Whose A Great Big Giant Slacker??? THIS GIRL!

So as usual it is the final stretch into the end of the year (7 days to be exact) and I am scrambling to finish at my goal (which I did not last year)and Im also scrambling to update this blog and the book lists contained herein.  

I guess its evident that I am not a blogger - at least not a good one anyway.  I am on "vacation" which means I am going stir crazy, thinking about all the things I have to do at work - and diving into some books because Im so fidgity that I can not sit still.

I need to do SOMETHING!  So while I did pipe out a few things via excel to make my life easier when I get home back to work - now Im working on this whole relax... our on vacay mode thing... its failing.  So here I sit - fingers on a keyboard trying to feel productive.

My book list, will show a total lack of productivity.  I did not, and will not reach my non-fiction goal for this year which is a bit of a disappointment.  Perhaps if I would have spent a little time reading non-fiction instead of trashy porn books I would be a bit closer (and a bit wiser!).

Without further ado- here is where we stand for the year.

34. HERE WE ARE NOW by Charles R Cross

A book about the lasting effects of Kurt Cobain on our culture.

35.  THE BITTER KINGDOM by Rae Carson

The third full length book of the Girl of Fire & Thorns series.  It was a pretty good series.  More geared towards YA PG rated.  There are a few novella's that also go along with the series.  They give more insight to some of the key characters.

36.  TURN TO STONE - Brian Freeman

This is apart of a crime series set in he Northland area (Duluth MN mostly) It makes me "home" sick for our time in Duluth. Pretty good series.

37.  SOUS CHEF by Michael Gibney

Really insightful book into 24 hours on the line in a 3 start NYC restaurant.  Id recommend to anyone who wants insight to a professional kitchen environment or to know what its like for those behind the line preparing your food. 

38.  THE FAULT IN OUR STARS - John Green

I may be one of the few who feel this way but I did not care for it.

39.  BITTERSWEET - Miranda Beverly Whittmore

This book reminds me of A VC Andrews circa Flowers in the Attic.  A poor scholarship girl covets her rich roommates life - and a sad family tragedy brings her (Mabel) closer to the life of wealth she has always dreamed of. 

40. TEMPTING FATE - Jane Green

I really liked his book.  I started reading Jane Green when I was a teenager.  At that time she was writing about 20 somethings in London whose
glamorous sounding lives I craved.  Over the last handful of years (as she has transitioned to past those days herself) she started writing characters in their 40's and I was not able to connect.  This book follows the story of a wife in her 40's who is facing a bit of a crisis.  It was really easy to sympathize with both Gabby and Elliot even though Gabby was the one making mistakes. 

41. Takedown Twenty One by Janet Evanovich

I do love Stephanie Plum.  The love triangle is dragging on but as long as there are still times when I bust out laughing at Lula or Stephanie I'm a happy girl to have some great light reading that reminds me of my home state. 

42. Yours and Mine - Debbie Macomber

This was a typical Debbie Macomber a little drama, and a little romance with a happy ending... Exactly what you need when you need to read something by Debbie Macomber!

43. The Cold Nowhere - Brian Freeman

Its been a while since I spent a couple of days with Jonathan Stride and those cold Duluth MN days - his books make me homesick for Duluth and wanting to find out whodunit

44. The One - Kiera Cass

The ending of this book was so predictable.  Honestly though, so was the whole story.  I mean seriously... a caste system, a pseudo-dystopian state of the country, the characters name is America Singer, and her caste is performers???  really?  I didn't care for the series but once I started, you know I was obligated to finish.  Like a few other books I read this year, I kept thinking "this could be so much better if..." or I would have...  

45. Unlucky 13 - James Patterson

Eh - typically Women's Murder Club.  Nothing spectacular or especially riveting.  I keep holding out for more - hoping for more exciting story lines like earlier WMC series books.

46. Babyville - Jane Green

I haven't read this book again in YEARS!  I initially started reading Jane Green when i was 16.  Its very different to go back and read her books - mostly aimed at 20-something single girls now as opposed to when I was dreaming of being one of those 20-somethings!  I think I have more appreciation now for the story lines than I did then.  Hopefully I can get my hands on Bookends! 

47. The Main Dish - Michael Ruhlman 

A kindle short.  Foodie fare.

48. The Competition by Marcia Clark

I had a really hard time getting into this book of the series.

49. If I Stay - Gayle Foreman

I enjoyed reading this book (and just purchased the Blu-Ray to watch on my road trip home from Christmas (as the passenger).  I enjoyed the story as well as the second book of the duo.

50. Exodus - Deborah Feldman

This is the follow up to Unorthodox.  I did not really care for this book the way I did her first.

51. Undercover - Mike Russell 

Interesting Jersey Mob story about a man who took down a powerful mafia family.  One of the best books I read this year!

52. PRIVATE DOWN UNDER - James Patterson

Eh the books are getting kind of boring.  He has always been an easy read - I especially like when Maxine Potrero writes for him but lately I find Im really bored with all of his series (Alex Cross, Women's Murder Club & Private)

53. LOVE LETTERS - Debbie Macomber

I really like her easy going happy ending stories.  Sometimes you just need some fluff and stuff.  

54.  HONOR & BETRAYL: The Untold Story of the Navy SEALs who Captured the "Butcher of Fallujah" and the Shameful Ordeal they Later Endured by Patrick Robinson

This book was really powerful.  I cried through a bit of it and sat in disbelief while reading the insular details of what these men had to go through.  I was already familiar with their trials and the outcomes, but I was just so disgusted that something like this could happen to these warriors.

55.  HIDDEN by Barbara Taylor Bradford

This was a Kindle Short. It could have made for a really good novel.

56. The Academy by Robert Dugoni

 I hope this book develops into a series!

57.  CODE NAME JOHNNY WALKER by Johnny Walker

 Another powerful story from an Iraqi interpreter who risked his life, and the lives of his family to help the US Navy SEALs with missions.  He became so much more than just a terp and became a vital resource.  

58. THE BEST OF ME by Nicholas Sparks

 At around page 200 I knew EXACTLY how the book was going to end.  I was really really disappointed by that.  I get it love conquers all, even if it doesnt go perfectly planned but seriously I was PISSED about the ending of this book.  I feel like I wasted my time.  

59  INVISIBLE CITY by Julia Dahl

Interesting fiction take on the murder of a Hasidic woman in Brooklyn and the reporter who makes it her mission to get to the bottom of the story.  I have always been so fascinated by the Hasidic life - especially because a good majority are descendants of Holocaust victims/survivors and that is connected to my family history.  The story was a little on the negative side of the Hasidic life but it had a decent twist ending.  

60. Family Pictures -Jane Green

This was a pretty decent book.  I have been reading her work since I was a teenager and thoroughly enjoy the change in her direction from 20 something Britsh chick lit to this more evolved indepth type of character based novel.  I like the seriousness of the drama rather than the lighthearted kind of drama the typical British Chick Lit brings.

61. Supreme Macaroni Company - Adriana Trigiani

I feel betrayed by this book. I was angry at some of the things that went on and I feel like I wasted the time.  Also - it seemed like the book was an afterthought rather than the continuation of the Valentine series (Very Valentine and Brava Valentine).  I was really disappointed.

62. Where She Went -Gayle Forman

This book is the follow-up to If I Stay.  It is told from Adam's perspective.  I really enjoyed the wrap up and closure this second book brought about.

63. For The Public Good - Belle Boggs

Moving Kindle Short about forced sterilizations in North Carolina.  Sickening how these things can happen.

64. Twilight-Stephanie Meyer (reread) 

Sometimes you just need a little Bella and Edward in your life.

65. New Moon- Stephanie Meyer (reread) 

Sometimes you just need a little Bella and Jacob in your life

66. Leaving Time -Jodi Piccoult 
it was pretty good. The information on the elephants was interesting and i didnt see the twist coming! 

67. Weekend Warriors - Fern Michaels
it was kinda boring but Im gonna read another in the series to see if it picks up

68. Fifty Shades of Grey - EL James
After refusing for so long i was bored and it was available for library download. The writing isnt that good. I'm surprised because of how many people are obsesses with it. 

69. Fifty Shades Darker -EL James
i figured i started the series i may as well finish. It really seems like the helicopter thing us an after thought. I keep reading it thinking this could be so much better. 

70. Shopaholic To The Stars -Sophie Kinsella
Eh typically boring 

71. Fifty Shades Freed - EL James

Ok so the storyline still continues too much of the plot Twilight does.  I really kept thinking this could be so much better if.... over and over and over again.  I also feel like this story wasnt really developed.  Too much stuffed in too quick.  

72.  The Submissive - Tara Su Me

Well - way more pornographic than  Fifty Shades.  I really wanted to like it but it lacked a little something I needed.

73.  The Dominant - Tara Su Me

So I am pretty sure Fifty Shades ruined the option for this series to be good for me.  If I would have read this first I think I would like it more than I do - but as with my other determinations - I will still keep going till the end.  

74.  The Snow Bride - Debbie Macomber

This was so cute!   And just what I needed.  Some winter spirit in my life.  I read this book in six hours.

And there it is!  Caught up through today and one week to finish one more book to meet my goal!