In My Mailbox (116)

In My Mailbox is an Internet meme hosted by The Story Siren to share new books received, purchased, or borrowed.

So here's what I got this week!

Borrowed from the library:

• Heads in Beds (adult nonfic about the inner workings of hotels) by Jacob Tomsky
• Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn (adult fic)

eGalleys from NetGalley:

• The S-Word by Chelsea Pitcher
• The Sin-Eaters Confession by Ilsa Bick

What did you get?
Enjoy your reading!
Christi

Best of 2012 Winner!

Thanks to all who entered my Best of 2012 Giveaway Hop! Rafflecopter has selected a winner, and the lucky person who will be receiving The Fault in Our Stars, Ask the Passengers, and F in Exams is....

Jill O!

Congratulations!

Enjoy your reading!

Christi

Something New: Reason I Read It

*randomness explained below*

I was thinking about how I'd like to improve my blog in 2013, and besides the obvious--review more books--the one thing I wonder about when I read other reviews is what caused the reviewer to pick up that book in the first place. And as you might recall, I'm not participating in any challenges this year (except for my 150 books on Goodreads), so I thought it would be nice to just jot down a note or two about why I read and reviewed that particular book. I'm going to attempt to keep this reason on my Books Read in 2013 page, and also on any reviews I post. I thought "Reason I Read It" was a fairly catchy-ish title and I don't think it's one I've heard before--please do make me aware if I'm treading on someone's copyright or something!

What do you think? Do you guys often wonder why people read what they do or do I let my mind wander too much??

*Another thing I think I want to do is add some more of myself to the blog, so this might be the year you learn a little more about me. My first revelation is that I love all things Disney, including the cupcake pictured above. It's called the King Cupcake and you can find it at Disney's Pop Century Resort in Walt Disney World. It's a chocolate cupcake with banana filling, peanut butter frosting, and garnished with bacon. Yes, bacon. And it. Is. Delicious!

Enjoy your reading!
Christi

Must Reads of 2012

Today's the last day to enter my Best of 2012 Giveaway!

As promised, here are my all-time favorite titles of 2012! I have provided links to my reviews or to Goodreads.

I don't usually list my must-reads in any type of order, but this year spots 1, 2, and 3 have are definitely my 1st, 2nd and 3rd favorite books of the year.

1. See You at Harry's by Jo Knowles: the first book I read this year is still my all-time favorite of the year:  If you haven't read this amazing novel of family and tragedy, you must. I read and reviewed the ARC way back in January: click here to check it out.
2. Every Day by David Levithan: David Levithan blew. my. mind with this novel. It's absolutely amazing, I can't even describe it. Click here to see if my review makes any more sense.
3. Ask the Passengers by AS King: which I actually never reviewed for this blog. UGH. Anyway, this is an amazing work by an amazing author. If you haven't read this story, you have to. Here's the link to Goodreads.
4. The Raft by SA Bodeen: an incredible story of the struggle to survive. Here's the Goodreads link.
5. Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti: not your typical bullying story. Learn more at Goodreads.
6. Intentions by Deborah Heiligman: the story of a girl who witnesses something that causes her to lose her trust in someone she had previously thought was untouchable. Here's the Goodreads page (I sucked at reviewing this year, I know!).
7. Beneath a Meth Moon by Jacqeuline Woodson: obviously, a story about meth, but a really, really good one. I talked about it briefly in a Super Short Reviews post.
8. Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale: Not only is this an incredible story, but it's the first book I've ever read that talks about Huntington's Disease, a devastating and fatal disease that not that many people have heard of. Here's my review.
9. Miracle by Elizabeth Scott: of course anything by Elizabeth Scott is going to wind up on my must-read list, but this story, about the only survivor of a plane crash, is so moving and realistic that it warrants a spot on my list regardless of who wrote it. I posted a review of it back in June.
10. Live Through This by Mindi Scott: a last-minute addition to the list, and a dark story of a girl trying to reconcile a person she cares about very much with the deplorable act that person is doing to her. Here's the Goodreads link.
11. The Fault in our Stars by John Green: I have to say that I enjoyed this book but not as much as others have. Still, it definitely has to be one of the most-talked-about-YA releases of 2012. Lern more here.
12. F in Exams: The Funniest Test Paper Blunders by Richard Benson: my favorite nonfiction title this year--and yes, I admit it wasn't published in 2012. It was by far the funniest book I read this year. I have never laughed so hard while reading a book and every single person I've shared this book with feels the same. Learn more about it at Goodreads, and make sure you enter my Bezst of 2012 Giveaway because this is one of three titles I'm giving away!
13. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn: this was my favorite adult fiction title of the year. I don't read that much adult fiction, obviously, but this one absolutely lived up to the hype. Completely amazing how psychotic these characters are! You can read more at Goodreads.

So, there you have it, my favorites from 2012! Care to agree or disagree? Did I miss something important? Leave me a comment!

Enjoy your reading, and happy new year!

Christi

Kissing 2012 Goodbye

Have you entered my Best of 2012 Giveaway yet?

I will readily admit that 2012 sucked for me. Cancer, death, superstorms, the horrible Newtown shootings immediately after the mall shootings...other stuff that I don't even want to get into now...basically it sucked all around.  As a result, my blog suffered, and I apologize, and have apologized, sincerely for that. I can't promise that things will be "up to snuff" in 2013, either--I just don't seem to have the drive or dedication that I once did.

I am going to try to get back to reviewing titles on a more regular basis, although I think that I will spend 2013 challenge-free. I will read debuts, I will read sophomore novels, I will read standalones and (hopefully) I will read books on my to-read pile, and I will document them as such--I'm just not going to challenge myself to do so, because I hate failing. Case in point:

• As of this post I have read 31 debut titles for 2012, which is most impressive, no? But the only thing I see is that there are four titles on that list that I did not get to this year. 
• Same thing with my To-Be-Read challenge: I read 15 books that had been sitting around gathering dust, but all I can see is that I STILL have not read Rot & Ruin (I'm sorry, Jonathan Maberry! I know it's amazing, I just can't bring myself to read it!). 
• Sophomore Reading Challenge: I read 14 and 1/2 (just could not finish Insurgent), but all I see are the two I have yet to get to.
• Standalone: this was the easiest challenge for me, because I just added anything I read that was a standalone book LOL 73 of the books I read this year fell into this category, and there was only 1 that I put on the list (Touched, by Cyn Balog) that I didn't get to.

But with all that failure (I know 8 1/2  books out of 142 titles is not really failure), I still managed to read 177 books and counting this year. I set my reading goal at 150 so that, at least, is a win. And 2012 was an amazing year for Young Adult Fiction! I have my must-reads of 2012 set to post on Monday.

So I am kissing 2012 goodbye, and am trying to be optimistic (which is not my nature) that 2013 is going to be my year. My lucky number is 13, after all!

Enjoy your reading and best wishes for 2013!
Christi

Best of 2012 Giveaway Hop

The Best of 2012 Giveaway Hop is hosted by Kathy over at I Am a Reader, Not a Writer.

2012 has not been a stellar year for me. As a matter of fact, I think it ranks right up there with 2001 for me. Illness, death, superstorms--2012 was not kind to many. BUT! I strongly suspect that 2013 will be my year. 13 is my lucky number and I am heading into the year with a positive attitude. To celebrate, I am giving away not one, not two, but three of my favorite books from 2012!

One winner gets 3 of my favorite books from 2012: Ask the Passengers by AS King (I was fortunate enough to meet her at the Collingswood book festival pre-pub so this book will have a signed bookplate inside!), The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (signed), and F in Exams (technically not a 2012 release but the funniest book I read this year!)

Contest runs through December 31 and is open to US residents age 13 and up. You don't have to be a follower to enter but it's worth an extra entry, as is sharing your favorite 2012 read in the comments section.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Enjoy your reading, and good luck!
Christi
Be sure to hop over to the other blogs participating!!

Merry Christmas!

I don't have any Christmasy pictures so this one of some cookies will have to do.

I hope all of my readers and followers have a wonderful holiday! I can *finally* say that I got everything done for the season--everything. The house is clean and decorated, the presents are wrapped, cookies were made and mostly eaten (although we definitely have some left for Santa), baking was done yesterday, chocolate-covered pretzels and marshmallows are made. I. Am. Ready.

And also very, very tired. I'm sure that I overdid it this season to make up for the fact that it's the first Christmas without my mom. I wanted Best Girl to have happy memories of this season, and not just remember that it was the first without Mima. So we did the Radio City Christmas Show, a weekend in Hershey, PA, a Polar Express train ride AND we went to Washington, DC for the first time ever (it was 70 degrees in December so it didn't feel super Christmasy, but still, we were there!) I tried to keep us busy, as you can see.

I hope that each and every one of you has a joyous holiday and that you're creating sweet and wonderful memories with your loved ones, as well!

Enjoy your reading!
Christi