37 Books and still not done!!!

I did it and it feels amazing. I'm not done either I'm working on 38 and by the end of December I plan to have at least 39. I hope this inspires everyone to keep reading and achieving goals!

Keep reading whenever you have a chance and I promise you won't be disappointed.

Book #25 The Calder Game by Blue Balliett, Brett Helquist (Illustrator)

This young adult book was an awesome find at my local bookstore Sandmeyer's. A great mystery novel based around Alexander Calder's artwork and the Chicago exhibit. I learn so much more about Calder and his artwork by reading this. I made note to save this book for my children. I love a fun and educational read. I just hope by the time I have a child books won't be "uncool".

TIP:  If you need a light and fun read browse the young adult section, sometimes you'll find the best stories that bring out your inner child. Especially if you just read a long disappointing book that made you want to take a break from reading. All it takes is one good book to get you moving again!

Book #24 The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

WOW! one of the best books of the year. I went out on a limb with this one and LOVED it! It got me researching The Man Booker Prize since this was the 2008 winner. I plan to read some more off the list. 

A little about the Prize:

"Winning the Man Booker Prize is the ultimate accolade for many writers. As 1996 winner Graham Swift commented, "Prizes don't make writers and writers don't write to win prizes, but in the near-glut of literary awards now on offer, the Booker remains special. It's the one which, if we're completely honest, we most covet.""

The White Tiger  is an amazingly real tale revolving around the class system in India. A wonderful tale coming from a man in the lowest class that ventures up the food chain. You want him to succeed but at the same time you know he is doing the wrong thing. Its a struggle throughout the entire novel and it kept me up at night thinking and thinking. I can't wait to read the Last Man in the Tower that came out this year.

Book #23 Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach

Well, you know why I picked this one I mean look at the cover! How could I resist the morbid curiosity we all have? Don't deny it, I know you all have a weird part of you who wonders what happens to human cadavers.

Stiff is funny, intellectual and compelling disturbing. If you have even the slightest queasy stomach I don't recommend this book to you. I was grossed out more than once. I was in a nursing program in community college before going to art school and was around a cadaver while being dissected. The image of the man we held the heart of kept coming back to me. I didn't think it would be so...gross I guess.

It makes you run through your own mortality and what you would want done with your body if donated. It raises a lot of questions on how much you are told upon signing a paper to donate you or a loved ones body. It is shocking how cadavers are used and I felt more often than not a discomfort with the donation in general. Its good to know what you are getting your "body" into when signing it over. If you are thinking about donation or a loved one is I'm not sure this is quite the book you should read.

I was oddly disturbed. This is one of those moments when the cover was exactly what the book is and I didn't like it much when it was based in reality.

Book #22 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter #7) by J.K. Rowling

Um, well this was a long time coming. I read the 6 previous books as they came out but didn't want them to end...so I didn't read the last one until now. I don't really have much to say other than it was a wonderful end to the series and I'm sad to see it go.

Book #21 Under the Dome by Stephen King

When I started Under the Dome by Stephen King I had no idea how long it was, as an ebook I didn't really look at the page length. I was a few chapters in when I looked, it was a whopping 1074! I had to know what I was getting into and did something I usually never do... I looked up reviews on a book I was in the middle of. I was surprised and discouraged at the reviews. I take reviews with a grain of salt because I really believe "to each their own". I was even more disheartened when I saw my favorite author was disappointed in the novel, but I stuck with it and got through ALL 1074 pages. 


Yes, it could have used a touch from an editor again but it was a good read and kept me turning the page. I think once you reach a point in your career and have been widely successful, such as Stephen King, you can do whatever you want editor or not. So I support the book and its lengthy prose. 


To each his/her own.