Reflections and 2012 Reading Challenges

As we look forward to the new year, it's also a time to look back and reflect on the old year.  While my blog was originally created in October of 2010, I really didn't become active in the community until February of 2011.  One of my goals for this year was to put more effort into networking in the blogging community, and though I feel I have accomplished that, I know there is still much to still learn as a blogger from both veteran bloggers and novice bloggers.  I still consider myself a novice blogger, and there's nothing wrong with maintaining the mindset of a student.  Even the veterans I follow are most likely still learning, and that's part of what makes them great.

For the new year, I aim to comment more on my fellow bloggers' reviews and review on a more regular basis.  I was very happy with how much reviewing I did in November, and my stats definitely improved in the latter half of the year.  With the amount of books I've squirreled away (like the book squirrel I am), I have more than enough to keep me busy even with the amazing new titles being released in 2012.  Because of all the books I've acquired in the past year, I feel inspired to participate in the 2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge.  Here's a picture of some of the titles I'd like to read for this challenge, and here's hoping I can do it in a year!

I'm also going to set myself a more realistic goal on Goodreads for 2012.  This year I felt pressured by wanting to read 75 books, and now that I'm down to the wire, I'm reading more graphic novels in order to attain that goal.  While they are books, I would like to have non-graphic novel titles for the majority (if not all) of my list.  So this year I plan to read 50 books that are not graphic novels for my Goodreads 2012 Challenge.  That's not to say I won't be reading any graphic novels, I just won't count them towards this particular challenge.

2012 promises to be a great year, and I'm looking forward to it as both a librarian and a blogger.  Here's to a new year for all of us, my fellow bloggers and my dear readers!

What reflections do you have for 2011 and what challenges for 2012? ^_^

Top Book Covers of 2011

Seeing all of the great lists for 2011 has got me wanting to make a couple of lists of my own for the past year.  I'm not sure I'll be able to make quite as many as some of my fellow bloggers, but I will do my best to showcase what I felt was the best for me in 2011.  Starting off, we'll hit the very first thing we see when we look at a book (and what we really shouldn't judge it by): it's cover.  Keep in mind, these can't be placed in any order because they're all just too beautiful to really give a number to on a scale.  Instead I'll list them by their published date.

The Bake-Off

By: Beth Kendrick

Publish Date: May 3, 2011

Reasons: Being a baker, this cover just makes me want to start baking (even though I don't have my own Cuisinart mixer like the one shown). It also makes my mouth water to see either meringue, whipped cream, or frosting being prepared.

Starcrossed

By: Josephine Angelini

Publish Date: May 31, 2011

Reasons: The ocean backdrop along with the flowing tunic of the girl just emanates beauty (if not Greek mythology). It's simply gorgeous seeing the contrasting colors that also manage to complement each other as well. 

Sweet Venom

By: Tera Lynn Childs

Publish Date: September 6, 2011 

Reasons: Simply put...the hair. Just look at it wriggling and moving around! You know that's not a common talent for hair to do, and that means something is definitely up.

Fateful

By: Claudia Gray

Publish Date: September 13, 2011

Reasons: The ocean and the moon really make this cover for me. It really sets the overall tone of the doomed ship's voyage while also giving a hint of the mystery behind some of the passengers on the Titanic.

Wonderstruck

By: Brian Selznick

Publish Date: September 13, 2011

Reasons: Lightning is both a beautiful and deadly thing. This cover definitely captures the more beautiful side of the element. Plus, again, the blue background is just a gorgeous tone.

Carrier of the Mark

By: Leigh Fallon

Publish Date: October 4, 2011

Reasons: Blue IS my favorite color, so it's only right that most of my covers seem to feature it. Her dress is just amazing, and while I'm not sure how it relates to the story itself, I'm definitely curious.

Awake at Dawn

By: C.C. Hunter

Publish Date: October 11, 2011

Reasons: The waterfall. Powerful and beautiful, it puts our dear heroine in a different perspective. Besides, now I want to find such waterfalls in Texas!

Half-Blood

By: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publish Date: October 18, 2011

Reasons: Simple elegance seems to be a theme for the Covenant series, and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing more lovely covers as more books are published.

Shattered Souls

By: Mary Lindsey

Publish Date: December 8, 2011

Reasons: I was very lucky to see the progression of covers for Mary's debut at both of her book signings. It was fortunate for readers that they chose to go with this cover having the girl, her dress fading into rose petals, and the white origami rose on the back cover. Breath-taking.

Touch of Power

By: Maria V. Snyder

Publish Date: December 20, 2011

Reasons: Despite the title, the cover shows a more gentle side and how we must take care when using abilities beyond the means of ordinary people. It offers a nice balance of strength and fragility, making it a very lovely image for the story.

Top Ten Tuesday (29): Top Ten Favorite Books I Read in 2011

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new  Top Ten list will be posted by one of the bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish. Everyone is welcome to join, just make sure to link back to The Broke and the Bookish on our own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so everyone can check out other blogger lists. Have fun!

Top Ten Favorite Books I Read in 2011

(In no particular order)

1. Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

An exciting story featuring a strong, female lead and werewolves. (Review)

2. Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

A perfect story to pair hot cocoa and holiday cookies with alongside a blanket. (Review)

3. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Just. Plain. Awesome. Story. That happens to involve Irish horses. (Review)

4. The Princess's Dragon by Susan Trombley

One amazing dragon story after having not read one in so very very long. (Review)

5. Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer

Learn the real story behind high school competitions (in choir). (Review)

6. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

A too funny, too thrilling story not to read and enjoy. (Review)

7. A Bride's Story Vol. 1 by Kaoru Mori

Family dynamics within a tribe after a rather unique arranged marriage. (Review)

8. Dear Bully edited by Megan Kelley Hall and Carries Jones

Powerful stories from some amazing and strong people. (Review)

9. Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

Time travel + romance + ghosts = Phenomenal paranormal read! (Review)

10. Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter

A great cavalcade of characters gathered at a summer camp for paranormals. (Review)

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Books on My TBR List for Winter

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, a state that you don't have to worry about being deprived of more books as long as you're near a library.  This week's Top Ten is:

Top Ten Books on My TBR List for Winter

(In no particular order)

1. How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper 

I'd been wanting to read this one for awhile, and with the coming of the cooler weather, it's time to do so at long last!

2. Nocturne by Syrie James
Same applies to this one as with my first book, and don't you just love that cover? So wintry white with a rose and blood on the snow that just stands out in stark contrast!

3. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
I think it's about time to finally read my boarding school book that I've had since...spring?

4. A Brush of Darkness by Allison Pang

This one will probably be first since it's In Transit to my library branch. And after the awesome power of The Scorpio Races, I'll need something like this for adult lit.

5. Awake at Dawn by C.C. Hunter

After Born at Midnight, I was really excited about this one being released this year, too. I wonder how Hunter will depict Texas winters...or if it takes place close to winter.

6. Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore

Showing more love for my Texas-born authors, especially with the book that takes place in my parents' current home area, the hill country!

7. Lost on Brier Island by JoAnn Yhard

You've got to have a seascape book to escape the "winter doldrums."

8. Ties to the Blood Moon by Robin P. Waldrop

A book based in Alaska during winter...yes, I will definitely need the blanket while reading this title, and looking forward to it, too!

9. The Avalon Chronicles: Volume 1 by Nunzio DeFilippis

I had to sneak in a graphic novel somewhere! 

10. Friendship Bread by Darien Gee

And how can you have a winter list of books without a baking book in there?  Bet you were expecting an actual baking cookbook, weren't you?  Well, there will be plenty of those, but you're not really reading them so much as following the recipes...or looking through the photos (like me). 

In My Mailbox (14)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, where bloggers post about all the books they have received whether in the mail, if we purchased it, or checked out from our local library.  ^_^ 

Trying to be good, and also spread a little book love, I held off on buying books for myself and instead sent out three books for October's RAK hosted by Book Soulmates.  November is my birthday month, so I received some books for my birthday and also treated myself a little thanks to coupons from Book Depository and Barnes & Noble as well as Books-A-Million and my beloved Half-Price Books.

Gifts:

Thud! by Terry Pratchett (Gift from Wildkin, my online friend from the UK, thank you, dearheart!)

The Night Circus (ARC) by Erin Morgenstern (Gift from Marla of Starting the Next Chapter)

Awesome book swag including an autographed bookmark for The Near Witch (Gift from Marla, thank you, hun!)

Bought:

Nocturne by Syrie James

Fool's Errand by Robin Hobb

Natsume's Book of Friends Vol. 8 by Yuki Midorikawa

Urban Shaman by C.E. Murphy

Dear Bully edited by Megan Kelley Hall & Carrie Jones (see my review here)

Awake at Dawn by C.C. Hunter

Hellboy Oddest Jobs by Mike Mignola

Elixir by Hilary Duff

Borrowed from the Library:

Amulet: The Cloud Searchers by Kazu Kibuishi

Wanted by Matsuri Hino

Black Bird Vol. 1 by Kanoko Sakurakouji

The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan

Whew, that's all for me this time! What did you get in your mailbox? ^_^

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Awake at Dawn by C.C. Hunter

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's "Waiting On" Wednesday selection is:

Awake at Dawn

By C.C. Hunter

Publish Date: October 11, 2011, by St. Martin's Griffin

From Goodreads.com~

Now that she's settled in at Shadow Falls Camp, Kylie Galen's determined to discover the extent of her supernatural abilities.  But with a ghost insisting someone Kylie loves is about to die, a rogue vampire on a murdering rampage, and her sixth sense telling her someone is watching her, Kylie's quest for answers is quickly put on hold.

To make matters worse, just when she's about to give her heart to Derek, a half-fairy, he starts pulling away.  When Lucas, a werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past, returns, Kylie feels more conflicted than ever.  Her weekend with her mom should have been the break Kylie needs, but it turns out to be her breaking point.  Someone from the dark side of the supernatural world has plans for Kylie--and it'll take all her resources to get back to Shadow Falls alive...

I'm so happy about Awake at Dawn being released soon, and just in time for Halloween!  Born at Midnight was a great introduction to Hunter's supernatural world and I enjoyed it thoroughly as seen by my review.  It will be interesting to see how much Kylie will learn within this next chapter of her story.  With all of these happenings though, I wonder just how much she'll be able to learn.  We'll just have to wait and see!  

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Books I Read Because of Another Blogger

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, a state that you don't have to worry about being deprived of more books as long as you're near a library.  This week's Top Ten is:

Top Ten Books I Read Because of Another Blogger

(In No Particular Order)

1. Abandon by Meg Cabot - Definitely have Karen over at Books Beside My Bed to thank for this recommendation.  And it's my first book by Meg Cabot, too!

2. Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier - Although I can't remember which blog it was that I first saw this one on, I have to thank so many other bloggers for making my inner Pandora curious.

3. Flawless by Lara Chapman - It was on an IMM at YA Litwit that first introduced me to this novel, and I'm so glad of it especially since the author's from my state. :)

4. Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter - I can't remember where I first saw this title, so I'll thank all the bloggers out there that have read and enjoyed this title from another Texan author. 

5. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White - So many bloggers were going on about this one, and I think Karen nudged me into reading it mostly because of Evie's sense of humor. 

6. Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer - Definitely credit this to Number One Novels, and I'm happy about reading it.  I should really loan it to my best friend from high school. 

7. Intertwined by Gena Showalter - This one was already on my radar simply because I adore Gena Showalter, but having read several great reviews helped push me into buying and reading it. 

8. Dust City by Robert Paul Weston - Actually, I found out about this one at Borders, and I just loved the cover.  I had to share it with some of my werewolf-loving bloggers, and the review at Lupines and Lunatics spurred me into reading it.

9. Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder - As before, I always credit this one to Karen shoving it in my hands and saying "Read it."  And I never get tired of telling that story because I wound up reading it in one night. 

10. The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter - Another title that I saw circling the blogsophere, and I'll be posting my review sometime this week.