All the pages I have turned this year

I set out to read more in 2009, and I did, but I still didn't read as much as I'd have liked. My final book tally for the year is 19. One away from an even twenty - boo! If I remember correctly, my goal was to read about 25 books, so I did fall short, but in my defense, I had a very hectic fall semester and holiday season. So, I guess I should make a goal to read 25 books in 2010.

Last year I discovered the website Goodreads and fell in love. You can search practically any book and read information and reviews on it. Not only that, but you can sign up for a free account and keep track of books read and books you want to read. I love it! Now I can easily keep track of all the books I've read and want to read. I can also look back and remember how well I liked a book, because it prompts you to rate each book. You can also write any comments you have about a book.

So here is what I read, in the order that I read them this year, starting with January:

"Chocolat" by Joanne Harris ****
"My Antonia" by Willa Cather****
"Girl with a Pearl Earring" by Tracy Chevalier***
"A Lesson Before Dying" by Ernest Gaines***
"Sense and Sensibility" by Jane Austen**** (Jane Austen makes me swoon)
"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald**
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee****
"The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets" by Eva Rice****
The Complete Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer****
"Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom**
"This Lullaby" by Sarah Dessen***
"The Dress Lodger" by Sheri Holman***
"The Nanny Diaries" by Emma McLaughlin* (HATED this book - I forced myself to finish it)
"Great Tales and Poems" by Edgar Allan Poe****
"Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen****

(Star ratings are out of 5 stars possible. I'm pretty stingy with 5 star ratings and didn't have any this year.)

Thinking about warmer days...

Because it is very cold out, and I am not a fan of cold weather. I love the beauty of a fresh snow, and I can appreciate the feeling I get from taking a deep breath of crisp winter air, but I prefer a nice, non-humid 70 degree day with a few wispy clouds and lots of sun. This is one of my favorite photos from a family vacation to Lake Michigan during the summer of 2009. Savor its beauty and daydream a little with me.

It's a Circus in There!

I have been reading "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen off-and-on for a couple of months now. I had to put it aside during the end of the fall semester when things got hectic and the holidays were nearing. Recently, I've picked it up again to finish it.

The novel, which follows a traveling circus during the Great Depression, is what I will be using in my English classes during the spring semester. Each semester we take a break from the textbook to read a novel. It's my favorite part of the class. In the past, I've used "The Bean Trees," "Maisie Dobbs," "Chocolat," and the tales and poems of Edgar Allan Poe.

I've only been teaching for two years, so I'm still very much so learning and figuring out what the students like best. I try to find a book with something for the girls and guys. Poe didn't go over so well, especially for the girls. They found the subject matter morbid and the language difficult. Still, I think they all found a unique appreciation for Poe. I really enjoyed reading some of his works I'd never been introduced to before, including my favorite story, "Ligeia," as well as "The Murders in the Rue Morgue." Did you know Poe's detective Dupin was the inspiration for Doyle's Sherlock Holmes? It's true!

So we shall see how WFE goes over in the coming weeks. I think that the students will enjoy the history and the realistic characters. I know I do!

Picking back up

Last summer, I began writing my fourth - or fifth? - fiction novel. Characters were sketched, plot lines were decided, and the first words were typed. After 150 pages or so, my writing took a break, for the fall semester began and I was busy teaching with my English classes at the college where I work, a baby, and a part-time job at a museum. I always planned on picking back up at the beginning of the year, and here I am.

This blog serves as not only a way to keep myself motivated, but to share my love of the written word.

I shall finish writing my current novel in 2010 and will begin the process of becoming published. Optimistic, am I? Yes, and don't try to rain on my parade. There is no room for negativity. I only know one goal - becoming a published author.