Stacking the Shelves # 2

Oh.My.Gosh. It's been a year since I last did a quarter-end wrap-up of the books I've read and purchased. I am such a bad blogger. I know I've been procrastinating... But this.. this wrap up thingy had suffered a lot! I should apologize for the lack of entries here, too. I really hope I could get back to regular blogging / book reviewing just like before.

Anyway, so as not to make this entry long and boring, let me wrap up my book hauls and reviews for this month of May, instead. I'll also consider this as my entry for Stacking the Shelves and Friday Finds for this week:

  Here's my second Stacking the Shelves, hosted by Tynga Reviews. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

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Books Purchased from Amazon:

Friend-Zoned by Belle Aurora

Selling Scarlett by Ella James

Radium Halos: Part 1 (The Senseless Series) by W.J. May

Alex: A Rylee Adamson Short Story

by Shannon Mayer

Fat Cat by James Sage

and a cookbook:

J'adore Le Croissant by Monica Ramirez

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Bought from our local bookstore:

Just One Day by Gayle Forman

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

themes

As for those who do not know me, I am actually a reader who would like variety in her reading life. But sometime in the middle of this year, I decided to read books based on Themes.

Actually it started in March, when I decided to read books that has one-word titles. What I mean is, the title of the books I've read contains only one line. So I called it March One-Liners. Like for examples:

Beastly, Shiver, Neverwhere, Flipped, Ingo, et al...  

Then in June, my book theme was June Fantasy; so I read books about dragons, witches, knights, faeries and even aliens. Here are the books I've read during that month:


Eragon - about dragons
Lament (Books of Faerie, #1) - self explanatory
The Summer Country / Avalon High - both are Arthurian stories
Peter and the Starcatchers - Peter Pan!!
Stranger in a Strange Land - Alien from Mars
Cloaked - a fairytale (about Frog Prince)

In July, I tagged that month as July Book-to-Films because most of the books I've read were made into movies.

Red Riding Hood
A Bend in the Road
City of Ember 
The Lovely Bones 
and The Golden Compass


August was more of the Narrative Mode month; where the narrator is the actual character in the story. To explain better;  the story is relayed by a narrator who is also a character within the story, so that the narrator reveals the plot by referring to this viewpoint character as "I".

Example of the books I've read where the storyteller is always the first-person:

Careful What You Wish For, Would You, Simmer Down, The Manolo Matrix, Shadowland, Red Blooded Murder and Winter Rose.

And last month, my theme was simple: September Chick-Lit; a genre fiction which addresses issues of modern womanhood, often humorously and lightheartedly. Those I really enjoyed were:

Love The One You're With, Remember Me, Spying In High Heels, Who's That Girl & LA Candy

For this month, I call it October Duos, where I'm gonna read either anthologies, bundles or those that has Book 1 & Book 2. I've already started with Irish Girls About Town,  and have started the 2 Darkwing Chronicles (Beyond The Pale & Past Redemption.) Hopefully next week, I'll be able to start the Riley Bloom series (Radiance & Shimmer) and then the Donovan Legacies (by Nora Roberts).

Oh this is gonna be an exciting month. Hope I would be able to stay true to my themed reading. Have a nice weekend everyone!

All Pictures on this post are derived from Google Images. Thanks Google!

3rd quarter-end wrap up

Whew, can you believe it? It's now October! Time flies so fast! We're now on the last quarter of the year, which was a truly blessed year for me. I know we still have 3 more months before we say Bye to 2011, but hey,  there's nothing wrong in appreciating the blessings that came along our way these past 3 quarters.

Christmas is just sitting around the corner.. Hmmm.. Before we go to that, let me share with you the books / e-books I've finished reading during the last 3 months.


July

The Princess - Lori Wick
Red Riding Hood - Sarah Blakley-Cartwright
Nicola and the Viscount - Meg Cabot
A Bend in The Road - Nicholas Sparks
The Wanton Bride - Mary Brendan
Twins - Roxanne Pulitzer
Blue Moon - John Morgan Wilson and Peter Duchin
City of Ember - Jeanne DuParu
Love in The Time of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Untamed - Helen Kirkman
The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
The Golden Compass - Philip Pullman




August
Careful What You Wish For - Lucy Finn
Would You? - Marthe Jocelyn
Simmer Down - Jessica Park
In The Eye of Heaven - David Keck
Inkheart - Cornelia Funke
The Manolo Matrix - Julie Kenner
River, Cross My Heart - Breena Heart
Vive La Paris - Esme Raji Codell
Fisherman's Bend - Kinda Greenlaw
Shadowland (The Mediator Series #1)  - Meg Cabot
Red Blooded Murder - Laura Caldwell
Winter Rose - Patricia McKillip


September
Perfect Princess (A Princess Diaries Companion Book)  - Meg Cabot
Love The One You're With - Emily Giffin
Light In Shadow (Whispering Springs #1)  - Jayne Ann Krentz
Remember Me - Sophie Kinsella
Princess Bride - William Goldman
Darkening Echoes - Carol Smith
Spying In High Heels - Gemma Halliday
Who's That Girl - Alexandra Potter
Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
L.A. Candy - Lauren Conrad
The Nanny Diaries - Emma McLaughlin

2nd quarter wrap-up

Yes, after 10 years of working, I finally come to rest, appreciate the view, relax and enjoy my family. Gosh, I never thought I've ever been busier in my life! I can't believe I've read a lot of books last quarter (April - June). Must have been the effect of being a "stay-at-home" mom. I survived the last three months reading these wonderful books and e-books, without thinking of any deadlines to beat.

Wow, here are the loads I've read for the last 3 months!

April
The Shop on Blossom Street - Debbie  Macomber
Party Princess (The Princess Diaries, #7) - Meg Cabot
Valentine Princess (The Princess Diaries, #7.5) - Meg Cabot
The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Decked Out 0 Neta Jackson
Perfect (PLL Series #3) - Sara Shepard
Unbelievable (PLL Series #4) - Sara Shepard
Wicked (PLL Series #5) - Sara Shepard
A Kiss In Time - Alex Flinn
Tangled Up in Daydreams - Rebecca Bloom
Jane Austen In Scarsdale - Paula Marantz Cohen
Brazen Virtue - Nora Roberts

May
Killer (PLL Series #6) - Sara Shepard
Heartless (PLL Series #7) - Sara Shepard
Wanted (PLL Series #8) - Sara Shepard
Carnal Innocence - Nora Roberts
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo  (Millenium Series # 1) - Stieg Larsson
The Girl Who Played With Fire   (Millenium Series # 2) - Stieg Larsson
The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest   (Millenium Series # 3) - Stieg Larsson
A Personal Devil - Roberta Gellis
I Am Number 4 - Pittacus Lore
A Time To Kill - John Grisham
From Potter's Field (Kay Scarpetta Series #6) - Patricia Cornwell
Kiss and Tell - Trudi Pacter
Death On The Nile - Agatha Christie
Invisible Green - John Sladek
The Dragon Rider - Cornelia Funke

June
Summer's Child - Luanne Rice
Eragon - Christopher Paolini
Lament (Books of Faerie, #1) - Maggie Stiefvater
The Summer Country - James A. Hetley
Peter and the Starcatchers - Dave Barry
Avalon High - Meg Cabot
Stragner in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
Rules of the Road - Joan Bauer
Cloacked - Alex Flinn

quarter-end wrap-up

the months of January, February & March flew by easily.. I'm patting my back because I was able to read at least 30 books for the past three months..

January


Mini Shopaholic- Sophie Kinsella
Undercover - Beth Kephart
Where Angels Go - Debbie Macomber
Princess Diaries 1 - Meg Cabot
Princess in Spotlight - Meg Cabot
Princess In Love - Meg Cabot
Table for Two - Nora Roberts
Stardust- Neil Gaiman
Irresistible Forces - Brenda Jackson
Trading Up - Candace Bushnell
Here, There Be Dragons - James Owen
Firelight - Sophie Jordan
Calling Romeo - Alexandra Potter
Cruel and Unusual - Patricia Cornwell


February
Heist Society - Ally Carte
Diva - Alex Flinn
Ransom My Heart - Meg Cabot
Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins
Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins
I'm Alice (I Think) - Susan Juby
Princess Mia Goes Fourth - Meg Cabot
The Project Princess - Meg Cabot
The Spiderwick Chronicles - Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black
The Field Guide
The Seeing Stone
Lucinda's Story
The Ironwood Tree
The Wrath of Mulgarath

March
I'm Alice, I Think - Susan Juby
Beastly - Alex Flinn
Shiver - Maggie Stiefvater
Linger - Maggie Stiefvater
Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman
Flipped - Wendelin Van Draanen
Ingo - Helen Dunmore
The Ex-Factor - Andrea Semple
Princess In Training - Meg Cabot
The Princess Present - Meg Cabot
Something Blue - Emily Giffin
The Red Pyramid - Rick Riordan
Devil Who Tamed Me - Johanna Lindsey
The Dragon Rider - Cornelia Funke
Pretty Little Liars - Sara Shepard
Flawless - Sara Shepard

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

Another first! That is, my first time joining It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

This fantastic meme is now hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books

Last week, I had developed a love-hate relationship with two Wills.

First was with Will, the hunter who fell in love with the draki, Jacinda  - the hunted on Firelight by Sophie Jordan . It is quite self-explanatory. A dragon hunter willingly offered his heart to a fire-breathing draki (a descendant of dragons) even if he had to defy his family's orders. I can't wait for its next installment.

Actually, a week before last week, I finished another story about dragons, entitled Here, There Be Dragons, which my kids loved.

Also, I had this other book, Calling Romeo by Alexandra Potter; a light-hearted novel featuring Juliet searching, waiting and deciding which Romeo to choose, after getting stood up by her long-time boyfriend (Will) and meeting a gorgeous man who happened to be her company's major competitor (Sykes).

And up until this morning, I was able to finish up Patricia Cornwell's Cruel and Unusual from her bestsellig Kay Scarpetta series.

Other books I was able to finish the following books (for the whole month of January, (that is!) 

Mini Shopaholic- Sophie Kinsella
Undercover - Beth Kephart
Where Angels Go - Debbie Macomber
Princess Diaries 1 - Meg Cabot
Princess in Spotlight - Meg Cabot
Princess In Love - Meg Cabot
Table for Two - Nora Roberts
Stardust- Neil Gaiman
Irresistible Forces - Brenda Jackson
Trading Up - Candace Bushnell

And here is my share for this upcoming week.

Ally Carter's Heist Society

as summarized by Booklist:

After a childhood spent assisting her father, one of the world’s most talented art thieves, Katarina Bishop tries to leave the family business behind when she forges her way into a New England boarding school. She quickly discovers, though, that her past is inescapable. Her father has been accused of stealing already stolen masterpieces from a dangerous Italian billionaire. Certain that her father is innocent, Kat resolves to find the missing paintings and return them to their unsavory owner, who has given her a two-week deadline.

My second choice of book, at my office, I've got Would You? by Marthe Jocelyn; a story that deals with a teen getting hit by a car and ending up in a coma, and how this impacts her family. Sounds like a serious novel, so I better prepare my hankies, just in case.

I'm also planning to read The Donovan Legacy by Nora Roberts (Captivated, Entranced, Charmed & Enchanted) by the end of the week. Hopefully, this whole week would be fun!

in retrospect

Year 2010 has been a fruitful year to me: family-wise & personal-wise. As a reader, I can say that I've done my best to accomplish at least 5 books a month. Although I was expecting to finish a hundred books-a year, finishing 75 books in 12 months isn't that bad, is it?

Yes, I was able to read 75 books a year ago and that was an accomplishment. Most of the books i've encountered were series/trilogies, which I really didn't like before. But when I started collecting, my anxiety heightened everytime I felt there was more to what I was reading. In the end, I didn't mind collecting series anymore.

In fact, I always anticipated for the better everytime I'm done with one book.

I was also able to collect Young Adults / Teens books and I was always felt like a teenager after reading a good one. But the most priced posession I have collected last year would be my Percy Jackson and the Olympians series! I know that it's a children's book but somehow, I know my kids would love this in the near future.

Besides, I've always been interesed with Greek mythology so I didn't have any second thoughts when I decided to buy the whole Percy Jackson package.  

For 2011, I really want to end the year reading a hundred books. I hope I would be able to accomplish this.

So let the reading marathong begin!

Books I've Read in 2010

January
Rekindled - Barbara Delinsky
Circle Trilogy by Nora Roberts

• Morrigan's Cross
• Dance of the Gods
• Valley of Silence

February

The Hundred Secret Senses - Amy Tan

Irish Born Trilogy - Nora Roberts

• Born in Ice
• Born In Fire
• Born in Shame

March

Twisted - Jefferey Deaver
More Twisted - Jefferey Deaver
The Lucky One - Nicholas Sparks

April

Clear and Convincing Proof - Kate Wilhelm

Airframe - Michael Crichton

The Mermaids Singing - Lisa Carey

May
Shopaholic Series - Sophie Kinsella

• Confessions of a Shopaholic
• Shopaholic Takes Manhattan
• Shopaholic Ties The Knot 
• Shopaholic & Sister 
• Shopaholic & Baby

June
The Third Twin - Ken Follett

Sands of Time - Sidney Sheldon

Impulse - Nora Roberts

For One More Day - Mitch Albom

Tuesdays With Morrie - Mitch Albom

July
A Long Fatal Love Chase - Louisa May Alcott
Dear John - Nicholas Sparks
The Last Song - Nicholas Sparks
Homeport - Nora Roberts

Bride Quartet by Nora Roberts

• Vision in White
• Bed Of Roses
• Savor The Moment

August

Angelology - Danielle Trussoni

A Painted House - John Grisham

WhiteOut - Ken Follett

Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle trilogy

• A Great and Terrible Beauty
• Rebel Angels
• The Sweet Far Thing

The Stanislaski Family by Nora Roberts  

• Taming Natasha
• Luring A Lady
• Falling for Rachel
• Convincing Alex
• Waiting for Nick
• Considering Kate

September

In Her Shoes - Jennifer Weiner

Paranormalcy - Kiersten White
Percy Jackson and the Olympians - series

• The Lightning Thief
• The Sea of Monsters
• The Titan's Curse
• The Battle of the Labyrinth
• The Last Olympian

October

Something Borrowed - Emily Griffin

Sanctuary - Nora Roberts

C. S. Lewis - Chronicles of Narnia

• The Magicians Nephew
• The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
• Prince Caspian
• The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
• The Silver Chair
• The Horse and His Boy
• The Last Battle

November

Public Secrets - Nora Roberts
A Little Magic - Nora Roberts
Halo - Alexandra Adornetto
Happy Ever After - Nora Roberts
Harry Potter -J.K. Rowling

• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

December

I Kissed a Zombie and I Liked It - Adam Selzer
Valentine Princess - Meg Cabot
The Lost Hero - Rick Riordan
Deep Waters: Lawless and Tilley - Malcolm Rose
The Body Farm - Patricia Cornwell
Evernight Series - Claudia Gray

• Evernight
• Stargazer
• Hourglass