My life list - Part 1

• Live in Paris for a summer
• Visit Castle Neuschwanstein in Germany
• Run 5 km
• Write a novel
• Take horseback riding lessons
• Have a job I love
• Get my PhD
• Live in a house with a tower
• Put scarves on trees to give away
• Learn to knit
• Sunset at the pyramids
• Walk the La Compostela de Santiago
• Make a perfect chocolate mousse

And one more

8. Knit Two by Kate Jacobs
Easy, fun read. Felt like a natural sequel, which seems rare these days. Liked hearing about what all the characters were doing. Happy ending a bit too perfect. 7/10

Already running behind...

3. The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt

Epic, magical, wonderful writing. Loved the grimmish fairy tales. Much easier read than Possession. Favourite so far, but I guess it's early going yet. 9/10

4. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
(Re-read) Touching but had trouble with black voices being written by white woman. Didn't seem authentic sometimes. Some parts of the character's didn't seem to mesh well. 7/10

5. Pirate by Ted Bell
The new Dirk Pitt. Not! More like a rogue-ish James Bond. 6/10

6. Peony in Love by Lisa See
Really getting into it until the main character became a ghost. I hate when that happens. Still pretty readable. 6.5/10

7. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
(Re-read) It's an amazing, almost-unbelievable story that's sweet, funny and sad. Every time I read this book I cry harder than the last time. I love trying to follow this unique boy's thoughts and ideas. Might be in my Top 10. 9.5/10

A Year of Books?

I decided I want to keep track of everything I read for a whole year. I know I read a lot, but I haven't kept track since the MS Reading Marathon in 5th grade. Being voracious and omnivorous reader, I'm also curious to see if there are any patterns in my reading habits.

I'd like to say I'm going to review all the books that I read, but I don't think that's going to happen. Maybe I'll try a rating system or a 10 word review or something short. So, to begin:

1. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
Unique, intriguing London graveyard ghost-love-twin story. 8/10 (confess grade not objective because of massive love for The Time Traveller's Wife)


2. Kanata by Don Gillmor 
Canadian history book in a novel, boring bits (maybe fault of history, not writer), semi-fictional main character best part. 6.5/10 (good writer, just not my cup of tea)