2013: A Year in Reviews


I can't believe it but it's come around again. Christmas is just around the corner, as is 2014. So it is about time for a run down of the year.

Before I run through the books I've read this year, I think I'll just recap the highlights of my year.
  • In April, I got offered a job at the school that I'd been volunteering in. At the end of that school year, that job was extended/increased for this school year.
  • May/June. Amazing holiday to Florida, which took in the Harry Potter world at Universal, and some diving in Key West.
  • New baby cousin, Imogen, was born in June. I was also asked to be the Godmother.
  • July. Quit my job waitressing. Can't say I miss the job. Though I made some good friends there.
  • August saw my sister and I attending two conferences in quick succession: LeakyCon London and Summer in the City. Both were awesome experiences that I will never forget. Here's hoping to attending those events again at some point.
  • October. Another new cousin (this time, once-removed), Libby was born. 
  • Finally got my certificate saying I'd passed my Level 1 in British Sign Language. Finished Level 2, waiting for the results...
  • Also my parents have managed to sell our house. Just in the process of finalising everything. So we could be moving house at any moment!
A few bum notes were hit through the year:
  • I didn't manage to get onto a teacher training course. Trying again this year.
  • Got my phone stolen at my waitressing job, just before I quit. Felt like I had lost a limb, or at least my little finger...
Overall, 2013 has been very kind to me. Fingers crossed for some more of the same in 2014!

Ok, onto the books!
This year's 'Read' books
My challenge this year was to read 20 books. Not a huge challenge compared to a lot of people, but I wanted a realistic goal that was both motivating but not demoralising in its size. And YAY because I completed the challenge! I have actually read 24 books this year (although that does not include the fact that I read HP1 in French too).

Here are my Top Ten books from this year's batch:
  1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
  2. The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay
  3. Geekhood: Close Encounters of the Girl Kind by Andy Robb
  4. Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
  5. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
  6. Delirium by Lauren Oliver
  7. Insurgent/Allegiant by Veronica Roth
  8. Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park
  9. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
  10. VIII by HM Castor
Most challenging: The Marlowe Papers by Ros Barber.
Least favourite: Matched by Ally Condie.

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish girls. You should definitely join in if you haven't already!

My reading rate has increased massively this year, due mostly to that wonderful invention, the Kindle. I have really enjoyed challenging myself with books that are outside of my preferred genres, and I hope I will continue to find books that do just that. But mostly, I've just really loved rediscovering my love of reading!

Let me know what books you have loved this year... or which ones you hated. Or just say hi!

Book Review: The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp

Synopsis: Sutter Keely. He’s the guy you want at your party. He’ll get everyone dancing. He’ll get everyone in your parents’ pool. Okay, so he’s not exactly a shining academic star. He has no plans for college and will probably end up folding men’s shirts for a living. But there are plenty of ladies in town, and with the help of Dean Martin and Seagram’s V.O., life’s pretty fabuloso, actually.

Until the morning he wakes up on a random front lawn, and he meets Aimee. Aimee’s clueless. Aimee is a social disaster. Aimee needs help, and it’s up to the Sutterman to show Aimee a splendiferous time and then let her go forth and prosper. But Aimee’s not like other girls, and before long he’s in way over his head. For the first time in his life, he has the power to make a difference in someone else’s life—or ruin it forever.

Pages: 294

Rating: 7/10

Overall: A really good insight into the teenage boy's mind, and also a look at alcholism and self-destruction/sabotage that leaves you frustrated and sad for Sutter. His denial in the face of his feelings for Aimee keeps you hopeful that he might see the light, right until the last page.
The Spectacular Now

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