Misellany January Loves

I cannot believe it's February!  That is a crazy notion.  I actually just spent a better part of my work time this week decorating the library with Valentine heart strings.  It was all very festive.

I have to say, I really like January.  After the crazy-ness that ensues as a result of the holidays, it's nice to have an entire month to calm down a little bit.  As a matter of fact, I calmed down so much that I read like 9 books, which is probably more than I read in November and December combined.

One of my goals this year is to be a better blogger, so here's the beginning of that attempt.  Even if it's not a full review, hopefully I'll be posting something to tickle your book and music tastebuds each week.  So, without further ado, here's a list of some of my favorite books I read in January.

1. Ketchup Clouds - Annabel Piltcher

This was a great book - so great in fact that a review will be coming your way next week.

 2. The Impossible Knife of Memory - Laurie Halse Anderson

This book was everything I didn't know I needed until I read it.  I'm affected by books, but rarely am I as affected by them as I was by this one.

3. Life is Outer Space - Melissa Keil

On my to-read pile since the dawn of time, I swear.  I finally read this over the weekend and I adored it.  Like a Rosie Project for teens. I LOVED it. (P.S. Ignore the weirdness of the US cover and just look at the Australian version.  It's the best one.)

Books I'm looking forward to reading (out but I haven't read yet):

1. Cruel Beauty - Rosamund Hodge

Seriously.  Beauty and the Beast retellings get to me - set it in a dystopian world and I'm yours.

2. No One Else Can Have You - Kathleen Hale

This sounds like a David Lynch novel.  I love everything about the description.  Cannot wait to get my hands on a copy.

3. The Avery Shaw Experiment - Kelly Oram

This book sound hilarious.  Very teen, and hopefully very funny.  Also, a good deal on kindle.

Albums I cannot stop listening to:

1. Pure Heroine - Lorde

I've been sucked in, but this chick's vocals and bass line make me feel like I should be floating in space.  And that's pretty cool. Favorite tracks: Ribs, Team, A World Alone

2. All the Little Lights - Passenger

Passenger is kind of a songwriting god.  I especially love The Wrong Direction and I Hate

Album I cannot wait for:

Pale Sun Rose - Matthew and the Atlas

All I have to say is: this is a lesson in patience.

Until next time,

E

2012 Favorites: Books

As 2012 comes to a close I've thought a lot about a list of books that I read this year and loved.  So many great things happened this year both in literature and music.  Good music is getting some radio airplay, I saw my favorite band live, and there were some surprisingly lovely reads by both first time and seasoned authors.  I started this blogster, and I've learned about so many great artists and made so many great friends though it, and for that I am so freaking grateful.

So on the eve of a new year, in no specific order here are my favorite reads of 2012 (note: not necessarily published in 2012, but I read them in 2012.)

1. Eleanor and Park Rainbow Rowell

2. The Dark Unwinding Sharon Cameron

3. Deadly Cool Gemma Halliday

4. The Piper's Son Melina Marchetta

5. Friends Like These Danny Wallace

6. Under the Never Sky Veronica Rossi

7. Angelfall Susan Ee

8. The Name of the Star Maureen Johnson

9. Lola and the Boy Next Door Stephanie Perkins

10. The Fault in Our Stars John Green

Here is to a year full of great reads, great music, and great times.

May 2013 be good to you and yours.

 Until next time,

read, listen, love

-E