelf in one of my bookcases). I was nervous because this book was said to be unlike any other she'd written to date. Well, I was nervous for no reason because Between the Lines is a fantastic piece of literature, and I couldn't put it down.

Between the Lines tells the story of Delilah, a high school girl, who is obsessed with a children's fairy tale. She doesn't have many friends, and she loves reading by herself. The story she becomes smitten with is about a prince named Oliver. He is brave and strong and everything she feels like she isn't. One day, Prince Oliver begins talking to her. Yes, a character in a story is talking to the girl who is reading it. Maybe Prince Oliver isn't just a character after all... maybe he is trapped inside the book. 

Delilah desperately wants to help him, but along the way, her mom and one best friend think she has gone crazy. In an attempt not to ruin the book for anyone who wants to read it (and this one comes HIGHLY recommended, guys!), I will just say that I found the concept of the novel to be brilliantly creative and that I haven't looked at the characters in any given book the same way since finishing this one. If I could give this book 20 stars out of 5, I would. THAT is how much I loved Between the Lines. Jodi Picoult strikes again, this time with her daughter as co-author. 

To read more about the author, check out Picoult's website here! 

Book Review: A Stolen Life

I currently have several book reviews on my old blog. I want to get rid of completely (since it's been nearly two years since I've used it), but many of my links are still to that blog. To transition completely away, I am going to be re-sharing some of my book reviews here once or twice a week. If you love reading, this is for you! If not... I'm sorry, and I promise to keep the words "book review" in all of the titles so you know!

Today's review will be about A Stolen Life: a Memoir by Jaycee Dugard.

Jaycee Lee Dugard was kidnapped from her street while walking to catch the school bus in South Lake Tahoe, California in June of 1991. Most people have heard of this because they were alive when it happened or became interested when she was found in August of 2009. Her story made headlines for months, and she was interviewed on many television shows about her 18 years of captivity, living alone in a small room in the backyard of her captor's house. 

After adjusting to the real world again, Jaycee decided to share her very personal story with the world in order to get her feelings out and to let everyone know that Phillip Garrido and his wife, Nancy, kidnapped her. Before this, I read the book Room by Emma Donoghue. After finishing it, I searched for it online, and many people made direct comparisons of that book to Dugard's book of her own life. After having read both of them, I agree. I am sure that the premise of Room was built upon Jaycee Dugard's story. If that raises awareness for what happened to her, then so be it. 

A Stolen Life is definitely not the best written book I have ever read. There are grammatical mistakes throughout that would have bugged me had I not realized Jaycee missed most of her academic life. It was candid and REAL, and the things she went through were horrific. I will not rate this book on a star system simply because I feel like that would be rating her experiences, and that feels wrong. I will say this, though: until I read this book, I was sheltered and naive. I knew things like this happened, but I didn't think about them. Not really. But now I am aware, and I will always be watching for other children out there who may have been abducted from their homes. 

• Did you follow the Jaycee Dugard story?
• Have you read her book or Room?

Book Recommendations for You {Blogtember Challenge}

ok hi!

September 7th Prompt: What's on your current reading list? Or what have you read that you recommend?

First of all, if you'd like to read ANY of my book reviews, you may do so by clicking here. 

Next, I don't have a lot of time to write about what is currently on my list, as much as I'd love that. I'll save that post for a day when I have more free time. Since I already wrote a post (last July) about my favorite books of all time, I think I'll share that now. It hasn't changed (I have read some good books since then, though). 

Here ya go, everyone. THESE are the 15 books I would recommend to ANYONE who asked. They are in alphabetical order, not ranked. That would be truly impossible for me. It depends on how I'm feeling. I could give you a different "favorite book" answer seven times if you asked me each day of the week. 

**My apologies if you have already seen this list. Many of you did and commented. Thank you.

So tell me, awesome readers:

What is your #1 FAVORITE book ever?
Do you have a favorite author?
Which is your favorite from my list?
What book should I read next?

A-Z Book Survey

This survey was SO much fun to complete! Thanks to Rachel at My Wholesome Home for sharing it. 

A: Author you've read the most books by:  Jodi Picoult – I started reading her books when I was a senior in high school in 2006. Some of my favorites are My Sister’s Keeper, Plain Truth, Vanishing Acts, Nineteen Minutes, Lone Wolf, Between the Lines, and OF COURSE The Storyteller.

B: Best Sequel Ever: This one goes out to Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, the second book in The Hunger Games trilogy. It was my favorite book of the three and packed with so much action.

C: Currently Reading: The Scorch Trials by James Dashner is what I’m currently reading. It is book two of four in The Maze Runner series, which is a young adult series. The Maze Runner movie comes out this September!

D: Drink of Choice While Reading:  Hot chocolate! I especially enjoy the flavored ones, like mint dark chocolate or raspberry chocolate. If I’ve already had too much sugar, the next best thing is hot herbal tea. It’s amazing to cure up in pajama pants with a good book… while drinking something warm!

E: E-Reader or Physical Book?  I have a Nook Tablet, and while I enjoy its ease when traveling, I really do still love physical books. I almost forgot how much until reently. I had been reading so much on my Nook, and I read a couple books for work. It was WONDERFUL to hold the paperbacks in my hand and smell that euphoric ‘book smell’.

F: Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Dated in High School: This would have to be Four/Tobias from the Divergent series by Veronica Roth. He seems intelligent, athletic, and strong… yet he still has weaknesses.

G: Glad You Gave This Book a Chance: One book I almost didn’t read is Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. It just didn’t sound like it would be THAT good, but it ended up being PHENEOMENAL! I loved every minute of it, and I can’t wait to see it as a movie in December!

H: Hidden Gem Book: One of my favorite books of all time is one that many have never heard of: The Cage by Ruth Minsky Sender. I first read it in seventh grade and fell in love. I am so glad my teacher chose that book. It really sparked my interest for Holocaust literature. This is one you don’t want to miss.

I: Important Moment in Your Reading Life: Oh, there are so many to list. What about the fact that I used to complete multiple lists the library offered each summer as a child just because I loved reading so much? Or how I taught my younger brother how to read before he went to school? Or when I received my copy of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee in ninth grade with the assignment to read the first chapter over the weekend, and instead I canceled all of my Friday night plans and read the entire novel in one sitting? THOSE are important reading moments that I will forever remember.

J: Just Finished: The Maze Runner by James Dashner – I read it for work because my 8t graders are reading it.

K: Kinds of Books You Wont Read: Romance novels. Enough said.

L: Longest Book You've Ever Read: Hands down, the longest book I’ve read is the Bible. I read the entire thing in 2012, and I felt a real sense of accomplishment when I {finally} made my way completely through.

M: Major Book Hangover Because Of:  The Book Thief by Markus Zusack – I fell in love with Liesel’s character right away, and I read this book FAST. When I finished, I was really upset. Sometimes, I think I’ll be upset when I finish a book, but then I’m fine. With this one, I thought of it often for MONTHS. In fact, I still do think of it often, and it’s been over three years since I read it. I’d love to re-read it soon.

 N: Number of Book Cases You Own: I have six… which seems excessive and is probably way too many for most people, but with Dan’s books and mine combined (he’s also a reader), we still have books overflowing off the shelves and hanging around in random places throughout the house.

O: One book you have read multiple times: This would have to be The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I first read it in high school, and I loved it. I read it again in college and saw so many things I didn’t pick up on the first time around. I recently re-read it, and it seems like I caught on to several more scenarios. I LOVE re-reading books.

P: Preferred place to read: There’s nothing like curling up in my bed with a good book, but I wish I had a better place to read. Dan has promised me to build me a cupula one day, so I can sit in the sunlight (or pouring rain or snow) and read with an amazing view of the outdoors. That will be my dream come true, and he’s wonderful.

Q: Quote That Inspires You/Gives You Feels From a Book You've Read: "Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had." -F. Scott Fitzgerald (The Great Gatsby)

R: Reading Regret: Allegiant, which is the third book in the Divergent trilogy – I just couldn’t get into it, despite having LOVED the previous two books. I was shocked (and kind of upset, to be honest) about a major plot event, and I think it would have been better if I had just chosen not to read it at all. It was a major bummer because I waited for this book to come out for MONTHS.

S: Series You Started But Still Need to Finish (All Books Are Out): This isn’t a true series, but I own all of the Dear America books and have only read about half of them. They were my favorite books growing up, and I had many of them saved from then. I knew I wanted a complete collection, so I made a list of what I needed to buy, and my wonderful fiancé (then boyfriend) bought the last few I needed to complete my set. I plan on reading through all of them (in chronological order) when he is in pilot training next year. I should be able to since they are written for elementary school girls.

T: Three of your Favorite Books: This one is really tough, but I chose three from my top 15 list. If I HAD to pick just three, I think I’d go with: The Book Thief by Markus Zusack, The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult, and The Giver by Lois Lowry.

U: Unapologetic Fangirl For:  Edward. Yes, THAT Edward. I don’t care how many people hate Twilight; I absolutely loved reading it my freshman year of college. It was like an escape from dorm life, and I read it a couple times that year. I’m not even ashamed. I like the glittery, sparkly vampire.

V: Very Excited for This Release More Than Others:  This book is already released… in fact, it has been for a while. But it’s one that I’m dying to read: The Astronaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel. It’s on my list to read this year, and I can’t wait until I get to it!

W: Worst Bookish Habits: I hate that when I start reading a new chapter in the evening, it often causes me to stay up late and lose precious sleep. It’s totally worth it for the adventures in the books I’m reading, but I wish I could make it a habit to read earlier.

X: X Marks the Spot - Start at the Top of Your Shelf and Pick the 27th Book:  Oh, this is a good one! My 27^th book on my book-shelf is Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer, a great look at Mormon fundamentalism. I especially loved this book because Dan read it first when we were long distance, and then he mailed the book to me. It was fun and exciting talking to him about the book each night!

Y: Your Latest Book Purchase: The Scorch Trials by James Dashner… since that’s also what I’m currently reading.

Z: Zzzz-Snatcher Book - (The last book that kept you up way too late): This happens to me far too often, but the one book I can think of staying up WAY too late with is The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. I specifically remember sitting outside with a glass of wine reading it while Dan was out of the country. It was dark, but I was reading on my Nook, so it didn’t matter. Before I knew it, it was after midnight, and I was shocked! I just couldn’t put it down.

To see my comprehensive list of my top 15 favorite books of all time, check out THIS post.

• Do you read?
• What is your favorite type of book?
• Do you have a cool reading experience?

2014 Reading List

I know we're already almost a month into 2014, but I have been wanting to share what's on my reading list for the year, and I finally have the time to do so.

These are not all of the books I will read this year, but they are the ones I have on my "want to read" list on Goodreads. Are you on Goodreads? If so, we should be friends on there -- here's my account!

If you click on the photo of the books, you will head to the Goodreads page for the synopsis of each one. Enjoy!

To see book reviews I've written, check out this page. To see my list of my top 15 books of all time, check out this post.

• Do you enjoy reading?
• What is your favorite book?
• Do you have a list of books to read this year?