In My Mailbox (21)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren where bloggers post about the books they have received in the past week whether for review, purchased, or checked out from the library. ^_^

Won:

Awesome Prize Pack from Harlequin which included:

Spellbound by Cara Lynn Schulz

Crave by Melissa Darnell

The Juliet Spell by Douglas Rees

Majix: Notes from a Serious Teen Witch by Douglas Rees

Intertwined T-shirt

3 Iron Queen buttons

That's all for me this week. What did you get in your mailbox? Tell me in the comments!

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 Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Books Gathering Dust On My Bookshelf

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 Gathering Dust On My Bookshelf

(In no particular order)

1. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness - Ironically, this was the book on my first "Waiting on Wednesday" post. I really loved the exciting summary, but then I saw just how MASSIVE this book was. And it's book 1 in a trilogy! 

2. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins - I know, I know, so many people have read it already and it's just been on my shelf ever since Karen pointed it out at a Half-Price Books in Round Rock. I'm not sure why I haven't picked it up, maybe I'm just not ready for it. 

3. Wolfsangel by M.D. Lachlan - Another one from a "Waiting on Wednesday" post that I was excited about! I'm not quite sure why it's stayed on my bookshelf for so long. Perhaps it's because of being the first book in a trilogy. (Inside info on DJL: when it comes to trilogies I will sometimes wait until all 3 books are out before reading all three in one go. Why? Cliffhangers. Prime current example? Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier.)

4. Shine by Lauren Myracle - After hearing the whole fiasco involving her book "mistakenly" being nominated for the National Book Awards, I really should have read my copy. But the topic is one of those that I believe one has to be braced for, and right now, I'm still uncertain if I'm braced enough for it. 

5. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher - Same as above.

6. Tyger, Tyger by Kersten Hamilton - I think this one was due to my results of the hunt. After reading an awesome review over this one, I was on a serious hunt for it. It took me awhile to find it, but find it I did! And now...it's just staring at me from my TBR shelf...waiting.

7. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa - This one, I might have an idea of why I've held off. I fear it might not live up to what everyone else has really built up about it. I know so many people who have enjoyed it and several that have not...so I procrastinate.

8. Unraveled by Gena Showalter - I'm a bit confuzzled by this hesitance. Perhaps I'm concerned by the summary of Twisted, which makes me want to have it on hand before I take on the second book in the Intertwined series.

9. Little Women and Werewolves by Porter Grand, Louisa May Alcott - I really loved Little Women, and while I do enjoy parodies, I'm a little scared to see what Grand has done to change one of my favorite classics.

10. How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper - It's just not the right season for this book! Come December, it is going to be read and I will do so huddled under a blanket because it will finally be cold enough for me.

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Books I Feel As Though Everyone Has Read But Me

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 Feel As Though Everyone Has Read But Me

(Yes, I am a sucker for YA Lit.)

1. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins - With the third book in the series being released next year, I'm kind of behind with this one.  I've seen it reviewed on many blogs and then in a lot of the Half-Price Books stores, so it's really just a matter of sitting down and reading it.  

2. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa - This one is huge among the blogosphere, and even some of the newest bloggers are digging into this one.  I haven't read too many books featuring fae as the main (if only) supernatural being, but I have hopes for this one being a good introduction.  

3. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher - I really want to read this one simply because I want to hear Clay and Hannah's stories.  In reading the reviews from many of my fellow bloggers, it's one of those books you have to be in the right frame of mind to read.

4. Wings by Aprilynne Pike - I guess this one kind of goes with The Iron King in that so many have read it, yet I've pushed it back.  I actually have it in ebook format and haven't been using my Kobo too much lately, which I'll probably change soon. 

5. Waterfall by Lisa Tawn Bergren - I also have this one in ebook format and not reading on my Kobo has probably stalled me on reading a few popular ebooks.

6. Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs - Since I'm getting into my Greek mythology groove again, I plan on remedying the fact that I haven't read this one or it's sequel, Goddess Boot Camp, yet.  The Austin Teen Book Festival's going to be a huge help in that regard. 

7. The Darkest Powers Trilogy by Kelley Armstrong - For the longest time, I thought Armstrong only wrote adult paranormal fantasy books.  Now that I've found this trilogy, it seems as though people have either read it already or are snatching the books up.

8. Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson - So far I've only read Speak by Anderson, so I'd like to see how she does humor in her books with this title.  

9. Shine by Lauren Myracle - This one kind of goes in the same vein as Thirteen Reasons Why, but I know I want to read it, and I definitely will. 

10. Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs - Maybe I've head off on this one because I haven't gotten into mermaid literature.  That's not to say the story doesn't intrigue me... it just intrigued a lot of other readers before. 

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Books I Want to Read Before 2012

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 Want to Read Before 2012

(In No Particular Order)

 

1. Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

(This one will definitely be coming up soon on the TBR shelf since a fellow blogger's been nudging me to read it. ^_^)

 

2. Supernaturally by Kiersten White

(This one is sure to be exciting and will hopefully lead to a smashing conclusion in Endlessly.)

 

 

3. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

(It's such a great book from what I've read in the way of reviews, but it's just so long!)

 

4. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

(Although I like the US cover, I'm absolutely in love with the UK cover.)

 

5. Fateful by Claudia Gray

(This one's coming out soon, and I'm so looking forward to werewolves on the Titanic!)

 

6. The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

(More updated revamps of Greek mythology please!)

 

7. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

(I'm eager yet also a wee bit nervous since I've a feeling I'll be weepy while reading this one.)

 

8. Friendship Bread by Darien Gee

(This sounds like such a cute book, and I'm sure it'll put me in the mood to bake.)

 

9. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

(This one has me very curious about the fae, and we just got the trilogy at the library.) 

 

10. Chasing the Moon by A. Lee Martinez

(Because every booklist needs a little apocalypse threat humor.)