2014 Book Year in Review and 2015 Goals

Books Read in 2014: 24
Goal: 50 Books
First Book Read in 2014: Allegiant by Veronica Roth
Last Book Read in 2014: Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
# of Books with 5-Star Reviews: 5
# of Books with 4-Star Reviews: 11
# of Books with 3-Star Reviews: 8
Total Pages Read: 9495

 5-Star Books:
Cress by Marissa Meyer
Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Where She Went by Gayle Forman

I was not very good at reading books OR writing reviews in 2014. As much as I love to read, I guess I just do not enjoy writing about them as much as I thought I would.

I do not make a lot of resolutions, but I do try to set reading goals for myself. I have been aiming for 50 books a year for the past few years, but I have yet to reach that goal. Something always ends up getting in the way. So, for 2015, I decided to give myself the much more manageable goal of 30 books. I am on the right track, already having read one book. So yay for me!

As for the blog, I plan on writing more, but it may not always be book reviews. 2014 started off great, and many awesome things happened in 2014. But the two months of the year were just plain awful and for the first time in a very long time I was actually happy to see the new year. The first thing I need to write about will be those two months. "And it's been a long December and there is reason to believe maybe this year will be better than the last" (Counting Crows - A Long December).

 I also have some ongoing projects that I need to comment on, such as 101 in 1001 Days. I am nearing the end of my second cycle and am excited about making new goals for the next 1001 days.

 I want to start writing about my travels, both past and upcoming.

I just need to get into the habit of writing again. Period.

Book Review: Anna and the French Kiss

Title: Anna and the French Kiss
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Genre: Contemporary YA
Rating: 5 Stars

I was hesitant to read this book. partly because of the hype and partly because I do not read much contemporary YA. This book surprised me in so many ways. I was immediately drawn into the story and could easily relate to Anna. I loved "discovering" Paris with her. I have not been to Paris (yet) although I have been to France, so reading brought back memories of my own travels and discoveries. I always wanted to study abroad and never had the chance in high school or college. Knowing that Stephanie Perkins spent time in Paris to write this book made me think that maybe I could still have the opportunity to spend time in another city just to write about it. But back to Anna's story. I loved watching her not only fall in love, but as cheesy as it sounds, I loved it when she found herself. I even loved the moment she realized that she understood French! I took French in high school and college, and both times I was in France it still felt so foreign to me to hear and speak. I thought the book was well-written. It sounded "young" without sounding annoying. I will definitely be reading more books by Stephanie Perkins this year.

Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars

Title: The Fault In Our Stars
Author: John Green
Genre: Contemporary YA
Rating: 5 Stars

The Fault In Our Stars had been on my to-read list for quite a while. I hesitated to read it because I do not really read contemporary YA and because of the hype surrounding the book. I think I owned the book for several months before I finally decided to read it earlier this year. I knew that I wanted to read it before the movie came out (which is actually my impetus for even doing a review for a book I read months ago) so I finally decided to give it a chance.

I liked Hazel from the start, but when I met Augustus, I was totally smitten. Not in a swoony "I want to date you" kind of smitten, but more of a "he says such awesome things" smitten. I think every quote I love from the book belongs to Gus. From the famous "I fear oblivion" to "My thoughts are stars I can't fathom into constellations," Gus has the best lines in the book. Well, there is one from Hazel, but I will save that for later.

I was really drawn into Hazel and Gus's story; it felt real, it was believable. Okay, so maybe taking your sort-of dying girlfriend to Amsterdam as your final wish was a little far-fetched, but I went with it, because what happened when they were there was not. The emotions and feelings were real. I am not ashamed to admit that I cry when I read, and when Gus confesses to Hazel that his cancer is back of course I cried. And I cried several more times before the book ended (and thankfully it did have an ending, because I was afraid it was going to follow in the footsteps of An Imperial Affliction and end in the middle of a sentence or something).

"Sometimes you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book. And then there are books ... which you can't tell people about, books so special and rare and yours that advertising your affection feels like a betrayal."

This book somehow made it into my heart. It stayed in my head for days. And while this book, for me anyway, is not described by either feeling above, I do think it is a book that people should read. Before seeing the movie.

The book also reminded me of when I volunteered at Kid's Village (Give Kids the World). If you do not know, it is a village set up for families of kids who want to visit Disney/Orlando as their final wish. The families are allowed to come and stay for absolutely no charge. They stay in a villa with a kitchen, a living room, and a few bedrooms (that depends on family needs). There is a pool with access for wheelchairs (well, the entire village is accessible), an ice cream parlor, a castle with an arcade and games, and a train that travels around the village. I am sure I am forgetting some other aspects of the village, but just know that it is a place where families can escape for a week and not have to worry about anything. I began volunteering in middle school. I would go on Saturday mornings and prepare the villas for families by picking out several toys and games from the prize pantry and sticking the fridge with items like milk, bread, peanut butter, and other food and snacks (I remember Lunchables being one of them). By the time I was in high school, I was volunteering in the castle, the ice cream parlor, and as either Mayor Clayton or his assistant, visiting the children and tucking them into bed at night. I loved volunteering there, and it gave me an appreciation for organizations like the Make a Wish Foundation that are able to provide that for families. So although Gus makes fun of Hazel for wasting her wish on Disney World, there are many families for which that wish was certainly not a waste. When I worked in the theme parks (and yes, at one point I worked for Disney, Sea World, and Universal) even though it was part of our training to go out of our way whenever we did see the kids with their GKTW buttons pinned proudly on their chests (not to call them out or anything, just to treat them extra special), my volunteer experience gave me a slightly different perspective.

I do not give out five stars very often. But The Fault In Our Stars earned every one of those stars.

There is an Enterprise shaped void in my life

My Dad was a Trekkie. It kind of embarrassed me when I was younger. But then Star Trek: The Next Generation came out and since we only had one TV and we watched whatever my Dad watched, I started to watch it. Obviously a lot of what went on in that show went over my head. I just remember having a crush on Wesley Crusher. I also remember wearing a headband over my eyes like Geordi. I could not remember any actual plot lines, and probably most of what went on in every episode went way over my head.

I did not think much of Star Trek after TNG ended. I never watched Deep Space Nine and I don't think I even heard of Voyager. I never saw the Original Series. I did see a few of the movies that came out in the 90's, but mainly for the experience of going to the movies with my Dad, not because I really wanted to see them.

And then I married a Trekkie. I never thought that the phrase "you will marry your Dad" would apply to something like that. After we got married and combined our DVD collections, I still had no interest in the shelf that housed the complete series of the three most recent incarnations of the franchise.

And then my Dad passed away. I helped to write his epitaph. And because the Navy and Star Trek were such integral parts of his life, I came up with "Boldly Gone On His Last Voyage." Seeing it on his headstone still brings me chills and I cannot explain why.

One day, about two years ago, I was browsing Netflix and saw that Star Trek: The Original Series was available for streaming. I decided it was about time that I sat down and watched what both my father and my husband loved.

I will admit I watched it slightly out of order. We began with the movies. I think missed a lot from the first few movies because I had not watched the series yet. But we watched all of the movies (I am NOT including the JJ Abrams reboot in this). I enjoyed them far more than I thought that I would. I don't really have a favorite, but some of my favorite lines and moments did come from The Voyage Home (despite the plot about WHALES). So then it was time to start watching the show.

I of course began at the beginning. I watched the pilot. The original pilot. The one that did not have William Shatner as Captain James T Kirk. I almost stopped. But no, I was committed at this point. And I continued. And I found myself looking forward to Star Trek nights. The show was so much better than I ever gave it credit for. Sure, the technology was lacking, so special effects and set design were laughable by today's standards. But then I thought - this is a show about space that began BEFORE WE HAD EVEN LANDED ON THE MOON. When I put it into the framework, I was a bit more impressed. I could even look past some of the sexism and racism and other -isms that plagued the show because I could tell that there was an attempt at progress (and again, in a time where civil rights were still in question for many). Honestly the series ended much too soon for me.

I was lucky in that by the time I was ready to start on The Next Generation, it was the anniversary and it was about to be released on Blu Ray and select movie theatres were having a special showing of the pilot, another episode, and bonus material. We pre-ordered our tickets and waited to see it on the big screen. And this is where I was really impressed. Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard stole my heart! I could not wait for the second season on the big screen, I had to watch this series as quickly as possible (although we did go see the second season event in the theatre as well). The series was far better than I remember it from when I was a kid. I admit I still had a soft spot in my heart for Wesley Crusher, but I was not as smitten. Instead my attention shifted to William Riker (bearded of course). This show was amazing. I began to look forward to Klingon episodes. I still don't know what it is that draws me to Klingons, but they have remained one of my favorite races from the franchise. If I ever did Star Trek cosplay, I would definitely be a Klingon. I also looked forward to episodes with Q, pain the the ass that he was. Seven seasons was far too short for this series and I could have easily watched it for another seven. I have too many favorite episodes, and even though the perennial fan favorite "The Inner Light" is actually not at the top of the list, upon further reflection I have come to agree that it is one of the more important episodes of the entire franchise. This has remained my favorite series of the franchise.

Deep Space Nine was probably my least favorite of all of the series. I loved the character development, but I could not really get into the characters. I think the saving grace of that entire series were Major Kira. I was drawn to her and to the plight of the Bjoran people. Maybe it is the rebel in me, but I could not help but root for the Bjorans. I even appreciated how spiritual the show was. It was very refreshing. I am also a big fan of Jadzia Dax. I liked the show, and among the standout episodes for me were: the one where Cisco is a science fiction writer but thinks he is crazy; the one where Cisco goes back and has to "sacrifice" himself for a rebellion so he doesn't disrupt the timeline; and the one where they play baseball.

And finally we arrive at Voyager. I was very skeptical about watching it because I was so unimpressed by DS9, but I was committed. And I was so surprised. First of all, Katherine Janeway is a badass. Really, blowing up your guaranteed way home and not knowing if you will ever make it home but determined to try anyway? And I loved that Voyager brought it back to the original mission of Star Trek - to explore new worlds, new life, and new civilizations. To be alone in a distant part of the universe but keep your head and keep to a prime directive and starfleet protocols even when there was no one to answer to if you did not. Very inspiring. I loved seeing her make the tough choices and sticking to her philosophy. I also loved when they finally met the Borg. Yes, the borg are still the enemy, but at least we get more insight into who they are and why they do what they do. And Seven of Nine joining the cast was awesome. Loved her so much. As we got closer to the end of the series, I had mixed feelings. I wanted to see how they got home (of course they were going to get home!) but I was not ready to say goodbye. When I did watch the final episode a few weeks ago, I had very mixed feelings. THAT was how they got home? Really? And the way the show officially ended? No, I wanted more! I was not ready to say goodbye. I know it is up to my imagination to see how they all adjusted back to life on Earth, but I wanted to see it. 

It has been about three weeks since I watched the final episode. And now I have an Enterprise shaped void in my life. Through this journey, I have become a proud Trekkie. I am my father's daughter after all.

Early Reader

I learned to read when I was very young, about two or three years old. I do not really remember it, but my Mom is always telling me the story of how I learned to read. Apparently there was a stack of books that I absolutely would not go to bed without having them read to me. My Mom read them to me so often that I memorized the books. Then I started recognizing the words from my books in other books and places, and viola, I was reading!

I was a voracious reader. I would read everything I could get my little hands on, from the cereal box in the morning, to my own small library, to books that my brother, who is six years older, was reading. One vivid memory I have is when we were moving from Virgina to Rhode Island when I was about five years old. I think I read every sign and billboard that we passed along the way! I am sure I drove both of my parents and both of my brothers nuts during that trip.

I do not remember if I ever had a library card in Virgina, but I remember my first library card from the Newport Public Library. I was so proud of that card! I would beg my Mom to take me to the library every weekend. I think I checked out my limit (which was probably ten books) every time, read them cover to cover, and brought them back for a new set. The librarians knew my name, and they knew that even though I was young, I wanted books with words, not pictures.

Another vivid memory I have is from my first day of kindergarten. We were given a tour of the school, from the gym to the lunchroom to the library (which happened to be next to my kindergarten classroom). The librarian was showing us where the picture books were located and told us that when we learned to read, she would show us where the early reader books were. I raised my hand and asked if she could show me where they were now, since I already knew how to read. She laughed in that condescending way that adults tend to do with smart ass little children and said that she would show me when the time was right. Now even at five I had a rebellious streak, and she set it off that day. I grabbed the nearest book from the shelf and started to read from it out loud. I not only shocked the librarian, but my teacher and my fellow classmates. Needless to say, I was immediately tested and placed into a first grade classroom for reading group and for other lessons. I did not get skipped to the first grade (that was at my parent's request), I just spent my morning in first grade and returned to kindergarten for playtime and other social activities.

I am lucky that books were always made available to me when I was a child. My parents were both avid readers, and much of my early reading habits tended to follow their tastes. My Mom read a lot of Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and other suspense books. My Dad read mostly military and sci-fi books, although he loved Michael Crichton (as did I throughout fifth grade through middle school). I did not really develop my own reading tastes until high school.

We did not keep most of the books I had as a kid. When we moved to Florida, we gave them away to family, friends, and donated them to libraries. I have recently begun to acquire some of my favorite childhood books, from early readers (lots of Dr. Seuss and a book called But No Elephants) to early chapter books (lots of Roald Dahl and my favorite childhood book, From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler). I keep my children's books on my old childhood bookcase in my guest room (which I supposed may eventually be a nursery).

My love of reading has never wavered, even if I went for several years (mostly throughout grad school) not reading for pleasure. I may not make enough time for it even now, but the love remains.

Blogging

So, like many things in life, I had ambition but no follow through. I am still reading, just not so good at writing reviews for everything that I have read. However, I need to get back into writing, so blogging is a great way just to keep me writing. I want to resume this blog and start posting reviews, some of my writings, and maybe participate in a weekly meme or two. Stay tuned!

Blog Hop Winner

Unfortunately, the first name I picked did not respond to me in time and I had to pick a new winner. If that person doesn't respond, I will then pick another. Thanks for all the comments and I am sorry about waiting so long to post. I am officially on vacation (woohoo!) and will be mailing the prize as soon as I verify a winner.