Top Ten 2013 Debuts I’m Looking Forward To

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the bloggers over at the Broke and the Bookish. Book bloggers from all around create lists based on the chosen topics, and post links to the host blog to share our love of books. This week we are looking at books by NEW authors that we are excited about reading in the coming year. These will fulfill my Debut Author Challenge, and I hope to find other debuts when I read y’all’s posts.

[<3 new authors!]

Starting with six on my TBR list…

1.) Pivot Point by Kasie West – The story of a girl who can look into the future and see various outcomes from particular events.

2.) Taken by Erin Bowman – It sounds like Gone, but apparently they actually give an explanation as to why the boys disappear at 18. And apparently there are good twists and turns along the way.

3.) The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau – Dystopian novel about kids chosen to take an entrance test for college, with the hopes that these “elite” will save the world.

4.) Being Henry David by Cal Armistead  – A kid is lost with amnesia and only a copy of Henry David Thoreau’s On Walden Pond. 

5.) These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner – A love story/mystery about a mysterious planet in space and such things.

6.) Transparent by Natalie Whipple — An invisible girl is used by her father to complete his dirty work (stealing, etc.) and then decides to run away from him for good.

…Plus two I’ve already read, but can’t wait for everyone else to read!

7.) The Holders by Julianna Scott – Kids with secret powers at a boarding school for kids with secret powers…and secrets. And kissing.

8.) Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black – Black Swan-esque dark story about ballet…with a paranormal twist.

 …I can’t find any others that I’m interested in. Maybe reading other posts will reveal some interesting choices!

Which debuts are on your radar for 2013?

2013 Reading Challenges

I’ve decided to take on 3 reading challenges for 2013. In the years past, these have been personal challenges. This year I hope to actually participate in organized challenges hosted by my fellow bloggers. Here’s what I’m challenging myself to read in 2013:

Challenge: The 2013 Reading Challenge

Host: Goodreads

Level: 80 Books

Since I actually start and end my reading challenges on December 15 each year, my Goodreads numbers and my actual numbers are sometimes different. Either way, I’m setting both challenges to 80 this year, a step up from my goal of 75 from last year. All books except picture books count for this challenge.

Challenge: The 2013 Debut Author Challenge

Host: Hobbitsies

Level: 12 books

I love the idea of specifically reading books by new authors, and this challenge offers formal ARC tours, prizes, and an excellent community of readers discovering the same great books that I’m reading. I’m sold!

Challenge: 2013 Feminist Reads Challenge

Host: The Hiding Spot

Level: Hard (10+ books)

What I love most about this challenge is that I get to define what a feminist book is. This may mean different things to different people, but the point is that we are seeking to read books with strong female protagonists.

Of course, I would probably read 10+ of these types of books anyway, but the added benefit of the formal challenge will help me share my reading list and the lists of others so we can inspire oodles of feminist reading in the world.

Which are your personal reading challenges for 2013? Are you participating in any formal challenges?

Top Ten Books I Resolve to Read in 2013

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the bloggers over at the Broke and the Bookish. Book bloggers from all around create lists based on the chosen topics, and post links to the host blog to share our love of books. This week we are making some reading resolutions! There are plenty of books I’m looking forward to in 2013, but I also have stacks of books I’ve been wanting to read for EONS. 2013 is the year to finally get these out of the TBR stack and into my brain.

[a TBR takedown]

I’ll start with three classics. Yes. Three. I’m keeping it simple and do-able. I got all three of these from Splinter this fall (I told them I wanted to read more classics!), and I love these beautiful covers!

1.) Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

2.) Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

3.) Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte 

Followed by three books sitting on my Nook that I’ve bought but never read. I think I bought them all because I make sure to snag books from my mental TBR list when I find them for under $3.99, even if I’m not ready to read them yet. I know they are all good books — I KNOW this. I’ve just been distracted by too many other shiny new things.

4.) The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness 

5.) Feed by MT Anderson 

6.) City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Then three books I own in hardcover that have been sitting on my nightstand. I bought them through Scholastic to bump my school’s book fair up $30 to reach our spending goal (and the next level of rewards!).

7.) Cinder by Marissa Meyer

8.) Legend by Marie Lu

9.) Stolen by Lucy Christopher

And finally, one book that I need to read just because:

10.) The 2013 Printz winner
Though I’d love to have read it before it gets picked, that’s not likely to be the case.
It’s my goal to read all of the winners, so I need to keep up with them as they’re picked!

Which books are you hoping to find under the tree this year?

Reading Snapshot: Mid February

Currently Reading:

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling

I’m loving this book. I wish I had more time to read lately, because I’m enjoying every page. That’s kind of what I love about good non-fiction — since there’s not always a linear plot, I’m not powering through to find out what happens. Mindy makes me laugh and I want to savor the last 1/3 of the book.

The Red Blazer Girls by Michael D. Biel

I’m reading this as an audio book. I really like it and it’s super cute, I just have some great music CD’s in my car that are calling my name lately. I will finish by early next week.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

This is our book club read. It’s prompting some great discussions about individuality and social structure in schools. The kids love it! We are about 75% through and should finish by the end of the month (reading very slowly). It was my favorite book in high school, so it’s interesting to read it again as an adult.

Up Next:

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

This may come sooner rather than later. It’s calling my name lately, I’m almost ready to sit down and read it all at once. Maybe this Sunday, since my girlfriend will be elsewhere and I’ll have my first Sunday alone in six weeks!

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

This is part of my February Required Reading, so I’m ready to start it and clear it from my shelf. I can’t wait.

What are you reading right now? What’s at the top of your TBR pile?

TBRs

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Yikes, my TBR pile is getting HUGE! For those not down with the lingo (yes, I just said that), TBR means “To Be Read.” All bibliophiles proudly complain about how big their TBR piles are. It’s the never ending struggle to read all that we wish to read…which never happens. Being a librarian, I am […]