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It’s here, again. Awards season! The time of year where celebrities get together in expensive dresses, and collect award after award for their outstanding performances. That’s great, but yesterday some other awards were announced: The Randolph Caldecott award for illustration and the John Newbery Medal. Both of these awards are given for excellence in children’s literature. The winners, and honorable mentions, are listed below:

Caldecott Medal:

• This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen – Winner!
• Extra Yarn written by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen – Honor
• One Cool Friend written by Toni Buzzeo, illustrated by David Small – Honor
• Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger – Honor
• Sleep Like a Tiger written by Mary Loque, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski – Honor

Newbery Medal:

• The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate – Winner!
• Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage -Honor
• Bomb: The Race to Build–and Steal–the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin – Honor
• Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz – Honor

Have you or your children read any of these books? What did you think?

If you’re like me, you love books. Reading them, seeing them, and just thinking about the possibility that could be in between those covers. I stumbled upon an article by Book Riot listing the 16 best library scenes in film.

These scenes are such great visuals, and makes me remember my love of books (and movies). It’s great that many film makers see the power that exists in libraries, and choose to use that environment for some very memorable movie scenes.

Many of the scenes are from some of my favorite movies, like Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Harry Potter, and Beauty and the Beast.

See the full list here.

Do you have any other favorite movie scenes that take place in a library?

Last week, I highlighted the many lists found online listing the best books of 2012; today I am talking about the best selling books of 2012. USA Today tracks the sale of books from January to December, and then compiles a list of the 100 best selling. Here are the top 20 (with a little commentary):

1. Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
3. Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James
(I think I am seeing a pattern here. . . )
4. Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James
5. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
6. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
7. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
8. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel by Jeff Kinney
9. Fifty Shades Trilogy: The Bundle by E.L. James (Really??)
10. The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks
11. The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Sparks (Of course.)
12. No Easy Day by Mark Owen and Kevin Maurer
13. Bared to You: A Crossfire Novel by Sylvia Day
14. Heroes of Olympus: The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan
15. Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard
16. Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard
17. The Racketeer by John Grisham
18. Heaven is For Real by Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent
19. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
20. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson

For the complete list, see USA Today’s 100 Best Selling Books of 2012.

Now that 2012 is behind us, it’s a great time to look at the myriad of “Best Book” websites, and figure out new books to read that you may have missed. I’ve gathered some links to just a few of the multitude of lists available online from The New Yorker, Barnes & Noble, Publisher’s Weekly, and NPR.

Best Books of 2012 by The New Yorker

Best Books of 2012 by Barnes & Noble

Best Books of 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly

Best Books of 2012 by NPR

Obviously, these are based on opinions of many different people, so a vast variety of genres are covered. I see everything from non-fiction about diagrams (100 Diagrams that Changed the World by Scott Christianson) to poetry (Happiness is a Chemical in the Brain by Lucia Perillo) to a novel about a missing woman (Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn).

There are so many books published each year, so instead of looking at these books as the best, I think I would rather think of them as some of the best. I’m sure there are books that were released last year that just got overlooked. What are your favorite books from 2012?

Here it is, guys. The long-awaited reading list from 2012. And, as I mentioned previously, I completed the 50 book challenge I signed up for on GoodReads. For 2013, I am aiming for 52. That equals one book per week. I think I can do it, especially since I didn’t even start last year’s until March. So, without further ado, these are the books I read in 2012 (in chronological order):

1. Swamplandia! by Karen Russell
2. The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
3. The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut
4. Aunt Julia and the Script Writer by Mario Vargas Llosa
5. Breakfast of  Champions by Kurt Vonnegut
6. Galapagos by Kurt Vonnegut
7. Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
8. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
9. Bluebeard by Kurt Vonnegut
10. Let’s Pretend this Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
11. Seriously, I’m Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres
12. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
13. Timequake by Kurt Vonnegut
14. Sellevision by Augusten Burroughs
15. Divergent by Veronica Roth
16. Insurgent by Veronica Roth
17. Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris
18. Don’t Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon
19. Promise Not to Tell by Jennifer McMahon
20. Dismantled by Jennifer McMahon
21. Island of Lost Girls by Jennifer McMahon
22. Mirror Talk by Barbara Alfaro
23. My Tiki Girl by Jennifer McMahon
24. Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel
25. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
26. Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris
27. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
28. The Magician’s Assistant by Ann Patchett
29. No One Belongs Here More than You by Miranda July
30. 11/22/63 by Stephen King
31. All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris
32. Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
33. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
34. Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding
35. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
36. The Circus Fire by Stewart O’Nan
37. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
38. Brave Girl Eating by Harriet Brown
39. Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan
40. Alex by Adam Nicolai
41. Penpal by Dathan Auerbach
42. Cemetery Girl by David Bell
43. 666 Park Avenue by Gabriella Pierce
44. The Dark Glamour by Gabriella Pierce
45. How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran
46. Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
47. The Vanishing Act by Mette Jakobsen
48. I’d Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman
49. The Gunslinger by Stephen King
50. The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King

All fifty books of 2012, totaling 15,888 pages! Now, it’s time to get started on 2013. Wish me luck!

With two weeks left in 2012, this year’s GoodReads Challenge is wrapping up. This will be my final 2012 progress report, and next month I will reveal the list of books I read in 2012. But, for now, this is how far I’ve come and how far I have left to go.

I have read 48 of 50 books, and am 96% finished. With 14 days left, I am right on track. I just have to read 2 more books!

Among everyone taking the challenge, 6,183 have been completed. In the end, there ended up being 302,539 participants with a total of 17,819,183 books pledge. The average books per challenge was 58.

I have a sense of accomplishment that I have been able to keep up with this challenge, and will (hopefully) complete the number of books I set out to read. And considering I didn’t even start until March, I’d say that’s not bad at all. Next year, I will get started in January, and maybe up my pledge by a few books. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see next year!

Did you take part in the challenge? Did you complete it? What books did you read?

As promised, here is the second set of gift recommendations from the new release list.

1. For the Mystery Lover
“The Great Pearl Heist: London’s Greatest Thief and Scotland Yard’s Hunt for the World’s Most Valuable Necklace” by Molly Caldwell Crosby

2. For the Dr. Seuss Fan
“Dr. Seuss: The Cat Behind the Hat” by Caroline M. Smith

3. For the Fan of the Classics
“Great Expectations: The Sons and Daughters of Charles Dickens” by Robert Gottlieb

4. For the Trivia Buff
“Because I Said So!: The Truth Behind the Myths, Tales, and Warnings Every Generation Passes Down to Its Kids” by Ken Jennings

5. For the Twilight Fan
“The Beautiful Creatures Complete Collection” by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

6. For the Fashionista
“Jemma Kidd Make-Up Secrets: Solutions to Every Woman’s Beauty Issues and Make-Up Dilemmas” by Jemma Kidd

Next week I will offer a few more last minute books from the new release list that would make great gifts for the people in your life. Stay tuned!

I’ve done a few of these best seller posts in the past. Some from as far back as 40 years, and some as recent as the last few years. Today, I am going to look back at the year 2011. The following are the top ten New York Times Best Sellers from the week of December 4, 2011.

1. Kill Alex Cross by James Patterson
2. 11/22/63 by Stephen King
3. V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton
4. The Litigators by John Grisham
5. Devil’s Gate by Clive Cussler and Graham Brown
6. The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks
7. Zero Day by David Baldacci
8. Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan by Drew Karphyshyn
9. The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo
10. 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

Looking at this list, it’s amazing how many of the usual suspects are on the same list: Stephen King, James Patterson, John Grisham, Sue Grafton, Nicholas Sparks, David Baldacci, James Patterson (again).

Clearly, it’s not easy for a new writer to push past these giants of American fiction to find a place in the top ten. I love when a new author’s work can make it to the top, and I always root for them when they do. It must be hard to fight against such well known names for recognition. It happens, of course. But if this top ten list is any indication, it’s rare.

The next time I do one of these posts, it will be 2013. Another year gone, and another 12 months of best selling books to review.

This time of year, many books are released that would make great gifts for the people in your life. Here is a list of just a few hardcover new releases that would be perfect under the tree this year.

1. For the Cook
“Barefoot Contessa Foolpro

of: Recipes You Can Trust” by Ina Garten
“Cooking with Love” by Carla Hall

2. For the LEGO Lover
“LEGO: Ninjago Character Encyclopedia” by Dorling Kindersley Publishing Staff
“The LEGO Adventure Book, Vol. 1: Cars, Castles, Dinosaurs & More!” by Megan H. Rothrock

3. For the Kids
“Sofia the First: Meet Sofia” by Catherine Hapka and Disney Press
“The Birds of Bethlehem” by Tomie dePaola

4. For the History Buff
“Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power” by Jon Meacham
“The Civil War in Color: A Photographic Reenactment of the War Between the States” by John C Guntzelman

5. For the Entertainer
“Celebrate” by Pippa Middleton

6. Other
“Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm: A New English Version” by Philip Pullman
“The Chronicles of Downton Abbey: A New Era” by Jessica Fellowes, Matthew Sturgis, Julian Fellowes (Foreword by)

Throughout the month, I will highlight more books that would make great gifts. So, look for the next installment next week!

As most of you know, I set out to read 50 books in 2012 through the GoodReads Reading Challenge. Well, I have six weeks left to finish this challenge, and I am optimistic it will be done. As of today, I am 1 book (or 1%) ahead, with a total of

44

books complete. That means I am 88% done! I only have six more books to finish. So, if I can read a book a week then I’ll be set!

A total of 3,191 challenges have been completed, with 296,908 total participants. Over 17,500,000 books have been pledge, with an average of 59 books per challenge. I am just a little below average, but if I can pull this off, maybe I’ll bump it up to 60 next year.

I am a little disappointed that I haven’t gotten around to reading many of the classic books I told myself I would. But there are just so many books out there I want to read, it’s so hard to choose! I want to be able to say I’ve read this classic book or that one, so I think I will eventually get around to it. At least I will be able to say I completed one goal. I’ll just have to keep trying to fit those classics in.

Has anyone out there joined me in this challenge? Have you completed it? Give me your thoughts!

Format

As most of you know, I set out to read 50 books in 2012 through the GoodReads Reading Challenge. Well, I have six weeks left to finish this challenge, and I am optimistic it will be done. As of today, I am 1 book (or 1%) ahead, with a total of 44
generic cialis no prescription
books complete. That means I am 88% done! I only have six more books to finish. So, if I can read a book a week then I’ll be set!
A total of 3,191 challenges have been completed, with 296,908 total participants. Over 17,500,000 books have been pledge, with an average of 59 books per challenge. I am just a little below average, but if I can pull this off, maybe I’ll bump it up to 60 next year.
I am a little disappointed that I haven’t gotten around to reading many of the classic books I told myself I would. But there are just so many books out there I want to read, it’s so hard to choose! I want to be able to say I’ve read this classic book or that one, so I think I will eventually get around to it. At least I will be able to say I completed one goal. I’ll just have to keep trying to fit those classics in.
Has anyone out there joined me in this challenge? Have you completed it? Give me your thoughts!
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