January 6 | Currently Reading

Ugh. Today is my first day back at work after having two weeks off with my kids. Now they are back at school, and it's back to the grind. RESPONSIBILITIES. I hates 'em.

Last week I finished reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix which was awesome as always. I also read Fortune's Pawn by Rachel Bach and YAY! It was awesome, too.

I've started reading Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince which I've already torn halfway through. I also started reading I Am Malala last night which made me stay up way too late. This is going to be a great read.

This week my kids and I read/are currently reading:

Bunnicula was one of my childhood favorites. I loved sharing it with my boys.

I'd love to hear what you are reading this week. Let me know in the comments or leave me a link!

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This post is being shared as part of Book Journey's It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Teach Mentor Text's It's Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA.

Reading Resolutions | 2014

Happy New Year! Each year on the blog I set my reading goals for the year. Last year my plan was to have no plan (aka to read what I wanted when I wanted). I'm a big fan of no pressure reading so I will continue that plan this year as well, but I do have a few hopes for this year.

Non-fiction

I love reading non-fiction, and I don't read nearly enough of it. I was beating myself up last year until I looked at my stats and realized I had read 9 non-fiction books. This year my goal is to diversify the types of non-fiction books I read and hopefully even read a little more than last year.

New Releases

I hope to read more new releases this year. I'm actually on the fence about this goal because I don't want to get sucked into only reviewing the new things, but I'd like to see more current year books end up on my favorites list at the end of the year.

Horror

I need more horror in my life - be it new horror, old horror, I don't care. If you read any outstanding new horror at any time this year, please send me a recommendation via comment, email, twitter, goodreads, whatever.

Children's Books

I'm awful at tracking the books I read with my kids. I want to do much better this year.

50 Books

As always, my Goodreads Challenge is set to 50 books. I hope to smash that goal, but as long as I'm reading roughly a book a week, I'm accomplishing what I want to accomplish.

Blogging

As for the blog, I'll continue posting as inconsistently as ever.  I hope to continue only doing what I love to do. I'd like to find my blogging voice in a way I haven't in the past, and I hope to spend 2014 discussing good books with good people.

Do you have any reading or blogging goals set for the year?

December 30 | Currently Reading

It's almost the new year! I hope those of you who celebrate Christmas had a fantastic week last week. My tree is still up. This is a record for me. I never make it to the new year. I start itching to get everything put away on Christmas day. Terrible, I know.

I haven't been posting much since I'm still in my big Harry Potter reread. These books are so huge. I'm currently in the middle of book 5 - The Order of the Phoenix. Once the new year starts I may have to break for some of the awesome new releases. January is always a huge month for book releases.

I did take a quick break for Neil Gaiman's Fortunately the Milk when my library got a copy. I couldn't resist. It was cute. I think my kids will love it.

Did you meet your goals for the year? Are you trying to squeeze in any last minute books this week? Be sure to let me know what you are reading this week in the comments or leave me a link!

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This post is being shared as part of Book Journey's It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

My Favorite Books Read in 2013

Where did 2013 go?! It was an awesome, albeit stressful, year for me. With a new baby and a new home, it's all a bit of a blur, but I did read quite a few awesome books this year. Most of them were not published this year, but that's how it goes.

In no particular order:



The Time Machine by H.G. Wells (Review)

This book surprised me, and I still think about it all the time. It's a great mix of science fiction and horror. If you've been passing it by, consider giving it a read.



Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch (Goodreads)

This is the second book in the Locke Lamora trilogy. I love when a series only gets better.



Charlotte's Web by E.B. White (Goodreads)

THIS BOOK. This book is now forever in my favorites of all time. READ THIS BOOK.



NOS4A2 by Joe Hill (Goodreads)

My FAVORITE book of the year. I was seriously blown away. If you need something epic to read... NOS4A2.



The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente (Review)

This first Fairyland book was a beautiful and imaginative read. If you love books like A Wrinkle in Time, I highly recommend this book.



The Spark: A Mother's Story of Nurturing Genius by Kristine Barnett (Goodreads)

The Spark was my favorite non-fiction read of the year. I judged the hell out of the mother the whole way through, but I was so captivated. I could not tear myself away from the pages.



Dreams and Shadows by C. Robert Cargill (Review)

Dreams and Shadows was another surprise read for me. It was a really great dark urban fantasy. As soon as I'm done with this Harry Potter reread, I'm diving into the sequel to this gem.

Thank you so much for spending another year with me. I appreciate each and every person who takes the time to read my blog. I hope 2013 was an awesome year for you, and I hope you will join me in 2014.

Currently Reading | December 9

Greetings and salutations!

It has been a while since I have posted an update. I've been partly on hiatus, partly slumping, and mostly crazy busy. I don't have much to report, but I was in the mood to say hello.

I hope those of you with snow are enjoying yourselves and staying safe and warm.

Since my last update post I've only managed to finish Anna Dressed in Blood and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

Pretty sad, I know. I'm currently in the middle of Chamber of Secrets. I may just read Harry Potter through the holidays and get back to ALL TEH BOOKS after the new year. It's wonderful to revisit Harry Potter, and I could really do with some stress free reading.

Are you in the middle of reading anything fantastic? Be sure to let me know what you are reading in the comments or leave me a link.

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This post is being shared as part of Book Journey's It's Monday! What Are You Reading?