11K in 2011 - A final tally

Let me add the final 2 books to the list.

The Back of the Book:
For twelve years, the dread fortress of Azkaban held an infamous prisoner named Sirius Black.  Convicted of killing thirteen people with a single curse, he was said to be the heir apparent to the Dark Lord, Voldemort.  Now he has escaped, leaving only two clues as to where he might be headed: Harry Potter's defeat of You-Know-Who was Black's downfall as well.  And the Azkaban guards heard Black muttering in his sleep, "He's at Hogwarts... he's at Hogwarts."  Harry Potter isn't safe, not even within the walls of his magical school, surrounded by his friends.  Because on top of it all, there may well be a traitor in their midst.


The Bibliography:
Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.  New York, New York: Scholastic, Inc, 1999.


You can find it here.  Or at your local public library.  Support the libraries!!!!!


Total Pages: 435
Total Pages in 2011: 10,923
Total Pages Remaining: 77!!!


And the final book of 2011-

The Back of the Book: 
(Actually, it's the description from Amazon... The book cover is upstairs.)

For One More Day is the story of a mother and a son, and a relationship that covers a lifetime and beyond. It explores the question: What would you do if you could spend one more day with a lost loved one?  As a child, Charley "Chick" Benetto was told by his father, "You can be a mama's boy or a daddy's boy, but you can't be both." So he chooses his father, only to see the man disappear when Charley is on the verge of adolescence.  Decades later, Charley is a broken man. His life has been crumbled by alcohol and regret. He loses his job. He leaves his family. He hits bottom after discovering his only daughter has shut him out of her wedding. And he decides to take his own life.  He makes a midnight ride to his small hometown, with plans to do himself in. But upon failing even to do that, he staggers back to his old house, only to make an astonishing discovery. His mother--who died eight years earlier–-is still living there, and welcomes him home as if nothing ever happened.  What follows is the one "ordinary" day so many of us yearn for, a chance to make good with a lost parent, to explain the family secrets, and to seek forgiveness. Somewhere between this life and the next, Charley learns the astonishing things he never knew about his mother and her sacrifices. And he tries, with her tender guidance, to put the crumbled pieces of his life back together.

Albom, Mitch.  For One More Day.  New York, New York: Hyperion, 2006.


You can find it here.  Or at your local public library.  Support the libraries!!!!


Total Pages: 197
Total Pages for 2011 FINAL TALLY: 11,120


Goal accomplished?  Hells ya.  HELLS ya.  Sure, I re-read some of my favorites, but I read those over and over all the time, so it wasn't like it was out of the norm.  And you know what?  This total doesn't count the numerous blogs and online articles I've read.  Nor does it count the pages from the 2 books I started but never finished, nor the pages from the endless resource books I've buried myself with, looking for answers to endless pregnancy and baby questions.  I only counted the books I actually finished.  


And next year, I plan to do it all over again.  Happy New Years, everyone.

11K in 2011 - Harry Potter

I WILL hit my goal of 11,000 pages by the end of this year!  I may have just over a week, but it's GOING to happen!!!!

The back of the Book:

Harry Potter has never been the star of a Quidditch team, scoring points while riding a broom far above the ground.  He knows no spells, has never helped to hatch a dragon, and has never worn a cloak of invisibility.  All he knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley- a great big swollen spoiled bully.  Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years.  But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that Harry- and anyone who reads about him- will find unforgettable.  For it's there that he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic in everything, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him... if Harry can survive the encounter.

The Bibliography:

Rowling, J. K.  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.  New York, New York: Scholastic Press, 1997.

You can find it here, or at your public library.  Support the libraries!!!

Total Pages: 309

Total Pages read in 2011: 10,147

Total Pages Remaining: 853

The Back of the Book:
The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry.  But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.  And strike it does.  For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls' bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny. But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone- or something- starts turning Hogwarts students to stone.  Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever?  Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told?  Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects... Harry Potter himself!


The Bibliography:
Rowling, J. K.  Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.  New York, New York: Scholastic Press, 1999.


You can find it here, or at your local library.  Support the libraries!!!!!


Total Pages: 341
Total Pages for 2011: 10,488
Total Pages Remaining: 512  or 52 pages per day.  I can do this!!!!

11K in 2011 - Destined

SPOILER ALERT!!!

This book is the next book in the House of Night Series.  The back of the book gives away what has happened in previous books.

The Back of the Book:

"Zoey is finally home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side and preparing to face off against Neferet - which would be a whole lot easier if the High Council saw the ex-High Priestess for what she really is.  Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx's gift of a human form, Rephaim and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together - if he can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father's shadow.

But there are new forces at work at the House of Night.  An influx of humans, including Lenobia's handsome horse whisperer, threatens their precarious stability.  And then there's the mysterious Aurox, a jaw-droppingly gorgeous teen boy who is actually more- or possibly less- than human.  Only Neferet knows he was created to be her greatest weapon.  But Zoey can sense the part of his sould that remains human, the compassion that wars with his Dark calling.  And there's something strangely familiar about him...

Will Neferet's true nature be revealed before she succeeds at extinguishing Light? And will Zoey be able to touch Aurox's humanity in time to protect them all?  Find out what's Destined in the next thrilling chapter of the House of Night series."

The bibliography:
Cast, P. C. and Kristin.  Destined.  New York, New York: St Martins Press, 2011.


Total Pages: 325
Total read in 2011: 9,838
Total pages remaining: 1,162 or 59 pages per day

11K in 2011 - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Ok, so the rules never once mentioned not reading your favorite books over, right?


I've read this one a hundred times.  I should consider reading the others again, though.  They were pretty fascinating in themselves.


Rowling, J. K.  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  New York, New York: Scholastic, Inc, 2007.


We all know this book, so I'm not including the description.  It's also upstairs in my bookcase and I'm too lazy to go retrieve it.


Total pages: 759
Total pages for 2011: 9,513
Pages remaining: 1,487


23 days remaining, so that's what... 65 pages per day?  Oh boy... Wish me luck.  Wish a baby, it's difficult!

11K in 2011 - An update

OF COURSE I haven't stopped reading!  haha.  My infant only sleeps on my chest during the day, and honestly doesn't sleep much at night any more.  I've done quite a bit of reading lately, actually.  Nothing too interesting, though.  So here's just an update instead of a 1 by 1 post.


Your Pregnancy week by week - 6th edition.


Curtis, Glad B and Judith Schuler.  Your Pregnancy week by week.  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Da Capo Press, 2008.


I'm counting this book twice because I read most of it twice, and I've also read lots from other informational books that I'm not counting, so I know that I'm probably low-balling my page estimate this way.


600 pages- read twice = 1200!


Where the Heart Is.


Letts, Billie.  Where the Heart Is.  New York, New York: Warner Books, 1995.


Read on my Kindle!!!!


384 pages according to Amazon.com


Twilight


(Yes.  I love the series.  I re-read all of them, as is my custom for any movie release.  PS- I loved the movie.  Much much better than the others!)


Meyer, Stephenie.  Twilight.  New York, New York: Hachette Book Group, 2005.


498 pages


New Moon.


Meyer, Stephenie.  New Moon.  New York, New York: Hachette Book Group, 2006.


563 pages.


Eclipse.


Meyer, Stephenie.  Eclipse.  New York, New York: Hachette Book Group, 2007.


629 pages.


Breaking Dawn.


Meyer, Stephenie.  Breaking Dawn.  New York, New York: Hachette Book Group, 2008.


754 pages.


I've also read countless Dr Seuss books, Berenstein Bears books, and various other children's stories.  I'm conservatively estimating 250 pages.  This is definitely a low estimate, only because you know how many words are on those pages- not as many as the other books I've read!


Grand total- 1200 + 384 + 498 + 563 + 629 + 754 +250 = 4,278.


Total pages read in 2011: 8,754
Pages remaining: 2,246


Holy WOW!  I think I caught up quite a bit!!!  I still have a lot to read in December, but I think it's manageable at this point.  Earlier in the year I would have sworn I could never catch up.  Looks like I've done a pretty good job!!!


36 more days left.  So if I can read 63 pages a day, I can make my goal!!!

11k in 2011- Song of the Lioness Quartet

I'm getting desperate for pages.  I'm SO FAR BEHIND!!!  So I'm cheating abusing the system a little bit.  But they are still legit pages, people!


I have read this quartet probably a thousand times.  It's definitely a good set of books for any young girl to read who is coming of age.  It breaks stereotypes.  The author is fantastic at building a whole world and all the characters in it.  I can actually picture most of them as if they were real and alive.  She's wonderful.  And she has several quartets out there (and sequels, and prequels...).  I still have a few of hers I've never read before, so maybe I'll get on that too!


So I won't give you the whole "back of the book" for all 4, because it would give away the whole story!  But here's the details on the 1st book- "Alanna The First Adventure"

The Back of the Book:

"Alanna of Trebond is no ordinary girl- her dream is to become a knight.  So she disguises herself as a boy and begins training at the palace of King Roald.  Alanna quickly finds out that the road to knighthood is not an easy one, but her skills and stubbornness help her become friends with Prince Jonathan and his followers.  At the same time, Alanna makes an enemy of the prince's uncle, the overly charming Duke Roger.

Here begins Alanna's first adventure- one that will lead not only to the fulfillment of her dreams but to a magical destiny that will make her a legend."

(I'm going to add that I don't like most of the back of this book.  Way more cheesy than the book, I promise!)

The Bibliography

Pierce, Tamora.  Alanna The First Adventure.  New York, New York: Random House, Inc, 1983.

Book two's bibliography

Pierce, Tamora.  In The Hand of the Goddess.  New York, New York: Random House, Inc, 1984.

Book three's bibliography

Pierce, Tamora.  The Woman Who Rides Like a Man.  New York, New York: Random House, Inc, 1986.

Book four's bibliography

Pierce, Tamora.  Lioness Rampant.  New York, New York: Random House, Inc, 1988.

You can purchase the box set here, or find it at your local library (support the libraries!!) - also, it might be cheaper to find them sold seperately.  $266 for 4 books?  holy wow!!!  I'm pretty sure my set was a gift years ago... probably for way less.

Book 1 pages: 216

Book 2 pages: 209

Book 3 pages: 228

Book 4 pages: 308

Total pages: 961

Total pages read in 2011: 4,476

Total pages remaining: 6,524

Up next- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (again- but the first time this year!) (yes, I'm very desperate.  But look- I'm just over a 1000 pages away from the half way mark.  In July!)

11k in 2011- The Lost Symbol

While I enjoyed the writing style and overall story of the first two more than this one, I really loved the villain!  He was... very well written.  I also must add that after reading this book I think I can now actually read the Bible and probably take something away from it with an open mind- something I've yet to accomplish.  It may be a fictional story, but the message is a good one.

The Back of the Book:
"In this stunning follow-up to the global phenomenon The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown demonstrates once again why he i the world's most popular thriller writer.


The Lost Symbol is a masterstroke of story-telling that finds famed symbologist Robert Langdon in a deadly race through a real-world labyrinth of codes, secrets, and unseen truths... all under the watchful eye of Brown's most terrifying villain to date.  Set within the hidden chambers, tunnels, and temples of Washington, D.C., The Lost Symbol is an intelligent, lightning-paced story with surprises at every turn.  This is Dan Brown's most exciting novel yet."


The bibliography:
Brown, Dan.  The Lost Symbol.  New York, New York: Anchor House, 2010.


You can find it here or at your local public library (where I bought my used copy).  Support the libraries!


Total Pages: 639
Total pages read in 2011: 3,515
Total pages remaining: 7,485

11K in 2011- Secrets of the Baby Whisperer

To be very honest, this is the type of book I normally laugh at.  I wonder why people buy such things and really think that parents who read this type of book are probably desperate for help or crazy.


I was given this book from someone at work.  I read the back and the cover and laughed thinking it was some joke, like all those self help books that really don't get you anywhere.  But then I started reading it, and holy Wow it's awesome.  It makes sense.  It's really not even that challenging.  It's flexible.  It doesn't say you should breastfeed.  It doesn't say you should bottle feed.  It doesn't say you HAVE to do anything, except... getting your baby into a routine.  I highly suggest any parent or parent to be read this book.  It's really that good.  It's not telling you what to do, honestly.  It's just a nice little common sense instruction manual on how to get on the right track for YOU.


Without further ado, here is: 

The Back of the Book:


When Tracy Hogg's Secrets of the Baby Whisperer was first published, it soared onto bestseller lists across the country.  Parents everywhere became "whisperers" to their newborns, amazed that they could actually communicate with their baby within weeks of their child's birth.  Tracy gave parents what for some amounted to a miracle: the ability to understand their baby's every coo and cry so that they could tell immediately if the baby was hungry, tired, in real distress, or just in need of a little TLC.  Tracy also dispelled the insidious myth that parents must go sleepless for the first year of a baby's life- because a happy baby sleeps through the night.  Now you too can benefit from Tracy's more than twenty years' experience.  In this groundbreaking book, she shares simple, accessible programs in which you will learn

• E.A.S.Y.- how to get your baby to eat, play, and sleep on a schedule that will make every member of the household's life easier and happier.
• S.L.O.W.- how to interpret what your baby is trying to tell you (so you don't try to feed him when he really wants a nap).
• How to identify which type of baby yours is- Angel, Textbook, Touchy, Spirited, or Grumpy- and then learn the best way to interact with that type.
• Tracy's Three-day Magic- how to change any and all bad habits (yours and the baby's) in just three days

At the heart of Tracy's simple but profound message: treat the baby as you would like to be treated yourself.  Reassuring, down-to-earth, and oten flying in the face of conventional wisom, Secrets of the Baby Whisperer promises parents not only a healthier, happier baby but a more relaxed and happy household as well.

The Bibliography

Hoggs, Tracy with M Blau. Secrets of the Baby Whisperer.  New York, New York: The Ballantine Publishing Group, 2001.

You can find it here or at your local public library (support the libraries!).

Total pages: 276

Total pages read in 2011: 2,876

Total pages remaining: 8,124

11K in 2011- Angels and Demons

I read The Da Vinci Code a while back, and I loved it.  Barely put it down.  With that being said, when our library had their annual book sale, and had both Angels and Demons AND The Lost Symbol, I pounced.  I just hadn't had a chance to read them until now.


If you liked The Da Vinci Code, you'll like Angels and Demons.  It's very similar in the character set up, how the plot develops, the suspense, and even how shocking the ending is.  Usually, I feel that once you've read one book by an author, you can GENERALLY figure out the ending before it happens in any other books.  Not quite this time around, which was very pleasing.


Ok, enough of my opinion, because I'm certainly not an expert.  Here you go.

The Back of the Book:


"World-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist.  What he discovers is unimaginable: a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by a centuries-old underground organization- the Illuminati.  Desperate to save the Vatican from a powerful time bomb, Langdon joins forces in Rome with the beautiful and mysterious scientist Vittoria Vetra.  Together they embark on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and the most secretive vault on earth... the long-forgotten Illuminati lair."


The Bibliography:


Brown, Dan. Angels & Demons. New York, New York: Pocket Books, 2000.


You can find the book here, or at your public library (support the libraries!).


Total pages: 569


Total pages read in 2011: 2,600


Total pages remaining: 8,400


(I would also like to note that I am in the middle of a few other books as well.  2 are baby books and probably boring to you, but one is not.  It's just not easy to get through.  I might not finish it, but the pages STILL COUNT!)

11K in 2011- An Echo in the Bone

This massive book was rather disappointing to me, and if the author happens to read this, you really upset me.  It is the 7th installment in what my colleagues and I have nicknamed "The Jamie Books".  The series starts with Outlander, and continues with A Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager (my favorite), The Drums of Autumn, The Fiery Cross, A Breathe of Snow and Ashes, and finally this one.  If you love history and romance, and wild amazing plots, and terrifically rendered characters, you should pick up Outlander.  If you already have, you've already read this book and can ignore my ramblings.


And not that I was disappointed in the story per se.  It just seemed that it started with no real direction, too many plots to keep up with, and way too many details that could have been left out.  The second half really picked up, but then I guess she felt she had to stop writing after 820 pages so, she did.  In the thickest part of the plot when everything was FINALLY coming together and really had you on the edge of your seat.  I really hate it when my favorite authors do this.  I was going to buy and read the next book anyways.  You could have at least rewarded me with ending the story.  I DID read 820 pages, after all!


Anyways, without further ado:

The back of the book:

IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE FIRST 6, THIS MAY BE A SPOILER ALERT!  I WILL INCLUDE THE BACK OF THE BOOK FOR THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES AT THE BOTTOM.  SKIP TO THE NEXT BIG BOLD SECTION TO AVOID ANY SPOILERS (OR CONFUSION).

"Jamie Fraser, former Jacobite and reluctant rebel, is already certain of three things about the American rebellion: The Americans will win, fighting on the side of victory is no guarantee of survival, and he'd rather die than have to face his illegitimate son- a young lieutenant in the British army- across the barrel of a gun.

Claire Randall knows that the Americans will win too, but not what the ultimate price may be.  That price won't include Jamie's life or his happiness, though- not if she has anything to say about it.

Meanwhile, in the relative safety of the twentieth century, Jamie and Claire's daughter, Brianna, and her husband, Roger MacKenzie, have resettled in a historic Scottish home where, across a chasm of two centuries, the unfolding drama of Brianna's parents' story comes to life through Claire's letters.  The fragile pages reveal Claire's love for battle-scarred Jamie Fraser and their flight from North Carolina to the high seas, where they encounter privateers and ocean battles- as Brianna and Roger search for clues not only to Claire's fate but to their own.  Because the future of the MacKenzie family in the Highlands is mysteriously, irrevocably, and intimately entwined with life and death in war-torn colonial America.

With stunning cameos of historical characters from Benedict Arnold to Benjamin Franklin, An Echo in the Bone is a soaring masterpiece of imagination, insight, character, and adventure- a novel that echoes in the mind long after the last page is turned."

I would like to add that I disagree with this "Back of the Book"- it really doesn't paint the picture well at all.  If I had written it, I would not have mentioned Claire and Jamie's "flight" as they call it.  I would more or less word it as their journey, and not on the seas, because they spend very little time on the boat.  They also don't mention William (Jamie's illegitimate son) enough- he has a huge role in the story (along with Jamie's nephew Ian).  And Brianna and Roger's fate is certainly not as connected with the past in this book as it lets on.  It will be in the next book, however (shutting up now).

The Bibliography:

Gabaldon, Diana.  An Echo in the Bone.  New York, New York: Delacorte Press, 2009.

You can find the book here or at your public library (support the libraries!).

Total Pages: 820

Total pages read in 2011- 386

Total pages for 2011- 2,031

Total pages remaining- 8,969

END OF ALL SPOILERS- YOU MAY START READING AGAIN!

The Back of the Book (Outlander, book 1 of the series):

"The year is 1945.  Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon- when she innocently touches a boulder in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles.  Suddenly she is a Sassenach- an "outlander"- in Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of Our Lord... 1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life... and shatter her heart.  For here James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire... and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives."

I would like to add that the author has done some extensive research.  While this is obviously a work of fiction, the history is legitimate.  Even the clans.  Don't let the fantasy portions of time travel push you away.  It is extremely well done, with lots of history, great characters, and an amazing plot that continues to thrive 7 books into the series.  You'll understand why we call them "the Jamie books" very quickly.  And Claire is what every woman really wants to be.  I swear.

The Bibliography:

Gabaldon, Diana.  Outlander.  New York, New York: Dell, 1991.

11k in 2011- Rockabye

I love this author.  I read her blog, which is quite amazing.  I've been meaning to read this for quite a while, and after finishing it, I think every mother or mother-to-be should read it.

The back of the book:

"Rockabye is Rebecca Woolf's heartfelt and often hilarious account of what happens when an irrepressible young city girl gets pregnant by accident and decides to keep the baby and marry the boyfriend.  Forced to come of age almost overnight, Woolf charts her transformation from odd-job doing, commitment-phobic, chain-smoking party girl to wife and mother, trying to adapt to and at the same time rebel against the stereotypes and responsibilities of modern motherhood.  Woolf never relinquishes the qualities of her free-spirited, pre-baby self as she clanneges herself to grow up without outgrowing her dreams while embracing motherhood in a style wholly her own."

The bibliography:


Woolf, Rebecca.  Rockabye.  Berkeley, CA: Seal Press, 2008.


You can find the book here, or at your public library (support the libraries!).


Total pages: 283


Total pages for 2011: 1,645


Remaining pages to read:  9,355

11k in 2011- Alex and Me

I loved this book- it touched my personal interest yet was also very much an intelligent, scientific book.  It was very interesting, and as a former bird owner, very touching.  And the best part?


The author is coming to the downtown library tomorrow!  She'll sign books and answer questions (of which I have absolutely none...) and the zoo is going to provide some parrots to see!  I can't wait.


I'm still very very behind on my reading challenge.  But I'm catching up!  Yay

The back of the book:


"'You be good.  I love you.' were Alex's final words to his owner, research scientist Irene Pepperberg, before his premature death at age thirty-one on September 6, 2007.  An African Grey parrot, Alex had a brain the size of a shelled walnut, yet he could add, sound out words, understand concepts like bigger, smaller, more, fewer, and none, and he disproved the widely accepted idea that birds possess no potential for language or anything remotely comparable to human intelligence.  Alex and Me is the remarkable true account of an amazing, irascible parrot and his best friend who stayed together through thick and thin for thirty years- the astonishing, moving, and unforgettable story of a landmark scientific achievement and a beautiful relationship."


The Bibliography:


Pepperberg, Irene M.  Alex and Me.  New York: Harper-Collins Publishers, 2009.


You can find the book here, or at your local library (support the libraries!).


Total Pages: 226


Total Pages for 2011: 1,362


Remaining pages to read: 9,638

Marley and Me

Why did it take me so long to finish this?

Oh, because I got to the end where he's old and dying and I didn't want to finish it... That's right.

*sigh* I'm now behind on my 11,000 page challenge.  I'll catch up though.

The back of the book:

"The heartwarming and unforgettable story of a family in the making and the wondrously neurotic dog who taught them what really matters in life."



The bibliography:


Grogan, John.  Marley and Me.  HarperCollins Publishers, 2005.


You can find it here or at your local library (support the libraries!)


Total pages for this book:  289
Total pages for the year: 1136
Remaining pages to read: 9,864

Awakened: House of Night Book 8

This was just recently published.  Being the fan that I am of the House of Night story line I obviously rushed out to buy it.

I have read all 7 books previous to this.  Most within the same week.  I won't lie, the writing isn't the best at times, but the story!  It's a guilty pleasure of mine.  My literature friends would probably skin me for reading stuff like this, but of all the books I've read lately, I was more absorbed in this one than any of the classics.  Hands down.


The back of the book:


"Exonerated by the Vampyre High Council and returned to her position of High Priestess at Tulsa's House of Night, Neferet has sworn vengeance on Zoey.  Dominion over Kalona is only one of the weapons she plans to use against Z.  But Zoey has found sanctuary on the Isle of Skye and is being groomed by Queen Sgiach to take over for her there.  Being queen would be cool, wouldn't it?  Why should she return to Tulsa?  After losing her human consort, Heath, she will never be the same- and her relationship with her super-hot warrior, Stark, may never be the same either.


And what about Stevie Rae and Rephaim?  The Raven Mocker refuses to be used against Stevie Rae, but what choice does he have when no one in the entire world, including Zoey, would be okay with their relationship?  Does he betray his father or his heart?


In the pulse-pounding eighth book in the bestselling House of Night series, how far will the bonds of friendship stretch and how strong are the ties that bind one girl's heart?"


The bibliography:


Cast, Kristin and P. C. Cast.  Awakened.  New York: St Martin's Press, 2010


You can find it here for a lot cheaper than I paid for it, or visit your local library (support the libraries!)


Total pages for this book: 290


Plus unrelated textbook pages: 45


Total pages for 2011 so far: 686
Remaining pages: 10,314

So I have no menu today.  I don't know what we're eating this week, because quite frankly, once you freezer cook you don't really look at the menu so much.  I know tonight is leftovers of Benihana's (sans Benihana.  It was delicious).  I think I have maple chicken on the menu, and I know there are shredded chicken sandwiches and tacos.  Other than that?  Who knows!  So I'm not posting a menu this week.

But today!  Today I start classes, officially.  Yeah, I already watched the intro and did the first 4 tasks for my one class that starts today.  But I'm sure he'll post a lecture soon and then I'll have homework, and maybe I should consider checking to see if I have school supplies?  Because I haven't yet.  I have the book, though.  And 2 chapters to read this week.

At least I can count the textbook reading assignments towards my 11k for 2011, right?

Wish me luck!  I just might need it.

Atonement

I decided to start the 11k challenge for 2011 with this:

It was a Christmas present from my mom.  One that I had asked for.

The back of the book:


"Ian McEwan's symphonic novel of love and war, childhood and class, guilt and forgiveness combines all the satisfaction of a superb narrative with the provocation we have come to expect from this master of English prose.


On a summer day in 1935, thirteen-year-old Briony Tallis witnesses the flirtation between her older sister, Cecilia, and Robbie Turner, the son of a servant.  But Briony's incomplete grasp of adult motives and her precocious imagination bring about a crime that will change all their lives, a crime whose repercussions Atonement follows through the chaos and carnage of World War II and into the close of the twentieth century"


The bibliography:


McWean, Ian.  Atonement.  New York: Anchor Books, 2003.


You can find it here or at your local library (support the libraries!)


Total pages for this book:  351

Total pages for the year: 351
Remaining pages to read: 10,649

A Challenge!

I just accepted a challenge to read 11,000 pages this year.  


That's 11 bajilion thousand million pages!!!!!  I don't know if I can do this, but as a student in a MLIS program, I think I'm up for it.


I'll blog my progress.  Promise.  And maybe a picture or two.


Let's see how I do, shall we?  Any interesting reads on your list?  I have a hefty few on my list.  Atonement will be the first.  I just finished The Five People You Meet in Heaven.  Seriously, you should read it.