Book #2 in 2012

The Gap Year by Sarah Bird.

Excellent novel about a single mom and her daughter, who despite all of mom's pushing, decides not to attend college immediately after high school. There is much more to the story, too. I like the way the story goes back and forth between the present and the daughter's last year of high school. The different fonts make it easy to detect when the jump occurs.

A hearty 4 stars.

Really close to making 4.5 stars. Not sure if I'd call this "chick-lit" or not.

Book #1 in 2012

Wined and Died by Cricket McRae.

I think this is the 5th book in the Home Crafting Mystery series.

Fun, easy read. I enjoy all the crafty stuff and it was interesting to peek into the wine/mead making world. This will never be mistaken for fine literature, but that's not the point of this book.

4 stars as chick-lit.

Results for 2011

Read/listened to only 28 books in 2011. A rather dismal success rate of 54%. Surely I can do better than that in 2012, right?

Book #28 in 2011 (Audio)

Songs for the Missing by Stewart O'Nan. Read by Emily Janice Card.

10 Hours, 1 minute.

This book explores the effect on her family and friends when Kimberly Larson, 18, goes missing. Sad story, nicely handled.

4 stars.

Book #27 in 2011

'Tis the Season! by Lorna Landvik.

Cute little Christmas story told almost entirely in the form of emails to and from the various characters.

Heiress Carolyn Dixon finds sobriety and friendship with some of those she'd previously alienated or left behind.

3 stars.

Book #26 in 2011

All Wound Up, the yarn harlot writes for a spin by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee.

Knitting humor, if there is such a thing. Not as good as some of her previous books, but not as bad as others.

4 stars for fan-girls
3 stars for non-fan-girl knitters

I can't imagine anyone else reading this.

Book #25 in 2011 (Audio)

While My Sister Sleeps by Barbara Delinsky. Read by Cassandra Campbell.

10 Hours, 10 minutes.

Interesting story about how a family reacts when one of the (grown) children has a heart attack and is ultimately declared brain dead. We really only get to know this sister through brief journal entries and how the other characters talk and feel about her. I think the author makes the mom too much of a bitch in the beginning. It is hard to have any sympathy for her.

3.5 stars as chick lit.