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So here begins 2011 with new books and new adventures. This is officially my second attempt at this challenge. I learned a lot in the last year and this time fully intend to complete this goal and possibly even hope to surpass it. However it is only the beginning, so I'll resist getting too far ahead of myself. I had fun doing this last year so along with the challenge I will also be keeping track of how many pages I cover throughout the year.

The Kane Chronicles #1

1. The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan. 516 pages. Dates read: 12/28-1/2

I have to say, it was nice going back to a Riordan book. It was a great way to start the year. I read the Percy Jackson series last June and it was fun to see how he handled mixing Egyptian lore into present day settings. It was brilliantly familiar and refreshingly new, all wrapped up together. Now that its clear that the Kane Chronicles and Percy Jackson/Heroes of Olympus all exist within the same world. I am curious to see if he will bring them together somehow in the future. Book two comes out in the spring, so that won't be a very long wait.

Books: 1/50

It seems I've hit the ground running this year.


2. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. 297 pages. Dates read: 1/2-5

This was a difficult read. Its a book just refused to be ignored and trust me, I tried. The details of circus life, for both people and the animal attractions, were incredibly hard to stomach at times. Despite that, although I can hardly explain why, it has joined the ranks of some of my favorite books. In the end the book was enchanting and the characters are truly unforgettable.

Books: 2/50 Pages: 851

Its almost scary how much time I've had on my hands this past week, but at least it was productive.

The Heroes of Olympus #1

3. The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan. 557 pages. Dates read: 1/6-7

Yep, more Riordan, because I just can't get enough. It was good to be back at Camp Half-Blood, almost forgot how much I missed the place. I loved this book. The new characters are fantastic, and the old characters are as great as ever. He explained the differences between the Greek and Roman mythologies beautifully and I love how this series is going to bring them together. Waiting 'til fall for the second book is gonna be tough...

Books: 3/50 Pages: 1,408

Black ice on the roads is a good excuse to stay in and read.

The Caster Chronicles #1

4. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl. 563 pages. Dates read: 1/9-11

For my first real venture into the Paranormal side of YA, I was pretty swept away by this novel. I loved how they handled the small town southern atmosphere, really made it feel like another character. On top of that, it is literally set right in my backyard, Summerville, SC is right next door to me and their fictional Gatlin is just outside of that. I think Ethan's point of view is part of what made the book. The Caster world is fascinating and leaves you craving more. Which makes me glad that book 2 is already sitting on my shelf.

Books: 4/50 Pages: 1,971

I suppose I should mention this, between the book challenge and page counting, a mission I chose to help inspire me to read more. It was a way to pull out my competitive nature, even though I was only competing with myself. I knew if I saw what I could get done I would want to take it even further and up the ante. It's been working beautifully. I don't think I've ever read this many books one after another, including the 30 I completed last year. But something has changed this year. My sister caught wind of this plan and now it seems to have turned into a full on competition year long competition between us. This should be interesting.

The Caster Chronicles #2

5. Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl. 503 pages. Dates read: 1/12-15

At first I wasn't so sure about this book. I had loved the first one so much that I didn't quite expect the direction that this one was taking. It took a little longer to get into than the first, but once I got into it I was hooked fast. The Caster world is so much more complex than I could have ever expected, and far more than just a small town's dirty little secret. I loved how intricately the confusing details throughout the story came out and knit together to finally make sense in the end. I find that I am left with some of the answers I'd been craving and possibly even more questions than ever.

Books: 5/50 Pages: 2,474

The Protector of the Small #1

6. First Test by Tamora Pierce. 240 pages. Dates read: 1/16-18

Honestly I don't think words can truly express how much I love Pierce's books. I loved the first two series, especially the Lioness quartet. Young Keladry is brilliant. All of the new characters are fantastic and as always its a pleasure to see so many of the old ones return.

Books: 6/50 Pages: 2,714

The Protector of the Small #2

7. Page by Tamora Pierce. 268 pages. Dates read: 1/18-20

I was really impressed with Pierce's ability to cover 3 years so easily in this book. I spent a surprising amount of time on the edge of my seat waiting for the confirmation that Kel and her friends would pull through, despite knowing the names of the following books. I'm thinking Peachblossom might possibly be the coolest horse I've ever run across in a book. Just the thought of that beastly roan gelding makes me grin.

Books: 7/50 Pages: 2,982

The Protector of the Small #3

8. Squire by Tamora Pierce. 409 pages. Dates read: 1/20-23

This may stand as my favorite of Pierce's books.

Books: 8/50 Pages: 3,391

The Protector of the Small #4

9. Lady Knight by Tamora Pierce. 431 pages. Dates read: 1/23-27

Truly a fantastic end to an incredible series. I wish I could say that there was more.

Books: 9/50 Pages: 3,822

I have to say for only the very beginning of February I'm impressed by this progress so far.

10. The Host by Stephenie Meyer. 619 pages. Dates read: 1/31-2/3

I had no idea what to expect with this one. It was also a step in a different direction from where my typical reading list takes me. It's not often that I read a true sci-fi and it was a very welcome change. The depth of the characters just blew me away. Simple in its story line, yes but no less beautiful for it. This is definitely a book that I will come back to and re-read many times.

Books: 10/50 Pages: 4,441

Uglies Series #1

11. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. 425 pages. Dates read: 2/4-5

I've been looking forward to this series since discovering Westerfeld's Leviathan, and so far its promising. I suppose one could say that this is a classic example of dystopian literature. Which isn't a term or genre that I generally favor, but occasionally find myself enjoying. This has been interesting, the world is more complex than I expected. It was easy to get into, though wrapping my head around the "bubbly" terminology took a little while.

Books: 11/50 Pages: 4,866

Uglies Series #2

12. Pretties by Scott Westerfeld. 370 pages. Dates read: 2/6-7

It always amazes me how very much can go wrong in a book due to basic communication failures between characters. Of course, I suppose reality isn't too far off from that, which might be why its so glaringly obvious when its written down. I like the plot twists in this series so far. It is absolutely everything you fear but wish the author didn't have the guts to do. I love how bold Tally and her 'Crim' friends are with their big tricks in New Pretty Town.

Books: 12/50 Pages: 5,236

Uglies Series #3

13. Specials by Scott Westerfeld. 372 pages. Dates read: 2/7-9

As I mentioned before, I've read a few dystopic novels, and as expected this series portrays a rebellion which dismantles the entire infrastructure of the twisted world. What I did not expect, however, was to witness or live through each major level of this strange world through the eyes of a single character. I find that to be one of the most impressive qualities of this series. Through the days of a tricking Ugly, then the vapid ignorance of a Pretty and finally the terrifyingly sinister qualities of a Special... Tally Youngblood's strong will and evolution as a character is well portrayed. The plot kept me forever on my toes, I couldn't have guessed most of it if I tried.

Books: 13/50 Pages: 5,608

Uglies #4

14. Extras by Scott Westerfeld. 417 pages. Dates read: 2/9-10

I haven't decided whether or not this was my favorite of the series, but I certainly liked it quite a lot. There were a few things that really stuck out in this one that I just couldn't get enough of... Moggle was certainly a character all on his own he was such a funny little hovercam, I always knew robots/electronics had personalities. The "reputation economy" was both fascinating and horrific, definitely a brand new concept to me and seriously inventive. But above all, "Radical Honesty" was just brilliant, I loved Frizz for this concept "surge", how it worked and every bit of the trouble it caused. The outside perspective of the world weary Tally was also fantastic. Great way to end the series!



Books: 14/50 Pages: 6,025

Bit of a drastic gear shift here, but fun all the same.

15. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. 384 pages. Dates read: 2/13-16

It took a couple of days for me to commit to this book, but I'm glad I did. I found myself with two copies of this book. An American paperback and the "author's preferred text" edition in audio. I chose to stick with the audio copy since it seemed to have more character with its wording and sharper wit. Gaiman being such a brilliant narrator also became a deciding factor.

One thing I really love, is that Gaiman doesn't waste words. Everything has meaning at some point in the book. Oddly, I even like the fact that he doesn't feel the need to explain everything. In his worlds things can just simply exist, with no explanation necessary. A simple fact that adds to mysterious happenings and sinister characters. London Underground was endlessly fascinating. Richard, was a brilliant character who was content with an average life, yet unknowingly desperate to break away from mediocrity. I loved his journey. The ending left me with a chill.

Books: 15/50 Pages: 6,409

The Mortal Instruments #1

16. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. 485 pages. Dates read: 2/18-20

I expected this one to be good. However, I wasn't expecting it to be up in the potential favorites category. This was a very well crafted world. All of the characters, including backgrounders, are incredibly easy to love. The plot reveals in the last 3rd of the book were intricate genius, borderline irritating (in the sibling plot and the near death of a favorite character kind of way) and expertly handled. Good novel, I'm eager to see what else Clare can come up with.

Books: 16/50 Pages: 6,894

The Mortal Instruments #2

17. City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare. 453 pages. Dates read: 2/21-24

It's so easy to get addicted to this world. What an incredibly edgy story that keeps you endlessly on your toes! I can hardly say more without getting into spoiler territory.

Books: 17/50 Pages: 7,347

The Mortal Instruments #3

18. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare. 541 pages. Dates read: 2/24-3/2.

This one took a bit longer due to a road trip... but damn, what an incredible book. The underground existence of Shadowhunters and downworlders meant made for an incredibly well crafted world. I'm used to getting sucked into book worlds, which is why I tend to enjoy more books rather than pick them apart, but this series was certainly better than most. It sucked me in and kept me there, even dominated my dreams in the times that I wasn't reading. Clare really kept me on my toes with her massive plot twist/reveals. Sometimes I can't tell whether I've decided she's a genius or an evil mastermind. Maybe she is a bit of both... Leaving this world and its characters was only made easier by the fact that I know the series is continuing on.

Books: 18/50 Pages: 7,888

His Dark Materials #1

19. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. 399 pages. Dates read: 3/4-6

This series has sat on my shelf for a few years now. I had started it a handful of times but I suppose it was just never the right time and so I never got past the first 2 chapters before I became bored or distracted. When I grabbed it this time I decided to try the audio versions which are narrated primarily by Pullman himself along with a brilliant full cast. This was an utterly enchanting book. I see now why it was difficult to get into before, but once I passed that point I was stuck.

Books: 19/50 Pages: 8,287

His Dark Materials #2

20. The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman. 326 pages. Dates read: 3/7-10

Incredible. I think Will Parry has become one of my favorite literary children of all time. I adore Lyra... she is fabulous. But this dear boy Will is just incredible.

Books: 20/50 Pages: 8,613

His Dark Materials #3

21. The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman. 518 pages. Dates read: 3/13-18

An utterly enchanting book! So much to learn from; new ways to think and see. Heart warming and heart breaking all at once in the most beautiful and terrible way. I can hardly even define the reason why I am so in love with this book, and yet it is so. On the one hand, it is so incredibly in line with many of the ways in which I perceive the world. But it also goes deeper, adding more and more dimensions and complexity to bring into further consideration. You have expanded and opened my mind Pullman, I adore you.

Books 21/50 Pages: 9,131

The Infernal Devices #1

22. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. 478 pages. Dates read: 3/20-26

And so it begins. Unlike The Mortal Instruments, I have caught this prequel series at the very beginning. Clare's handling of Victorian era London was impressive and with it she found a perfect balance between propriety of the time and the loose familiarity among the Shadowhunters. This new batch of characters is impressive, as they are all very strong, well developed, complex individuals. I particularly love the focus on the women's strength, despite the period. I find myself eager for more and September seems very far away. In that time wondering what makes William Herondale tick might just drive me a bit insane.

Books: 22/50 Pages: 9,611

A Song of Ice and Fire #1

23. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. 694 pages. Dates read: 3/26-4/3

I think my favorite thing about this series so far is that no matter what, characters you think you know can always surprise you. To say that I'm impressed would be an understatement. This was a startlingly good story about people, one that can keep you on your toes. I absolutely mourn the fate of a few characters, and wait impatiently to learn the fates of the rest. Its a heavy read, full of brilliant characters and simple wisdom... One that I feel is going to stick with me for a very long time.

Books: 23/50 Pages: 10,305

A Song of Ice and Fire #2

24. A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin. 762 pages. Dates read: 4/5-16

If I had to explain this book in a single word it would be: madness. One thing is for certain, Mr. Martin is not afraid to do anything to his characters. Every time I might think he wouldn't dare he has surprised or impressed me at every turn. The every-man-for-himself-and-house quality that drove the plot was an absolute wonder. A mess of self proclaimed titles, honor, loyalty, treasons and wars. The game of thrones is in full swing. The land of Westeros is fascinating, but the heart of the tale lies in the beautifully crafted characters. The books blend so well into each other that I can scarcely tell you were one ends and the other begins. This is such a beautiful thing in story telling... However, when it comes time to sit back and wait for book 5 I believe that beautiful notion may begin to chafe irritably.

Books: 24/50 Pages: 11,067

A Song of Ice and Fire #3

25. A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin. 977 pages. Dates read:4/19-5/2

This book went into so many unexpected places. Its a bit of a roller coaster. I'm in love with the degree of complexity. The tables turn so frequently, you scarcely ever know which way is up. Things you thought were concrete facts from the first book can turn out to be complete farce, even as far in as the final page of the 3rd book. In this game, no one is safe, and sometimes the best players are the last ones you would ever expect. I'll be sad to move on from Roy Dotrice and his exceptional performance in the audiobooks, but being a fan of John Lee's work I can't imagine I'll be disappointed with his handling of book 4. However, I have heard that Dotrice will return for book 5 as requested by the fan base.

Books: 25/50 Pages: 12,044

A Song of Ice and Fire #4

26. A Feast For Crows by George R.R. Martin. 753 pages. Dates read: 5/3-17

So I have completed all that is currently available of this series. I've seen quite the out cry over this book in particular. I see why in most cases, however my general opinion of this book is a good one. Granted it does not shine as brightly as the others, but its not bad, truly. I did miss many of my favorite characters, but I saw great purpose in this choice. I'm a bit irritated about where a couple of characters were left off in this book, but mostly because I'm not sure if they are to be included in the next or not. This book may not be quite so action packed, but it does explain a bit more about the game and the details of who's doing/done what. In this case less action equals more complexity.

Books: 26/50 Pages: 12,797

The Mortal Instruments #4

27. City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare. 424 pages. Dates read: 5/19-23

Ok, lets see if I can play nice here. I loved the book don't get me wrong, I'm just trying to contain my rage over the cliffhanger. The introduction of a specific demon was brilliant, the Supernatural fangirl in me was very impressed. The twists and the purpose of this demon were both fascinating & horrifying. I also liked that what had seemed like everyone going through a separate struggle was eventually all tied together into one monstrous problem. I was not expecting the cliffhanger... at all. I've also finally been convinced that, although I love her books, Clare gets off on tormenting her readers.

Books 27/50 Pages: 13,221

28. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. 167 pages. Dates read: 5/24

Sweet, simple, beautiful and filled with endless wisdom.

Books: 28/50 Pages: 13,388

The Earthsea Cycle #1

29. A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin. 183 pages. Dates read: 6/1-2

I recently decided I needed to read more of the classics and where better to start than classic fantasy? I've heard about this series off and on ever since I became a fantasy reader. One could say that it's the foundation of modern fantasy. It was an interesting read. I can definitely see, from this first book, how it's themes have inspired many of the more recent authors. It was simple and beautiful. By today's standards, I find it quite impressive to both build a world and tell a story in under 200 pages. This was a good start, now I'm curious to see what other sorts of themes I recognize from the other books in the series.

Books: 29/50 Pages: 13,571

The Earthsea Cycle #2

30. The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin. 146 pages. Dates read: 6/3-8/14

I was so proud of my reading log for this year and this just hurts to see. I was enjoying this when I first picked it up, it was different from the first book but still very interesting. But I guess it never hooked me and I've got to be bloody honest now. I grabbed these cause I wanted something classic and it was a bonus that they'd be quick reads. They are very quick, however its just not my time to read them. Had I read it in one sitting it would have been great, but the fact that I set it down and it took me over two months to get back to it is disheartening. Sure, a lot has happened in that time (a new boyfriend & part time job) and I don't have 8+ hours to read everyday like I did, but ignoring a 146 pager for 2 months is just absurd after a stretch of 2-3 books a week. Unfortunately, for now I have to list these as something I'm not interested in finishing. Granted, the biggest issue is myself currently, but truly the books just haven't hooked me. I'll give them another go in a few months or some time next year. Right now, its just time to go back to something that's just begging me to read it.

Books: 30/50 Pages: 13,717

I haven't finished my planned book 31 yet, and to be honest I am not sure as to whether it will be completed in 2011. Although I continue to try. I may just work on a few shorter books for the time being.

I thought it was amusing last week when I received a GoodReads email about my current status in the 2011 Reading Challenge. I am sad to see that I will not complete it this year with neither my original goal of 80 books, nor my secondary goal of 50. I am considering pushing myself for a third goal of 35 books, but have not yet reset the challenge.

At this point I am beginning to formulate a plan for 2012. I may have a lot more going on in my life than I did in early 2011, however that does not mean I should fail to find the time to read entirely. Tonight I started figuring out some of what I'd like to start reading next. I remain hopeful towards adding a few more books, even if they may be shorter books, to this list before the year ends. However, I intend to create a plan for this coming year which will leave me no excuse to not reach goal of at least 50 books.

31. The Call of Cthulhu by H.P. Lovecraft. 64 pages. Date read: 12/27

This was a fun and ominous short read. I've been meaning to pick it up for years in an attempt to truly understand the recent rise of Cthulhu geek culture references. This was my first real exposure to Lovecraft and now I'm intrigued to read more. I loved how the mythology was woven into this tale, it paired beautifully with the unknowable and indescribable creature. Lovecraft's mastery of the english language is exceptionally clear throughout the story. I would have loved to see a longer tale, to further delve into what Cthulhu is and the power he and the other sleeping gods possess. However, that's part of why this story is so great. He provided just enough details to spark the interest and get your imagination going, giving the reader just a taste while still, incredibly, managing to tell a complete story.

Books: 31/50 Pages: 13,781

A Series of Unfortunate Events #1

32. The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket. 176 pages. Date read: 12/27

Yes, today has been my most productive reading day in a while. In part because I have nothing to do but clean and also because I refuse to fail my last attempt at fulfilling at least some kind of reading goal for this year.

This was a re-read. I actually began this series years ago when it first came out, but never finished it when the last 3 books came out. Since I've been wanting to know how it all ends, I decided to revisit the first several books. I've always loved them. Having been a stubborn reader as a kid, I love Snicket's reverse psychology approach. I also love how he introduces new or difficult words by defining them within the story. Its very simple reading, but extremely fun and inventive. I'll never get tired of these.

Books: 32/50 Pages: 13,957

A Series of Unfortunate Events #2

33. The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket. 190 pages. Dates read: 12/27-30

Oh how I loved Uncle Monty... *sigh* But alas the Baudelaire luck is far too unfortunate for the likes of such an awesome uncle. For this series this book would have to be a top contender for a favorite. It held so much hope, and it was dashed in such spectacular ways. And the Incredibly Deadly Viper is just delightful. Its been nice to take the time to enjoy this series again. The characters may have wretched luck but despite its purposefully depressing quality, the level of wit keeps things light and entertaining.

Books: 33/50 Pages: 14,147

A Series of Unfortunate Events #3

34. The Wide Window by Lemony Snicket. 214 pages. Date read: 12/30

I absolutely love how this book especially is a lesson in grammar and use of common phrases. These stories may be simple overall, but I love the themes he chooses. I especially like that while all the children are smart, its Violet that has the role of the inventor and her brother is the bookish one. This book is full of ridiculous fears and for that reason I find it to be one of the funniest in the series. Part of me loves the hopeless quality, but Snicket really uses it to his advantage. You frequently see him teaching with words (and grammar in this book particularly) but he used a really great opportunity in this book to talk about things like perspective and appreciation. A lot of books teach inadvertently, and sometimes send conflicting messages. Snicket, however, seems rather methodical in his approach and it's for this reason that this is one of my favorite series to recommend to parents and kids.

Books: 34/50 Pages: 14,361

A Series of Unfortunate Events #4

35. The Miserable Mill by Lemony Snicket. 195 pages. Date read: 12/31

Well I didn't get my final post in before the new year, but I did meet my shortened goal of 35 books. I wish that I would have met either of my original goals, but due to everything going on, I still feel that I read a decent amount. I did manage to read more books than last year as well, so I'm impressed by that progress. Overall I consider these last 4 books to have been a wonderful & fun close to my reading year. Its been an excellent year full of many wonderful tales.

This book was good, but a little drab compared to the first 3. Although similar in length, it also felt shorter. I think part of what took away from it was that Klaus was somewhat missing from it since he was hypnotized a couple of times. It starts to stretch a little more into the ridiculous with Olaf posing as a woman and the children being forced to work in the lumber mill. But its themes still remain quite good.

Books: 35/50 Pages: 14,556

Group goal of 50 incomplete. Personal goal complete.