BOOK 2: Matched, by Ally Condie

Rating: 4 stars

Cover synopsis: In the Society, officials decide who you love, where you work, when you die. Cassia has always trusted their choices. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows he is the one...until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

This was an interesting dystopian novel. Most of the novels like this I've read focus on the society. And in this book, it certainly plays an important role. But Matched is first a love story. The Society has chosen Cassia's mate for her, but she finds herself falling in love with someone else. Who does she trust? The Society's choice? Or her own heart?

The book has a cliffhanger ending, so I hope there's a second book in the works. I enjoyed the characters, the emphasis the author places on the power of words, reading and writing, and the importance of nature and creativity.

BOOK 1: Cleopatra: A Life, by Stacy Schiff

Rating: 3 stars

Cover synopsis: Her palace shimmered with onyx, garnet and gold, but was richer still in political and sexual intrigue. Above all else, Cleopatra was a shrewd strategist and an ingenious negotiator. Though her life spanned fewer than 40 years, it reshaped the contours of the ancient world.

I didn't know much about Cleopatra before I read this book, except that she was a queen of Egypt. So this was a good history lesson for me. The author is making the case that Cleopatra's story has deviated into the terrirory of myth and legend, and far from the truth.

I'll admit, the book was boring at times -- I felt like I was reading a history book, and I'm not really into history. But I was determined to finish it, and I'm glad I did. I feel like I've gained some knowledge and understanding not only about a pivotal woman, but an important time period in world history. It read mostly as a history of Egypt and the Roman Empire in the 40-30 BCs. There were times the author lost me in her references to other historical figures and facts, but not being a history buff, what could I expect? Overall, an interesting read.

2010 Wrap-Up, and 2011 Goal

Wow, a New Year's resolution I actually kept! I read 100 books in 2010. That's 30,591 pages. Which breaks down to an average of 2,549 pages per month. Or 83 pages per day. Quite a feat for a busy mom of 3 kids!

My friends always ask me how I found the time. Some months were more of a challenge than others. But for the most part, it was easier than I thought it would be. It's amazing how much down time I have in a day, even being as busy as I am. For instance, instead of watching TV after the kids were in bed, I'd read (at least 3 or 4 times a week). I'd bring a book outside or down to the basement to read while watching my kids. Oftentimes, that resulted in me reading the same paragraph several times over due to the interruptions, but still, I made progress! I'd read while eating lunch. And occasionally during nap times. If I left the house without kids for any reason (dentist appointment, etc.) I'd bring a book along. And while my kids are watching Curious George for the 18th time, I'm curled up on the couch with them, reading.

On average, I read 8.3 books per month, or 1 book every 3.65 days. The stats look pretty amazing. But then I look at the list of books I read over the past year -- the adventures I had on the page. The worlds I inhabited, the friends I made -- and that's the truly amazing part.

I had so much fun on this project -- and gained so much momentum -- I can't stop now! I don't think I'll read as many books next year, but I have an ever-growing list of books that are begging to be read and I can't neglect them!

MY GOAL FOR 2011: To read 52 books.
That's one per week. Let the reading begin!

BOOK 100: The Book of Mormon

Rating: 5 stars

Cover synopsis: The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture. It is a record of God's dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas and contains, as does the Bible, the fulness of the everlasting gospel.

Being a member of the Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have, of course, read the Book of Mormon before. But in the past, it's always been a piecemeal goal. Read a chapter here and there, and eventually I'd make it to the end. This time, I read it as if it were any other book on my shelf. I'd sit down and read it for an hour or two at a time.

Naturally, nibbling is better than nothing, but I discovered that feasting on the word of God was a much more satisfying experience. The story made so much more sense to me. I could keep the different peoples and civilizations straight in my head much easier. Oftentimes, I would stop reading not because I ran out of time or because I was tired -- but because I had read such soul-enriching material that I needed time to digest it.

Reading the Book of Mormon is always an enlightening experience that strengthens my testimony of Christ. But I feel that this reading was the best I've ever had. Can't wait to get started on a re-read!

BOOK 99: The Ersatz Elevator (Series of Unfortunate Events #6), by Lemony Snicket

Rating: 4 stars

Cover synopsis: Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire encounter a darkened staircase, a red herring, some friends in a dire situation, three mysterious initials, a liar with an evil scheme, a secret passageway, and parsley soda.

This was yet another clever tome in the Series of Unfortunate Events. The Baudelaires are taken in by a guardian who seems to have known the children's parents. His wife is hilarious with all her concern over what's "in." She's over the top, but I can see so much of people I know in her...

Snicket keeps teasing us with the promise of more information to the overarching plot. But he doesn't really give us ANYTHING to go on. Just an aside here or there. Esme knows Beatrice? And Olaf? And Jerome knows the Baudelaires? What gives?

On the plus side, having this book lying around my living room prompted my daughter's curiosity. She's probably the only first grader who knows what "ersatz" means.

BOOK 98: The Austere Academy (Series of Unfortunate Events #5), by Lemony Snicket

Rating: 4 stars

Cover synopsis: The Baudelaires go to boarding school, which turns out to be another miserable episode in their unlucky lives. Truth be told, the children will face snapping crabs, strict punishments, dripping fungus, comprehensive exams, violin recitals, S.O.R.E. and the metric system.

This book was a bit better than The Miserable Mill. It was still outlandish, but perhaps a tad more believable? But the main reason I gave it an extra star back was because I enjoyed the fact that the Baudelaires actually made friends their own age. So, although this book follows the same predictable formula, it was different in the company the kids keep, and also in the end something actually HAPPENS as Count Olaf is getting away. No, he isn't caught, but it will make for an interesting next book, nonetheless.

I also mused after the last book if we would ever get answers to an overarching plot. I'm thinking the answer is: someday. There were allusions to a bigger scheme, and Snicket also tantalizes us with some info about his lost love, Beatrice. So I hope my questions will be answered before the series is finished.

Wait a minute. Did I just say "hope?" I should know better than that. This is, after all, a series of unfortunate events.

BOOK 97: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson

Rating: 3 stars

Cover synopsis: The Herdman kids lie and steal and smoke cigars. They talk dirty, hit little kids, cuss their teachers, set fires and take the name of the Lord in vain. No one is prepared when they invade church one Sunday -- and decide to take over the annual Christmas pageant.

I remember reading this book when I was in elementary school, and thought I'd pick it up again. It's a nice reminder that Christmas -- and Christ -- is for everyone, no matter what.