Milda-TX: Reading's a Dream in 2014!

Hi everybody - hoping to make more time for reading in 2014!

2013: http://www.librarything.com/topic/147850

2014's Reading Log:
1. Fortunately, the Milk
2. World War Z
3. The Dinner
4. Dear Life
5. The Fault in our Stars
6. Where'd You Go, Bernadette
7. Tenth of December
8. How I Became a Famous Novelist
9. Maps and Geography (Ken Jennings' Junior Genius Guides)
10. The Invisible Bridge
11. Left Neglected
12. Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands
13. Me Talk Pretty One Day
14. Not That Kind of Girl
15. How to Be a Woman
16. The Transcriptionist
17. Being Mortal
18. Yes Please (only read a portion)
19. What If? (only read a portion)
20. All the Light We Cannot See
21. When You Are Engulfed in Flames (audio)

Yay, it's Happy New Year and I've already read a good book! Fortunately, the Milk was a fun way to start the year. Got it from the library for my 17-year-old daughter, who insisted I read it too. Now passing it on to my 21-year-old daughter who's about to start student-teaching 5th graders.... maybe her students will like it, too.

Don't scoff at me for picking up World War Z. I had heard it was a good book but I figured - eh, probably just goofy talk from people who like vampires and stuff. But then my sister recommended it to me, so I had to try it. I loved it. Loved the writing. Enjoyed the way it was set up as interviews with 'survivors'. Appreciated the wartime/survival strategy, and the heartbreaking stories. Didn't so much like all the zombie-splatter talk, but heck, it's just a story, I can handle a little pretend gore.

World War Z is an amazing book. It is so well done that I had to constantly remind myself that it's not an actual oral history, but a work of fiction. A friend who taught a class on oral history and did several big projects read and taught WWZ along with several other more academic and serious books on taking oral histories.

Yes Kris, WWZ was special. So cool it was used in a class. I hope you are enjoying Bossypants! It's so fun.

Just finished The Dinner the other day. Couldn't put it down, but now I hope I can forget it soon. Such a chill that book can give you.

I was fortunate enough to see Neil Gaiman on his book tour a few last year, in San Francisco. He read a snippet from Fortunately, the Milk, and I couldn't wait to read the whole thing for myself! He's my favorite author, so I highly recommend his other books, especially Stardust and his short story collections (Fragile Things and Smoke and Mirrors).

Happy reading!

Hi Kayla - lucky you - Mr. Gaiman seems like such a neato guy! I loved Fortunately but I couldn't get through Ocean at the End of the Lane. Thanks for the recommendations - maybe I should try his short stories.

I don't read zombie books but I really liked World War Z!

>6 Milda-TX:, after finishing the dinner (apologies for lack of formatting, typing on the phone) I felt that we couldn't possibly be expected to believe that those events had actually happened. I felt a bit like this must be some repressed man's macho fantasy and that the father only fantasizes about those actions. Like the film version of American Psycho.

>8 Milda-TX: Yes, his short stories are more accessible, especially for those who are not necessarily huge fans of his

I have The Dinner on my wishlist thanks to reviews by a few of our CR posters. Your comment about hoping to be able to forget it even though liking it scares me a little. :) World War Z is one I have been avoiding. The whole zombie, vampire thing is something I just haven't been able to get into.

Neil Gaiman on the other hand is an author I can relate to. I loved Stardust and Neverwhere. The Graveyard Book was really good and is called YA. I still haven't read American Gods or the follow-up.

>4 Milda-TX: - Your positive comments caused me to pick up World War Z last night. Thanks!

>12 NanaCC: American Gods is amazing, one of my favorites. It inspired me to do more reading on different religions/gods. I still have not read Anansi Boys, but it is on my to-read list this year :)

>14 kaylaraeintheway: They have both been on my reading list for who knows how long. Maybe this year I will actually get to them. :)

>13 Cait86: Hope you love it, Cait!

>15 NanaCC: Oh my goodness, if we could have a nickel every time we say this...

Dear Life was nice wintertime reading, kinda sad and slow. Unfortunately when I read the whole book at once, the stories ran together a little.

That happens to me when I'm enjoying a book of short stories. I always plan to read them one at a time, waiting a day between stories, but if I enjoy one story, it's hard to not read just one more. I did the same thing with Dear Life.

The Fault in Our Stars. Bravo!

oh my goodness can it really have been since feb that I last finished a book? crazy. thanks to my sis I picked up and finished Where'd You Go, Bernadette. Enjoyed it and need to pick up another book before I forget how.

Tenth of December - holey moley! How will I ever get those lawn ornaments out of my head! Enjoyed the collection a lot.

How I Became a Famous Novelist was chosen for me by my SantaThing Santa. It turned out to be just what I needed - a light book to help me kill a reading slump!

Maps and Geography (Ken Jennings' Junior Genius Guides) was fun to read. Very casual and silly, yet not dumbed-down. Loved the illustrations too. Hope my daughter's 3rd-grade class can give it a try.

Left Neglected was meh. Really loved Still Alice so was hoping this story would be as good.

Couldn't put down Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands, and the girl in the book will probably be with me for a long time. So heartbreaking.

Not that kind of girl was okay but the author is an annoying person, to me.

How to be a woman was much more enjoyable.

Finished an LTER, The Transcriptionist. It was okay, but I didn't like that the main character was sort of coming unglued and the story was all over the place after that.