A Jane Austen Education by William Deresiewicz

A Jane Austen Education by William Deresiewicz was a very interesting read.  It was one modern man's take on 6 of Jane Austen's novels and what he learned from them.  William Deresiewicz was a graduate student and reading Austen for his classes and his dissertation.  He dissects each book and tells what he learned about life from Austen.  From Emma he learns that everyday things matter--the small and simple things and people make the difference.  From Pride and Prejudice he learns about growing up.  Learning to learn is the lesson from Northanger Abbey.   Mansfield Park is about being good.  Persuasion teaches him about true friends, and Sense and Sensibility is about falling in love.  He applies these to his life at the time and not only tells Austen's story, but his own.  Being a huge Austen fan, I enjoyed this non-fiction book. 

Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale

Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale is the second book by Hale about the imaginary Austenland.  A place in England that Austen fans can go and spend 2 weeks in Austen's time--the clothes, the manners, the etiquette, the romance.  I liked her original Austenland, but is wasn't my absolute favorite.  I liked this one much better.  The main character is Charlotte--a divorced mother of 2 who is trying to come to grips with what happened to her fairytale life.  Why did her husband leave her?  Why didn't she see it coming?  What is she now and where does she belong?  Well, she discovered that one of her goals was to read Jane Austen, and she never has.  She checks out the books and becomes hooked.  She wants to go to England--get away from it all and see where Jane Austen wrote and lived.  Her travel agent goes a step farther and recommends Pembrook Park where Charlotte can live like Emma or Elizabeth would have for 2 weeks.  There are actors set up for each women visiting, their own version of Mr. Darcy, but things do not appear as they seem (dead bodies in the attic?), and not everything turns out as it should, maybe it turns out better.  A Jane Austen type mystery that is hard to put down. 

The Emperor of Nihon-Ja, Ranger's Apprentice #10 by John Flanagan

So I just finished the last book in the Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan.  The Emperor of Nihon-Ja is book 10 in the series.  I was sad to see this series end, but Flanagan came out with another book about the series The Ranger's Apprentice:  The Lost Stories which my kids have read and tell me it is very good.  That is next on my list to read.  I have loved this series.  It was exciting, clean, interesting, with a tiny touch of romance, funny, and very entertaining.  My husband, and my 14, 11, and 9 year old girls have read the whole series also and all give glowing reports.  I can't' wait until my little boy is old enough to read them because I would really say this is a good series for boys, and I know he will love them too. 

Stone Tables by Orson Scott Card

Stone Tables by Orson Scott Card is the Biblical story of Moses--a historical, Biblical fiction.  I really enjoyed it.  I loved Card's Women of Genesis, so I was looking forward to reading this.  Stone Tables was originally a play that was written by Card and produced and performed while he was serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He never got to see it.  He expanded and changed the play to write the novel.  I understand there is a soundtrack for the play available.  I really like Card's writing and his interpretation of events.  The relationship between Moses, Aaron, and Miriam is very interesting, complex, and true to life.  Love the relationship of Moses and his wife.  I had always wondered why in Egypt the Pharaoh would accept his daughter just taking a baby out of the water for a son.  Card's take on it is interesting and thought provoking.  I will enjoy reading the account of Moses in the Bible much more now with the pictures and stories in my mind from this book.  Again, it is not scripture, but fiction and is meant to be read and enjoyed as such.

Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore

This is a non-fiction story of a modern slave and an international art dealer and how their lives come together and how they become friends.  It was very eye opening.  Slavery should have ended with Lincoln ages ago, but it still exists in the deep Louisiana south for Denver until he decides he has had enough and hops a train to Dallas in the 1960's.  Ron Hall had a very simple upbringing, but his luck changed with the chance selling of a piece of art, and his fortunes turned.  The men come from different worlds, but a mission for homeless people and Ron's amazing wife Debbie bring them together.  With each chapter written by one or the other, Ron and Denver tell their story of life, hardship, faith, love, death, and moving on.  I really enjoyed this one.

My 2011 Reading List

Every year it has been my goal to read at least as many books as there will be candles on my birthday cake that year.  Some years I barely make it, and others I go way, way beyond.  This year I went way, way, way beyond  (just saying I am not anywhere near 46 yet :)

I think I can safely recommend all the books that I read this year except Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater.  It was a book club pick and not a favorite.  A little too teen romance and Twilight ripoff for me.  I also really didn't like Bellwether by Connie Willis.  It was science fiction and just too weird and a little slow for me.  I am not a big fan of that genre.

I think my favorites this year were
* The Lemon Tree  by Sandy Tholan
* Unbroken  by Laura Hillenbrand
* Dragonfly by Julia Golding
* The Sweetness at the bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
* The Youngest Templar series by Michael Spradlin
* The Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan**if you read these, read book #7 after book #4, then go on with 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10.  He wrote that one out of order. 
If you haven't read any of these, I would highly, highly recommend them.  Most of the books I read I have reviewed on this site, so check the sidebar menu if you want to see a specific review.  These books are not in any specific order, just in the order I read them. 

1.  Just One Wish by Janette Rallison
2.  For One More Day  by Mitch Albom
3.  Dragonfly by Julia Golding
4.  The Exiled Queen by Cinda Willimas Chima
5.  The Crossing by Jim Murphy
6.  The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
7.  Heist Society by Ally Carter
8.  Matched by Allie Condie
9.  The Youngest Templar #1:  The Keeper of the Grail by Michael Spradlin
10.  The Youngest Templar #2:  Trail of Fate by Michael Spradlin 
11.  The Youngest Templar #3:  Orphan of Destiny by Michael Spradlin
12.  Bellwether by Connie Willis *science fiction, not a favorite
13.  Blackveil by Kristen Britain * Green Rider Series #4
14.  The Pioneer Woman:  Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond *I laughed so hard! 
15.  The Ranger's Apprentice #1:  The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan
16.  Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare * Infernal Devices Series #1
17.  I'd tell you I love you, but then I 'd have to Kill you  by Ally Carter *Galliger Girls series #1
18.  Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
19.  The False Princess by Eilas O'Neal
20.  The Songcatcher by Sharyn McCrumb
21.  Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
22.  The City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare * Immortal Instruments series #4
23.  The Boy Who Dared by Susan Bartoletti
24.  Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
25.  Brave Girl Eating by Harriet Brown
26.  The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
27.  Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfers
28.  Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld
29.  My Name is Phillis Wheatley by Afua Cooper
30.  The Ranger's Apprentice #2:  The Burning Bridge by John Flanagan
31.  Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo
32.  The Lemon Tree by Sandy Toland
33.  The Reading Promise by Alice Ozma
34.  The Ranger's Apprentice #3:  The Icebound Land by John Flanagan
35.  The Ranger's Apprentice #4:  The Battle for Skandia by John Flanagan
36.  The Ranger's Apprentice #7:  Erak's Ransom by John Flanagan
37.  The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner
38.  Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
39.  The Ranger's Apprentice #5:  The Sorcerer of the North by John Flanagan
40.  Sarah:  Women of Genesis by Orson Scott Card
41.  The Ranger's Apprentice #6:  The Siege of Macindaw by John Flanagan
42.  Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
43.  The Ranger's Apprentice #8:  The Kings of Clonmel by John Flanagan
44.  Rebekah:  Women of Genesis by Orson Scott Card
45.  Crossed by Allie Condie
46.  Rachel and Leah:  Women of Genesis by Orson Scott Card

I am looking for good reads for 2012, any suggestions?

Rachel and Leah: Women of Genesis by Orson Scott Card

This is the last published book in Orson Scott Card's Women of Genesis series.  I really enjoyed it.  I never really understood why a father would trick his future son-in-law by giving him the wrong daughter to marry.  Granted, this is fiction, and Card only has a few verses in the Bible to go by, but I love the story he weaves in Rachel and Leah about 4 strong and very different women.  It made Genesis chapter 29 much more interesting to read.  I don't know that I buy Card's interpretation that Rachel was really that scared about getting married, but who knows?  It makes a good story.  I loved the stories of Bilhah and Zilpah that come into this.  It is really the story of 4 women, not just 2.  I was excited at the end to read that Card plans to write a 4th and 5th in this series, but it is obviously not his first priority because this was published in 2004.  I read an interview by him in 2010 that said the next book would not be out this year or the next, but I am hopeful for 2012?  This book really ends in a place where you need the next book right away.  I couldn't believe it ended right there.  It ends right after Rachel marries Jacob, and Leah thinks she is pregnant.  The next installment is to be called The Wives of Israel.  I won't be holding my breathe until it comes out because I can't hold my breathe that long, but I will anxiously await it.  I like his writing.  I will have to check out some of his other genre works.