Monthly Wrap-Up: April 2013

Well, another month has flown by! Seriously, where did April go?!? I feel like the month just started but then it was time to flip the calenders for May. I don't feel like April was my best reading month, and this whole year feels like I am constantly behind in my reading. I don't feel like I'm in a slump, but I'm definitely reading slower than I normally do. Hopefully, with summer right around the corner, I can pick up the pace and enjoy sitting outside and reading some more. Well, let's look at my month:

Number of Books Read This Month: 8

Books Read This Month:

Sister by Rosamund Lupton

The Villa by Nora Roberts (audiobook)

The Stuff That Never Happened by Maddie Dawson

Hope In a Jar by Beth Harbison (audiobook)

The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout

Invisible by Carla Buckley

The Last Boyfriend by Nora Roberts (audiobook)

Mrs. Queen Takes the Train by William Kuhn

Favorite Book Read This Month: Sister by Rosamund Lupton

Least Favorite Book Read This Month: The Villa by Nora Roberts

It was a varied reading month for me, but no nonfiction. I need to change that ASAP. Anyone have any good biographies or memoirs that they have read lately?

Well, I hope that everyone had a great April, and here's looking forward to an even better May!

Monthly Wrap-Up: March 2013

Well, as long as March has felt like, the month is finally over. And in true March fashion, it came in like a lion and out like a lamb. Most of this month was cold and dreary (at least for me), but with sunshine and 50 degrees by the end of the month, it's nice to see things turning around. Now, this wasn't my best reading month and in a way, I'm glad to see March end. I hope to read more and I'm hopeful that April will bring that turnaround that I need. Let's see what all I read this month:

Number of Books Read: 7

Books Read

Happy Ever After by Nora Roberts (audiobook)

The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff

The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro

The Middlesteins by Jami Attenberg

Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella (audiobook)

Here I Go Again by Jen Lancaster

The Memory Thief by Emily Colin

Favorite Book This Month: The Middlesteins

Least Favorite Book This Month: Mini Shopaholic

I'm disappointed that I only got to seven books this month, but that gives me the motivation to step it up for April! And as the weather gets warmer, I tend to spend more time outside, reading a good book and enjoying watermelon (it's probably my favorite food!) So, how was your month? Here's looking forward to April!

Monthly Wrap-Up: February 2013

Well, it's hard to believe that February is over. The time certainly is flying by this year! I don't know where the time went though, because it seems like ages ago that we celebrated Valentine's Day, and I keep on thinking that President's Day must be coming up soon (I lose track of my days very easily!) The month flew by, but I was able to get a lot of reading done. Let's look at my month:

Number of Books Read: 8

Books Read This Month

Elegy for Eddie by Jacqueline Winspear

News From Heaven by Jennifer Haigh

Vision in White by Nora Roberts (audiobook)

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts (audiobook)

A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd

The Good Father by Diane Chamberlain

Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts (audiobook)

Favorite Book of the Month: Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Least Favorite Book of the Month: A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd

Looking at this list, it's hard to believe that I was able to read all of these books in one month! It seems like forever ago that I read Winspear's novel, but I guess it wasn't all that long ago! I'm also really amazed that I was able to fit in three audiobooks this month. I didn't even take a roadtrip, which is the only way I've been able to do that before! Overall, it was a good reading month and I'm hoping to carry this momentum forward into March. With spring just around the corner, I look forward to spending more time sitting outside, enjoying the weather and good book.

Monthly Wrap-up: January 2013

Well, we are one month into 2013 and it's hard to believe that time has flown by so quickly. I'm left looking back and wondering what I did this month! It didn't feel as if I read a lot, which is evident in the numbers. I tend to read more during the warmer months because I love to sit outside and read, so I shouldn't be too disappointed in these numbers. Let's take a look at my January:

Number of Books Read: 8

Books Read

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce

Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie Kinsella (audiobook)

Calico Joe by John Grisham

All That I Am by Anna Funder

The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

The Witness by Nora Roberts (audiobook)

Heads in Beds by Jacob Tomsky

Favorite Book Read This Month: The Witness by Nora Roberts

Least Favorite Book Read This Month: Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie Kinsella

I think that's the first time my favorite and least favorite were audiobooks! I also read two non-fiction books this month, and I wish that I would have read more, but none were jumping out and grabbing my attention. One of my reading goals for this year is to read more non-fiction, so I'm glad that I got off to a strong start in January. How was your month? 

Top Ten Tuesday (1-8-13)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. Each week, 

they post a different topic, and you get to create your own top ten list. So, this week's 

topic is:

Bookish Goals for 2013

1) My reading goal is set at 105 books. (Last year I set it at 100 and read 110, so I went a little higher this year but not crazy, in case life gets in the way of my reading).

2) Update my blog more frequently. (Just in terms of keeping my pages up to date, adding in links on my review page, etc.)

3) Read at least two biographies/autobiographies. (I really enjoy reading about people's lives, so instead of just chancing on finding a good biography, I'm actively searching for some to read)

4) Try to read at least one classic. (I joined the Classics challenge last year in hopes of doing just that and failed miserably. So, if I set my goal at reading just one classic, it's more achievable)

5) Cut back on my TBR pile. (I have stacks of books that are just lounging all around my room. My goal this year is to try and read what I have in order to cut down on the amount of clutter taking up floor space. Not that books are clutter, but it can get annoying at times to have so many piles of books around!)

6) Use audiobooks more. (I currently only listen to audiobooks when I drive, which works out well since I drive at least 30 minutes to and from work everyday, but if I could get to a place in my running where I'm able to listen to audiobooks while working out, that would be great.)

7) Comment on other people's blogs more. (I go through stretches of time where I comment like crazy on other's blogs, then a dry spell where I don't comment at all. Maybe if I try to comment on one person's blog a day, it will help me to stay on track with this goal)

8) Keep up with reviews. (I did a pretty good job of that in 2012, but there were a few times when I had two or three reviews just waiting to be done, so I'd like to avoid that in 2013)

9) Try not to read as much chick lit. (I really get sucked into this genre at times, which is alright, but I'd like to read more fiction in 2013)

Well, I'm one short this week! what are your bookish goals for 2013? Let me know!