Books As Gifts

I. LOVE. BOOKS.  Unless you have been living under a rock, you knew that about me already.  This year I gave some books as gifts and got some as well. 

BOOKS I GAVE:

FIDDLER’S GREEN (Fin’s Revolution #2)
by A.S. Peterson
Published December 15, 2010

Given to my nephew, Eric and his wife, Ericka.  They had read FIDDLER’S GUN and loved it, so I sent them the next in the series.

NO HIGHER HONOR
A Memoir of My Years in Washington
by Condoleezza Rice
Published November 1, 2011

Given to my dad because he asked for this book.  I’m not sure he knew it was going to be 700 pages though!  I hope he enjoys it!

I also gave several magazine subscriptions SPORTS ILLUSTRATED to our boys, AMERICAN GIRL to Reagan, PEOPLE STYLE WATCH to my niece, Jena, and TV GUIDE to my mom.  Reading is reading, whether it is in book or magazine or newspaper or online format.  I gave my BFF Tammy an Amazon gift card for her birthday last week so she could get some books for her Kindle.  I know she preordered HOME FRONT by Kristin Hannah.  That’s one I want to read too! 

I also participated in the LIBRARYTHING SantaThing gift exchange.  I chose 2 books to give to my SantaThing recipient.  She likes science fiction books and fantasy which are not genres I usually read.  So, it was a bit of a challenge, but I hope I picked a couple that she will enjoy.

GAUNTLGRYM
by R.A. Salvatore
Published September 30, 2010

This is the first in a series and came up after some searches using genres and authors she liked.  I hope this becomes a new series she enjoys.

FATE’S EDGE
by Ilona Andrews
Published November 29, 2011

Because this was a newly published book, I was confident she hadn’t read it yet.  This was another author that popped up frequently in the paranormal listings and I thought it might be a good read for her.

BOOKS I RECEIVED:
Pat gave me an Amazon gift card and I promptly purchased two books for my Kindle that I had seen in an email that the publisher reduced the prices….

WICKED
The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
By Gregory Maguire
Published December 5, 2000

I have heard a lot about this book as well as the musical.  I thought it was time to check this out and with the reduced price, I couldn’t resist.

CROOKED LETTER, CROOKED LETTER
By Tom Franklin
Published October 1, 2010

This is one I have been interested in since it came out and again, with the reduced price, I had to snag it.  It is a bit out of my reading “comfort zone”, but I have heard so many good things about it, I want to check it out.

THE SCENT OF RAIN AND LIGHTNING
By Nancy Pickard
Published January 7, 2010

I received this as a gift from my sister and was surprised that I hadn’t even heard of this book.  It definitely sounds like something I would enjoy and am glad she picked it out for me!

THE FEMALE BRAIN
By Louann Brizendine, MD
Published August 1, 2006

This book is obviously non-fiction and I was curious as to why she picked it out for me.  But, after reading the back of the book and different reviews, I think it is going to be a very interesting book and one I will enjoy and learn a lot from.

THE ZOOKEEPER’S WIFE: A WAR STORY
By Diane Ackerman
Published September 1, 2007

This was one of the books I received from my LIBRARYTHING Santa.  I can’t believe I had never heard of this book. This is definite a book I would choose to read.  It is set during the Holocaust and is a true story which makes even more interesting.  I can’t wait to dig into this one!

VANISHING ACTS
By Jodi Picoult
Published January 1, 2005

This was another gift from my Santa and LIBRARYTHING.  You can’t go wrong with a Jodi Picoult novel and this is one that I hadn’t read yet.  I know I will enjoy it!

HOME AGAIN
By Kristin Hannah
Published October 30, 1996

This was the final book from my Santa and LIBRARYTHING.  I have become a recent fan of Kristin Hannah and have read her newer novels, but not her older ones.  I look forward to comparing her older writing to her newer ones.  Thanks so much to my LIBRARYTHING Santa for blessing me with these new books!

In 2011, I added 110 books to my To-Read shelf on GOODREADS.  My reading pace isn’t keeping up with my to-read pace.  I’m gonna have to kick it up a notch and try to get some of those books off my shelf.  I set a goal of 40 books to read in this last year before I turn 40 and since October I have read 8, so I am definitely on pace.  I have lots of great review books coming up and lots that I want to read, so it should be a year of great reads! 

What books did you get as gifts this year?  What are you most looking forward to reading in 2012?