March Reading List

This is the first year that I have been on Goodreads at the beginning of a year as I just joined Goodreads in the middle of last year, so I was able to set a reading challenge for myself for 2017. I set what I feel is a pretty aggressive goal for my first goal of 52 books.

This is March and I completed 5 novels.

Also, I somehow accidentally deleted January's post :( So, at some point I will try to get January back up, though much of my reviews for that month will be lost forever. But at least you can see the 7 novels I read.

March: 14/52

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IT
Stephen King
Finished: March 8, 2017

I will write a review

5/5 Stars!

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The Circle
Dave Eggers
Finished: March 12, 2017

I will write a review

4/5 Stars

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Cradle and All
James Patterson
Finished: March 14, 2017

Write a review

5/5 Stars!

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The Grownup
Gillian Flynn
Finished: March 26, 2017

Write Review

4/5 Stars

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The Impossible Fortress
Jason Rekulak
Finished: March 29, 2017

Write review

5/5 Stars!

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And I have started Rooms by Lauren Oliver. I take pictures of books that I find in bookstores that I want to get. I took a picture of Rooms by Lauren Oliver about 3 years ago and I then could not find it again in a bookstore for the next three years! Finally I was in Barnes & Noble picking up some books I was dying to get and I looked through the clearance books and there it was! And in hard cover!! I couldn't believe it. So I had to immediately get it, of course! And it was on clearance...bonus!!

I've also auditioned and been cast as Gomez in The Addams Family musical! But, that will likely cut down on my reading time :( So, we'll see what April brings for my completed books.

Until next time,

Lars

February Reading List

This is the first year that I have been on Goodreads at the beginning of a year as I just joined Goodreads in the middle of last year, so I was able to set a reading challenge for myself for 2017. I set what I feel is a pretty aggressive goal for my first goal of 52 books.

This is February and I completed 2 novels.


February: 9/52

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Everything You Want Me To Be
Mindy Mejia
Finished: February 5, 2017

Here is my review I wrote on Goodreads:

"Absolutely loved it!! Ate it up! I thought at first it was going to be a very stereotypical ending and I had my review ready In my head for it being a bit boring and predictable and I was slightly disappointed after a very good book but Mindy Mejia had some twists and punches left for us! In the end it was an amazing book! Loved all the characters. In one way or another I felt for every single one of them. I wish there was more to read. All the best books always leave us wanting more!"

However, I did not blog at the end of February like I should have and I have now forgotten how much  I loved this book, or really much of anything about it. And, lest you think this makes the book not good, I forget almost everything and very easily. Which I guess makes it good for repeated readings of books?

I DO know that I loved this book though! Loved it a lot! So, I suggest reading it :D

5/5 stars!

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Luckiest Girl Alive
Jessica Knoll
Finished: February 12, 2017

I can't remember specifics about this either anymore. But I do remember liking it. I did not like it as much as other books, which was disappointing because it had been heavily touted. It was still a good read though!

Don't worry, if I can keep this blog going then I'll write my reviews before I forget what's happened.

4/5 stars

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And THEN, I spent the next three weeks reading Stephen King's IT! Which went over the end of February and in to the beginning's of March so I will have to review it in my next post! :)

Until then,

Lars

P.S. I did have some ideas for this blog, if I can find the motivation to keep it going. I'm a notoriously bad blogger 😳
One was to write posts about my TBR list.
One was to document new books I've purchased as I get them and add them to my TBR list.
One is to do reviews on books I've read before I started this blog. The one's I can remember anyway!

Welcome and Thoughts On My Blog

Welcome to my new reading blog! I am calling this "My Constant Friend" because a novel and/or reading is a constant friend. Based on the quote:

“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.” -- Charles William Eliot

Charles William Eliot was an American academic who was selected as Harvard's president in 1869. He transformed the provincial college into the preeminent American research university. Eliot served the longest term as president in the university's history.

I liked the sentiment when I read that quote.

I have decided to write a monthly blog detailing the novels I am reading based partly on my friend Faith who started a blog for her reading and I loved the idea and decided to incorporate it into my life.

I want do this for a few reasons:

1. To show any readers I may get the books I'm reading and reviewing and share my love for books and maybe give them some suggestions of things to read if they're in to the same things I am or the book I read and reviewed just sounds good.

2. For my own memory and enjoyment. I have a horrible memory and this is a way for me to remember what I've read and when and, frankly, sometimes what I thought of the book. Because if it's been too long I won't even have remembered what the book was like. In that same spirit I want this to be a personal reading journal for myself. Something I can look back on later and reminisce.

3. I don't consider myself to be a good reviewer, yet, and who knows, I may never be. But I wouldn't mind trying to hone my skills. I wouldn't mind getting good at this and making it a part-time job. Maybe get sent books by publishers in exchange for fair and honest reviews spread across social media! I'd love that. I imagine that this blog will change and evolve over time as I get more comfortable with it and get it to where I want it. I'd like to incorporate my Instagram account and Goodreads account with this blog too. I have enjoyed transitioning my Instagram account to more bibliophile content! And Goodreads is one of my favorite tools to use revolving around my reading. Providing me with reading challenges and a place to chronically my books and what I've read and what I want to read and the ability to read reviews by thousands of people! Hopefully finding ways to make my book pictures more and more artsy! I hope this will be fun to flesh out this part of my artistic side, since I already sing and act so much!

I will attempt to list the novels I read on here monthly in order with the title, author, and date I finished reading it as well!

I haven't yet decided, but I might do posts every time I read a book. I may do posts having to do with books that are on my to read list, there might be posts of pictures of my books or bookshelves because that could be fun and fun to share! Who knows yet! 😊

I will say I am brutally honest in my reviews, but I also feel like I have this keen ability to pick books that I know I'm going to like and I mostly stay within my various likes/comfort zones, though they are pretty broad. I do step out from time to time and find it results in more good books too. So I tend to give out a lot of 5/5 star reviews, but that's why.

Enjoy :) I hope you come back for more! Please leave comments with your thoughts!

Lars