Books, Books, and Books

Two years ago, being the ultimate nerd that I am, I started writing down the books that I read as I finished them.  I had wondered how many books I read, but since I have numerous bookshelves and various stacks of books around my room, it was hard to keep track.  I believe I had read 51 books between November 2009 and October 2010, which averages just under a book a week.  Nerd confession.... I was disappointed!!!  I really thought I read more than that!  But some months are more productive than others so I think there were two months where I only read one book and others that I read 6 or 7. 

I posted that list of books on Facebook last year and in keeping with that tradition, being that it is November 1st, I am posting the books I read this past year.  Some were AMAZING, like Water for Elephants, 127 Hours, The Help, One Day, and the last one I finished yesterday, Shock Value. (Funny how most of those were made into movies).  Going through the list, it was kinda funny seeing how the year has been.  I completely forgot I read all 7 Harry Potter books in the 7 weeks before the last movie came out, finishing Deathly Hallows just a few hours before I sat in line for the movie.  And after two years I finally caught up with the Anita Blake series!!  You should all check out Laurel K Hamilton, especially if you're into the Vampire/Werewolf theme.  I'm not particularly into that, but she's a great author and makes even people like me enjoy the books.  (Warning, there's about 20 in the series, which is why it took me two years =/). 

Here it goes... (sorry if you're not nerdy like me... =P)


-November 2010
Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie Kinsella
Glass by Ellen Hopkins
Mini-Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich

-December 2010
Danse Macabre by Laurel K Hamilton
Poor Little Bitch Girl by Jackie Collins

-January 2011
Picture Perfect by Jodi Piccoult
I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell by Tucker Max
Elixir by Hillary Duff
Him, Her, Him Again, the End of Him by Patricia Marx
Identical by Ellen Hopkins
Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

-February 2011
Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall & Denver Moore
The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly

-March 2011
The Harlequin by Laurel K Hamilton

-April 2011
127 Hours by Aron Ralston
Blood Noir by Laurel K Hamilton
Skin Trade by Laurel K Hamilton
Flirt by Laurel K Hamilton
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

-May 2011
Bullet by Laurel K Hamilton
Summer and the City by Candace Bushnell

-June 2011
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix by JK Rowling

-July 2011
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling
Bossypants by Tina Fey

-August 2011
House Rules by Jodi Piccoult
One Day by David Nicholls

-September 2011
Hit List by Laurel K Hamilton
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Midnight by Sister Souljah

-October 2011
Shock Value by Jason Zinoman

What's This?

I realize that Christmas is two months away and we still have Halloween and Thanksgiving to get through, but I like to start shopping early.  In fact, I already have 3 gifts out of the way and have 4 more to purchase when my Christmas club account money gets deposited into my bank account on November 1st.  Now, I pride myself on my gifts.  I generally don't buy gift cards or things like candles/body sprays/lotions.  I love unique gifts that require thought, which is probably why I start so early every year.  I love photo collages and the past two years have gone a simpler route of making calendars for a couple friends (one of which requested the calendar as part of her gift last year so she could put it on her desk at work.) 

Unfortunately, sometimes unique gifts are hard to find.  Or some people are harder to shop for.  My dad, for instance, is always a struggle.  Recently, thanks to Ms. Lisa A, and Mrs. Jennie H, I have become addicted to the website Pinterest.com.  This site is great for planning things, or organizing ideas, or just wasting away hours at a time when I should be doing homework, lol.  Basically, you "pin" photos to your "board" and you can view everyone else's boards to get ideas.  I currently have 16 boards and 425 pins.  My largest board is entitled "Words" and has various sayings.  I also have one entitled "A Place to Call Home" which includes decorating and furniture ideas for when I get my own place, and one entitled "Nerdiness<3" and well, you can imagine what that one is like.  But my favorite part of discovering this site is the great opportunity to discover unusual and unique gifts opportunities.  I found an amazing one my brother will love (won't say what in case he reads this =P) and even something for my dad!

Here are a few of my faves!  Hope you're all enjoying you October!

Laptop Book Cover

Giant Earbud Speakers

Shark tea Infuser