allsmilesk21 books in 2011

My original goal this year was to read 50, but now that I've found this...well I clearly have to step up my game. I think I have a pretty good pace even before joining this group but now its like more motivation to read.

I have so far read this year...

- You Don't Look Like Anyone I Know by: Heather Sellers
- Neither Wolf Nor Dog by: Kent Nerburn
- Sarah's Key by: Tatiana de Rosnay
- House Rules by: Jodi Picoult

I'm having a hard time picking which book to read next, I only have a million I want to read...and reading all these posts is certainly adding to that.

Welcome to the group!

Feel free to post a list and we'll help you choose! :)

I read Sh*t My Dad Says Today. While it may not be a literary masterpiece. It sure was funny. I was honestly laughing aloud.

Considerations for the next book:

Room, by Emma Donoghue
The Long Song, by Andrea Levy
Skippy Dies, by Paul Murray
Perfect on Paper: The (Mis)Adventures of Waverly Bryson, by Maria Murnane
The Memory Palace, by Mira Bartok
The Winter of Our Disconnect, by Susan Maushart
Dirt: The Quirks, Habits and Passions of Keeping House, by Mindy Lewis
The Help, by Kathryn Stockett

These, just a few of the books in my pile. What to do?

Go for House Rules. Any book by Jodi is excellent.

I finished that a few days ago...loved it. I have another one of her books in a pile here somewhere...something about an Amish murder. I'll try to work on that one in the next week or two.

It's supposed to snow all afternoon here in sunny Michigan. I guess that means I have to curl up on the couch with a cup of tea and read all day. I'm so disappointed.

Book of choice today:

Dirt: The Quirks, Habits and Passions of Keeping House Edited by: Minday Lewis

Have I neglected to mention that I am hopelessly OCD. Just the book for me I think.

I'd much rather read about dirt than clean it up! ha ha! Rainy day here in sunny south texas too, yay!
What did you study in school? My daughter is studying education and excited that this semester she gets to start helping out at a school...

The only one on your list that I've read is Room, which I enjoyed. The depressing topic is not one that I would normally want to read about, but I thought it was handled very well. It was also a very quick read.

I second the recommendation for Room. I'm also quite interested in Skippy Dies but haven't read it yet.

Welcome to the group, Kaitlin! I've been trying to get to both Room and Skippy Dies. They both sound very worthwhile and interesting.

#8 - So far cleaning up dirt is more fun for me than reading about it. It's on the verge of being good, so I'll keep reading. I majored in Elementary Education with a Language Arts Composite. Basically I'm certified to teach K-5 all subjects and 6-8 in an English, Language Arts, Reading etc. classroom. What's your daughters area of interest? Helping out in the schools is the BEST part of being an education major. It's weird to me now though that I get paid to do what I've been paying an arm and a leg to do for the last few years.

#9/10/11 I think Room will be my next book! I'll let you all know how it goes!

2 hour delay for schools here in West Michigan. Which means I don't have to go to work for 2 more hours. Perfect amount of time to finish a book! To all of you who are experiencing icy snow with me...take cover!

I've just finished DIRT: The Quirks, Habits, and Passions of Keeping House. To be honest, I was quite disappointed, the whole time I was thinking about which book I was going to read next. There were a few amusing stories but for the most part it was rather dull. However I have to think that I've now read 6 books! Not bad!

> 14 Since I have no passion for housekeeping, I think I'll skip that one. :)

I can barely stand to do housework - don't think I want to read about it! :)

Smart move #15 and #16. I can't imagine reading this if housework were boring to me...

It's 11 degrees here today and -7 with the windchill. I see no reason to move off the couch. Currently reading ???? too many choices.

brrrrrr... 11 degrees?! it's sunny and just chilly at my house today but I'm pretending it's colder and getting under the blankies with a book anyway.

-My daughter's certification will be for grades 4-8 or so, language arts and social studies, and ESL. (she was so excited that she got to teach a sunday school class in her college town and one of the kids gave her a teacher-y gift for Christmas. so cute.)

#14: I think I will skip that one too.

I hope it has warmed up there!

Hi There

I'm compiling a list of birthdays of our group members. If you haven't done so already, would you mind stopping by this thread and posting yours.

Thanks.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/105833

Okay just got back from my trip. Explains the absentee.

#18 - tell her she will get so many teacher gifts. On my last day of student teaching I spent the day crying my eyes out (yes in front of the kids) they were so adorable and give you the cutest things. My favorite was a bookmark made of duct tape. Adorable.

The Blizzard of 2011 just hit Michigan. We have 20 inches of snow! Crazy. Also has allowed me to stay in all day and read!

Has anyone read Million Little Mistakes by Heather McElhatton? It is a hypothetical book based on you the reader winning 22 million dollars in the lottery. It's a sequencing book so that you read a section and it gives you a choice, pick choice 1 and go to page __ pick choice 2 and go to page ___ and see what plays out.

My first scenario turned out happily in the end, however it took me on an adventure of moving to France, opening a vineyard, moving to California, opening a restaurant, starting up a yoga studio in my home and selling organic food. I'm all for organic food but it was completely unrealistic.

I decided to go back and try new scenarios, all of which seemed outrageous to me and not what I would ever do if I won the lottery.

It's entertaining and quick to go through considering you skip 80% of the book each time you go through a situation. Its funny to see different situations unfold but you'll have to try it for yourself!

#22 I haven't read a "Choose Your Own Adventure" style book in ages. All I remember is, whenever I read them as a child, I'd always make the wrong choice and die 3 choices in. So I think I'd be ok with the unrealistic yoga studio and organic food. ;)