Books I Read in 2012

Every year I post a book list. (Well, every year since 2008.)

Want to read those posts? Good lists.... 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011.

Unlike incredibly motivated people who set themselves a particular goal for how many books to read, I just...read. But keeping track of the books has become one of my favorite things to do! And it does motivate me to see how many I can read in one year. In 2010, I hit my highest number (since I've been keeping track) when I read 100 books. But I haven't quite hit that since. I'm giggling as I read back over the previous years' posts. Each year I say that I'm really not about the quantity...but I am! I get such a little thrill when I add another book to the list.

Things were a little different this year. I didn't read as much as I usually do...I was distracted.

I've been cramming at the end of the year - reading like crazy! The librarians had forgotten what I looked like but now I'm back to my usual borrowing habits.

1. 11/22/63 by Stephen King
2. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
3. The Always War by Margaret Petersen Haddix
4. The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis
5. Reality is Broken by Jane McGonigal
6. Tempest by Julie Cross
7. When She Woke by Hillary Jordan
8. Fire by Kristin Cashore
9. Wither by Lauren DeStefano
10. Blackout by Connie Willis
11. All Clear by Connie Willis
12. Linchpin by Seth Godin
13. The Art of Non-Conformity by Christ Guillebeau
14. Home Front by Kristin Hannah
15. Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card
16. The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman
17. Alice's Piano by Melissa Muller
18. The Shape of Desire by Sharon Shinn
19. Tomorrow's Synagogue Today by Hayim Herring
20. Where Justice Dwells by Jill Jacobs
21. I am Forbidden by Anouk Markovits
22. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
23. My Russian Grandmother and her American Vacuum Cleaner by Meir Shalev
24. Bloom by Kelle Hampton
25. The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott
26. House of Velvet and Glass by Katherine Howe
27. 97 Orchard by Jane Ziegelman
28. Unorthodox by Deborah Feldman
29. An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff
30. Fallen Angel by Daniel Silva
31. Next Year in Israel by Sarah Bridgeton
32. The Books of Rachel by Joel Gross
33. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
34. Summerland by Ellin Hilderbrand
35. History of a Pleasure-Seeker by Richard Mason
36. Operating Instructions by Anne Lamott
37. Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
38. Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson
39. Lord of Mountains by S.M. Stirling
40. Sown in Tears by Beverly Magid
41. Midwife of Venice by Roberta Rich
42. The Timekeeper by Mitch Albom
43. The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner
44. The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
45. Every Day by David Levithan
46. A World Away by Nancy Grossman
47. Fire in the Ashes by Jonathan Kozol
48. Sipping from the Nile by Jean Naggar
49. Road to Valor by Aili and Andres McConnor
50. Hot Mamalah by Lisa Klug
51. Whispers in Autumn by Tricia Leigh
52. The Last Song by Eva Weisman
53. Arcadia by Lauren Groff
54. The Lawgiver by Herman Wouk
55. A Yellow Raft on Blue Water by Michael Dorris
56. Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
57. The Giving Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini
58. Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
59. Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

So what did I like best?
Hmm. I loved Gone Girl. I know it was one of those controversial-love-it-or-hate-it books but I was in the "love it" camp. When She Woke was a great one, and so was The Dovekeepers and The Night Circus. I've recommended Arcadia, and I also have suggested that people read Unorthodox and I Am Forbidden (I actually think they complement each other nicely). The newest Wouk book about Moses (actually about a film about Moses, but let's not be picky) was fabulous, and I can't say enough amazing things about Brene Brown's writing and Kelle Hampton's photography & words. I'm so bummed that I was not a fan of J.K. Rowling's new-and-so-not-Harry-Potter book because I really wanted to be. (I was pleased to slip in an Elm Creek Quilt book at the end of the year - I do love those!) But I did enjoy almost all the books on this list!

And what am I going to read next? I have a whole list. Plus I have other people's lists and it never seems to end. There's always a great book just around the corner waiting for me. But most of the time I just read whatever comes my way...what do you think I should read?

My dad with Yael a few years ago....READING!

P.S. This whole keeping track of what I read thing has inspired my dad. Okay, that's not quite the right word. It challenged him....to beat me! (Which, by the way, he did.) Not totally sure about the fairness of the fight but luckily he is my dad and so it's a friendly competition!

P.P.S. If you want to follow along with what I'm reading, I update on the right-hand sidebar of this blog, and I also have a Goodreads account but I'm not quite as good about updating that.