The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister

I just finished this book.  When I started it, I thought it was going to be a lot like the movie Julie & Julia.  I didn't like the beginning....until about the first 30 pages were finished, then it started to get more interesting.  Basically this book is based around a cooking class, and goes through short stories of the students and what lead them to the class, and at the end of the book they all become a part of one anothers lives.  It was a good light read, something different than I usually read.  I don't think I'd have read it though unless it was part of my bookclub list (it's January's book).  That's really all I have to say about this book.

The Bridges of Madison County & A Thousand Country Roads by Robert James Waller

Ok.  I read "The Bridges of Madison County" in October.  I'm late posting, but I wanted to wait until I had read the epilogue, "A Thousand Country Roads", which I read in November, so I'm still late posting.  The first book I read all in one night.  It was pretty good.  It had to be for me to sit and read for three plus hours.  But it was a short book.  And I had the time.  I did enjoy the book.  I thought maybe it would have ended differently.  It's about a man who travels the world due to his career in photography.  On one trip he meets a woman, falls in love, and then I won't give away the ending, but they don't stay together.  It all happens in the course of four days. 

The second book, took me much longer to read, even though it about the same in length.  I didn't enjoy the second book.  There is a twist thrown in there that I view as unnecessary.  Basically it was written to satisfy people about the untold story of the main character.  And his life after meeting the woman he fell in love with.  I would not recommend reading the second book.  If you want a summary look it up, or I'd be happy to share.  It just gives you hope that maybe the end of the last book wasn't "the end" for the two in love.  But it was.

I've been extremely busy and haven't had much time to read (mostly due to my lunch hour being cut in half to accumulate time to take off over Christmas), but I am still trying to finish "Silent in the Grave" which I am still very thoroughly enjoying.  I shall post when it is completed, and hopefully get a few more books read over the break, before our book club starts up again in January (we took December off for a break due to the stress and hustle of Christmas).  Cheers!

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn

So I just started this book today on my lunch break.  I only have a half hour lunch from now until Christmas so I can book some time off over the holidays, so I only read the first two chapters.  One of my co-workers lent me this to read, and so far it's very descriptive so I can picture exactly what's happening.  It's the kind of book that is good right from the beginning, so it jumps right into what's happening instead of having all the crap leading up to it.  It set in the 1880's so it'll be interesting just by the things that were going on back then.  Like already her husband has died and it's talking about her going into mourning so she must wear nothing but black clothes and the whole house has to be transformed into black everything, even her handkerchiefs must be outlined in black.  I like it so far.  Hopefully it keeps my interest.  :)


Ok.  So on Wednesday night I finally finished this book that I started in November and haven't had much time to read.  Not the time it deserved.  Had I picked it up at a less busy time of the year I know I would have had this finished in two weeks.  It was wonderful.  I absolutely love reading this type of time, how they talk, and have servants in the house for everything.  Being called "my lady."  Sigh* What a time.  It had a very unexpected twisted ending.  Quick summary, Julia, quickly a widow in the beginning of the book, discovers that her husband may have been murdered.  She spends the bulk of the novel trying to piece together the events leading up to her husbands death and who the murderer is.  I think I shall have to read the second book as there are embers to a potential romance that do not amount to anything in this book, and I'm a sucker for romance.  I'd hope the embers would turn into flame in the second book.  When I get to it (it will be months for sure, I have a lot of books to read!) I'll be sure to let you know how it went.

House Rules by Jodi Picoult

Ok.  So I just finished this book on Monday.  I'd like to say that I didn't even realize I was nearing the end of the book, because I expected so much more to happen.  I'd also say that the end was a bit disappointing.  It had the outcome I suspected, but I felt like it left me hanging.  And I do NOT like that.  For this reason, it doesn't top the favorites list by Jodi.  It will stay at number three.

However, it was still an amazing book, given that I was so absorbed I didn't even realize how close to the end of the book I was!  I also love the way she writes for Jacob.  How he thinks and his reason behind things is so interesting.  It makes one stop and think about things we say that seem so natural to us.  But Jacob being in a literal world doesn't get them.  He explains them well, if you read the book, you'll understand.  It's difficult to put into words.  It's also very interesting to read about his routine being SO important and if it's disrupted he doesn't have the skills to cope.  Like every day of the week has a different color and on that day all the food is that color and his clothes are that color.  And trying to get clothes on Jacob that don't match the color of the corresponding day, makes him have an outburst. 

That's all I will say.  I think if you find that little blurb interesting, you should read the book.  It seems large but it goes by SO quickly.  Especially if you have more time to read than I do these days.  Anyway, I liked the book so much that in the middle of it I decided to put it on our book club list for my next turn (which won't be until March). 

If you read this book I want to know what you think of it, comment! 

Happy reading.  =)

Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult

I read this book in January.  It was so long ago that I honestly can't remember it.  This was the first book I read by Jodi Picoult.  I obviously liked it enough to keep reading her books.  So grateful to my friend for recommending her, and loaning me the books she owns to read!

The Pact by Jodi Picoult

I read this book in February.  And I have to say that this is by far my most favorite book by Jodi Picoult ever.  I couldn't put it down.  I didn't know what was coming next.  One thing that took a while to get used to though is that Jodi likes to write as one character and then in the next chapter flip to another character.  So just when you're getting so involved in one story and you want to know what happens next, BAM!  you have to wait.  Don't know if she'll ever top this one for me.  Change of Heart may be a very close second though, if not equal.  Definitely loved this book.

The Daring Game by Kit Pearson

I read this book in February.  I don't remember where I got it, and I couldn't remember what happened in it, so I decided to read it again.  It's a good pre-teen book.

Fall on Your Knees

I read this book in March.  It's one my friend loaned me, and I don't think I liked it very much.  I found it hard to get into, and also there were some parts that I won't forget out of horror.  Not gorey, but just, disgusting.  I don't remember the author and so I can't find a picture of it. 

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

I read this book in March.  I absolutely LOVED this book.  The main character is a little girl that is very interested in science, and being a detective.  She is around eleven I think, with two sisters, her dad, and the gardener...also there is a lady that comes to clean the house and cook.  You can't tell she is eleven by the way it is written and the knowledge she has though.  The author is very descriptive and pays attention to detail which I liked a lot.  I loved this book so much I later read the sequel.  I recommend this book to anyone looking for a light read with flair.

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

I read this book in April.  This was a fast read and I liked the book much better than the movie (I read the book first).  It has all the elements of a love story, happy, sad, concerned it won't end the way you want it to, and then.....well then it ends a way I won't give away.  There was one part I didn't like, because I wish it hadn't happened, but it doesn't make it bad.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

I read this book in April.  When I read this book I didn't realize it was based on a true story.  About half way through was when I realized it was.  This book was very good.  You wouldn't believe the things that have happened to her in her life.  Which is why I thought it was fiction.  I'm still in awe the things she lived through.  And even more surprised that she could write about it in such a way that it seems lighthearted and funny, to a point.  I'm still amazed how she could take such tragedy and write about it almost in a way that makes it seem like it wasn't as bad as it should have been.  Difficult for me to explain.  I'd recommend this book to someone who loves reading anything.

Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult

I read this book in May.  As always with Jodi, I love her writing, and this book was good.  Not as great as my top 3 picks, but good.  Even though she always has similar elements in her books, there is always one that makes it stand out.  The main focus of this book is a woman and her daughter.  Eventually it takes an unexpected twist (Jodi is good at those) which put me in shock.  I think it would have been good if I'd read this one first.

Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon

I didn't like this book much.  I read this book in May.  I think it is a better read for someone who isn't in their 20's.  It was a bit hard to get into, but it was interesting.  I guess I could call it a cute book.  Just not something I'd pick up on my own to read.

How to Be Single by Liz Tuccillo

I read this book in June.  It was a busy month.  I obviously picked it because of it's title.  And I'm sure I read it quickly and quite liked it.  However, I've forgotten entirely what happened in it.  Guess that means I could read it again.

Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult

I read this book in June.  Can't say I remember what happened.  Only because in my mind her books are running together.  They usually always feature a single parent and a child.  I believe in this one there was something to do with a priest.  I know it was good, and again had a twist...but aside from two events, I can't remember the filling.  Which is why my book blog will be SO much better when I write about each book RIGHT after I've read it!

Paper Towns by John Green

Ok, so this was my pick for book club.  I absolutely LOVE the Vlog Brothers.  And since Julia Nunes mentioned that she was reading the book (and I really love her too), I decided to pick this book.  It didn't end how I wanted it to.  But I didn't know what was going to happen next.  It kept me on my toes.  I think I should read another book by John Green.  I read this book in June.

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

I actually found this book hard to read, as in, parts of it were boring, in my opinion.  I really loved certain parts, but others were like sandpaper trying to get through.  Her last journey I found most interesting.  I read this book in July.

Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner

The sequel to this book is Certain Girls, mentioned previously.  I liked this book.  It was another "I don't want to put this down" kind of book.  The author is funny.  And the dog's name is Nifkin.  If you don't know what that is, look it up.  Also knows as a "Taint".  I think I'll read more book by her once the pile of the ones I have to read diminishes.  I read this book in July.

Forrest Gump by Winston Groom

Forrest Gump has been my favorite movie for a very long time.  I had no idea it was a book until one of my friends told me and insisted I read it.  I love that Tom Hanks speaks in the movie exactly how it is written.  Made the book a bit hard to get used to in the beginning, but still a good book.  Like the movie better though.  I read this in August.

The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley

This is also a sequel to one of the books I read for book club.  It was fantastic, definitely love the way the author writes.  I read this book in August.

Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult

This is my second favorite book by Jodi Picoult.  It was so good I can't tell you how much.  You have to read it.  Other people in my book club didn't like it as much.  Maybe I liked it more because I had already read 5 books by Jodi.  The end gave me goosebumps.  That's never happened to me before.  I should have seen it coming, what happened, but I didn't, which is why I got goosebumps.  The main character is in jail, and he does some pretty fantastic stuff.  I liked him from the start.  You may not.  It doesn't matter, this book deserves to be read!  Go to the library right now and order it!  I read this book in August / September.

Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner

I read this book in September.  It is a sequal to one of my previous book club books.  I hadn't read a book that made me cry in a very long time, this one succeeded.  Took an unexpected turn, which is more devestating after reading the first book.  Loved it though.

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah

I just finished this book this month.  It was very hard to read because he is very descriptive.  I still enjoyed it; definitely an eye opener.

House Rules by Jodi Picoult

I just started this book by Jodi Picoult.  So far I'm loving it.  I've read six books by her already and this may become my 3rd favorite.  I've found most of her books all follow around the same themes, but so far this one stands out.  The main character, Jacob, is a genius, and it paints a picture of what his life is like living with Asperger's. 

I wanted to start a blog specifically to keep track of the books I read.  I loved reading as a kid and recently picked up reading again, and am a member of a book club at my place of employment.  So what better way to keep a record of the books I read each year?  However, I believe I won't be able to back-date blogs, therefore this years will be messy and all clustered into this month to get me up-to-date.  That's going to bug me, I'm anal about these things.