Books I Read in 2012! Hits and Misses!

Hello All!

I didn't read a huge amount of books in 2012, or 2011... 2010... anyways.. haha I started reading more in 2012 because I finally finished up with my post secondary education and I have a lot more free time to read for fun! I always had the hardest time reading books when I was in school because I would feel like I should have been reading my textbooks instead... which I also didn't read, but thats beside the point! I have since then developed a love for reading!

Here are the books I read in 2012 and My thoughts on them!:

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

I will clump together the whole Hunger Game Series in this blurb!

I absolutely loved these books! To me it is one of those series that I couldn't put down. I got so attached to the characters that I just had to know what was going to happen next. It's a great length, I almost wish it was longer because I didn't want the series to end! I read one after another with no breaks. Of the three I would have to say the first book was my favourite, although I loved the other two. I would stay up until 3am just reading them! I would for sure recommend these books! They have drama, romance, suspense and such an interesting story line! LOVED LOVED LOVED!

Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins 

Mocking Jay - Suzanne Collins 

50 Shades of Grey - E. L. James

Okay... so I read this book because there was such a HUGE following. Everyone I knew and their mothers were reading this book/series. So I had to read it, because I am a bandwagoner and love to check out books that seem to catch everyones interest. I was excited to read the book. Unfortunately.. I was extremely disappointed. I found the story to be more disturbing than sexy, not to mention it was poorly written. I would have to force myself to keep reading when all I wanted to do was put it back on the bookshelf and walk away from it! What makes me the most concerned is how many people love this book.. it my opinion it is just giving young girls/women a bad idea of what a healthy relationship is. Not to judge people who do engage in these kinds of sexual activities, you know, whatever floats your boat, but I just don't agree with the way it is being promoted. Not my cup of tea! I did purchase the whole series.. maybe I will get around to reading the rest of the books someday.. but I wouldn't hold my breath!

Seriously I’m Kidding – Ellen Degeneres

First of all, who doesn't LOVE Ellen? I mean she is basically a goddess, love love her! I read this book in one day! I loved it SO much, I was laughing out loud so much that my boyfriend started making fun of me! Then he read the back of the book and was laughing out loud himself! I highly recommend this book to anyone who is having a bad day, anyone who likes to laugh, anyone who likes Ellen, and just anyone in general! This is a light read and well worth your time!

Bossypants – Tina Fey 

I am a big fan of Tina Fey, I think she is fantastic! She wrote this book to tell her story of how she got to where she is today and how sometimes you have to be a Bossypants to get there! I really enjoyed this book! I found her story really interesting  and to see how far she has come and how hard she has worked only makes me appreciate her more! I give this book a big thumbs up! It isn't as funny as I expected it to be but there were for sure parts that had me laughing out loud! Great read :)

Push (Precious) – Sapphire

I had heard about the movie Precious before but haven't had a chance to sit down and watch it. I cam across the book at value village and figured I would give it a go! The story is pretty sad, it's about a young girl who has been raped repeatedly by her father. She has two children by him and has been kicked out of public school. She starts to attend a special school to help her learn to read and write. She begins to write down her life story and the books goes through her progress. I liked this book, it wasn't my favourite, but I definitely liked it. This book is very graphic when describing the rapes and things like that, so it is a bit of a darker read. It is also written in the same way the character speaks, which makes it kind of hard to understand at times, because Precious is an uneducated girl. All in all it is a decent book.

Before I go to Sleep – S.J. Watson 

My boyfriends sister recommended this book to me, she had said it was one of her all time favourites and so I just had to get my hands on it! Let me tell you, I was NOT disappointed by this book! This book quickly became one of my new favourites! Before I Go to Sleep is written about a woman who had been in a terrible "accident"and suffers from severe memory loss. She has lost all of her short term memory. She wakes up everyday in a house she doesn't recognize, with a man she doesn't know. Everyday she has to re-learn who she is. She meets with a doctor who is trying to help her recover her memory. She begins to write in a journal everyday to try to piece together her life. As the story unravels she begins to find out many secrets. There are quite a few twists in this book! It is very captivating and gripping and I loved it! It is such a sad story but it is written so well! I highly recommend this book!!

So that's all I read in 2012! Not a big list but still! I will be updating what I am currently reading and doing book reviews when I am finished with my 2013 reads!

For now I will leave you with what I am currently reading! Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl! I am about half way through and I am HOOKED! There is a movie coming out to theatres based on this book and I wanted to read it before I saw the movie! It is a love story between a young boy and a young girl, who just happens to be a Caster.. which is basically a witch! She will be claimed by her 16th birthday to either the light side or the dark side... hmmm which will it be!?! I am really excited to finish this book! There is a whole series which a I will read one after the other...  Next up - Beautiful Darkness.. Beautiful Chaos.. Beautiful Redemption! :)

Have a wonderful day!!

xoxo

Jamie-Leigh <3