Books read in 2012

I had a goal to read 26 books in 2012 and I think I exceeded my goal. Wahoo...something to be really proud of, I know. :) I keep track of what I read on Goodreads, which is an awesome website. I thought I would share them here too as I am always looking for ideas for books to read from trusted friends (do you trust me?!)

 I will star the books that I gave 4 or 5 stars on Goodreads, meaning I really liked them.

1) *Growing up Bin Laden: Osama's Wife and Son Take us Inside Their Secret World by Jean Sasson

2) *To the Rescue: The Biography of Thomas S. Monson by Heidi S. Swinton

3) What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

4) * The Glass Castle by Jeannette Wells

5) The Witch Doctor's Wife by Tamar Myers

6) In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Erik Larson

7) *The Man in the Rockefeller Suit: The Astonishing Rise and Spectacular Fall of a Serial Impostor by Mark Seal

8) Peter and the Starcatchers (Peter and the Starcatchers #1) by Dave Barry

9) *The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

10) *These is My Words (Sarah Agnes Prine #1) by Nancy E. Turner

11) Women of Character: Profiles of 100 Prominent LDS Women by Susan Easton Black

12) Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

13) *Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt

14) *Room by Emma Donoghue

15) Infertility: Help, Hope, and Healing by Kerstin Daynes

16) *Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

17) A Midwife's Story by Penny Armstrong

18) Matched (Matched #1) by Ally Condie

19) *Sisterhood Everlasting (Sisterhood #5) by Ann Brashares

20) Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua

21) *A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard

22) Once Upon a River by Bonnie Jo Campbell

23) Princess Academy (Princess Academy #1) by Shannon Hale

24) *Baby, We Were Meant for Each Other: In Praise of Adoption by Scott Simon

25) *The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt

26) Hold Tight by Harlan Coben

27) *The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi W. Durrow

28) *Rules by Cynthia Lord

29) Hope was Here by Joan Bauer

30) *Delivering Hope by Jennifer Ann Holt

31) The Case of the Missing Marquess (Enola Holmes Mysteries #1) by Nancy Springer

32) *Heaven is Here: An Incredible Story of Hope, Triumph, and Everyday Joy by Stephanie Nielson

33) *Mistborn: The Final Empire (Mistborn #1) by Brandon Sanderson

34) *The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

35) *Every Soul a Star by Wendy Mass

36) *Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell

37) The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

38) Crossed (Matched #2) by Ally Condie

You can tell that I read books from all genres, including Jr. Fiction...which knocks up my total quickly because they are usually such easy reads. I also really love true stories (non-fiction) of all sorts, so there is a good bit of those types of books there too.

If you really want to know, here are the top 3 books I read in 2012 and the worst 3 books I read in 2012 -- all according to my own opinion, of course:

Top Three:
3) These is My Words by Nancy E. Turner- This is a hilarious novel taken from the author's ancestor's diaries from the turn of the century. I just really enjoyed the voice and the adventures of the feisty main character. 

2) Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nielson- I was a bit skeptical about this book simply because I have followed Nie Nie's blog for a long time and I feel like it has become a showcase of products and materialism instead of what it used to be. However, this book was really touching and I felt like I got a better glimpse of the "real" her and the reality of the situation she faced after the airplane crash that she and her husband survived. Great and inspiring book. 

1) Unbroken by Lara Hillenbrand- I have a fascination with World War II and this book was simply amazing. It is a true account of the ultimate survival during the war. This is a book that I will remember for a long, long time. 

Okay, and the worst 3:

3) Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen- I saw this movie first and liked it, so I thought I would like the book. Wrong. I didn't think the characters were developed well and there were too many dirty scenes for my liking. 

2) The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien- Yeah, Yeah. I know-- its a classic. Before you start shooting at me, hear me out. I just do not get the hype. This book is funny at times and kind of fun, but such a classic? I just don't see it. Maybe if I had read it as a youth as that is the audience it was intended for, right? I made myself finish it, but it was really just not that great. Sorry friends. 

1) Once upon a River by Bonnie Jo Campbell- I don't even know what to say about this book. Worst book I have read in a long time. Why did I even keep reading it? Not sure...I must have been really bored. Or thought that it would get better somewhere along the way....but no....DON'T go picking this one up, okay? 


The end. I think I will have less time this year (since a bunch of those books were read during the time I was in Ecuador and I was bored stiff...) so I will set my 2013 goal at 26 books again. On we go. Any suggestions for great books you have read lately? Nevermind that I already have a list of 50 plus on Goodreads to read...